Bullhead Mountain: Garnet & Kyanite Rockhounding in Alleghany County, North Carolina

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Alleghany County

State

North Carolina

Nearest road

Arbor Lane

Postcode

28627

Coordinates

36.45742, -81.03016

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Bullhead Mountain

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 45°F in winter to 84°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SPARTA 3.5 SSW station (7 mi away).

Geology at Bullhead Mountain

This spot sits on Alligator Back Formation; Mica schist and phyllite, mapped as mica schist and phyllite that formed roughly 1000 to 540 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit

Alligator Back Formation; Mica schist and phyllite

Age

1000–540 Ma (Neoproterozoic)

Rock types

mica schist and phyllite

Elevation

2,920 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

• North Carolina Geological Survey
• Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests
• Emerald Hollow Mine (fee-dig operator)
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules