Cranberry: Epidote & Garnet Rockhounding in Avery County, North Carolina

Updated June 2026

Cranberry is a mapped rockhounding spot in Avery County, North Carolina. Reported finds include epidote, garnet, hematite, kyanite, unakite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Avery County
State: North Carolina
Nearest road: Trilium Creek Run
Postcode: 28657
Coordinates: 36.13457, -81.98257

Geology at Cranberry

This spot sits on Biotite Granitic Gneiss, mapped as gneiss that formed roughly 1400 to 720 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: Biotite Granitic Gneiss
Age: 1400–720 Ma (Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic)
Rock types: gneiss
Elevation: 3,780 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.

Best time to visit Cranberry

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 77°F in midsummer and 40°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BANNER ELK station (6 mi away).

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.

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

Found at Cranberry

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Cranberry.

Across the state line from Cranberry

Cranberry is close enough to the North Carolina border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Cranberry FAQ

Where is Cranberry?+

Cranberry is in Avery County, North Carolina, at 36.13457, -81.98257. Nearest road: Trilium Creek Run.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Cranberry?+

Cranberry is reported to produce Epidote, Garnet, Hematite, Kyanite, Unakite.

Is collecting allowed at Cranberry?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Cranberry?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Cranberry?+

The most comfortable months at Cranberry are March to November.

How do I get to Cranberry?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.13457, -81.98257 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Trilium Creek Run.

More rockhounding in North Carolina

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Open Cranberry on the map

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