Plumtree: Feldspar & Garnet Rockhounding in Avery County, North Carolina

Updated June 2026

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

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Avery County
State: North Carolina
Nearest road: Mud Puppy Rock Lane
Postcode: 28657
Coordinates: 36.03183, -82.01105

Geology at Plumtree

This spot sits on Ashe Metamorphic Suite and Tallulah Falls Formation; Muscovite-biotite gneiss, mapped as gneiss and mica schist that formed roughly 1000 to 540 million years ago. Metamorphic belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.

Mapped unit: Ashe Metamorphic Suite and Tallulah Falls Formation; Muscovite-biotite gneiss
Age: 1000–540 Ma (Neoproterozoic)
Rock types: gneiss and mica schist
Elevation: 2,870 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 Plumtree

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 44°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SPRUCE PINE 4 ENE station (7 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 Plumtree

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 Plumtree.

Across the state line from Plumtree

Plumtree 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.

Plumtree FAQ

Where is Plumtree?+

Plumtree is in Avery County, North Carolina, at 36.03183, -82.01105. Nearest road: Mud Puppy Rock Lane.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Plumtree?+

Plumtree is reported to produce Feldspar, Garnet.

Is collecting allowed at Plumtree?+

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 Plumtree?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Plumtree?+

The most comfortable months at Plumtree are February to December.

How do I get to Plumtree?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.03183, -82.01105 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Mud Puppy Rock Lane.

More rockhounding in North Carolina

See all 198 North Carolina spots →

Open Plumtree on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.