RockHoundR
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Reems Creek: Garnet Rockhounding in Buncombe County, North Carolina

Updated June 2026

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

Map showing Reems Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina

Quick details

Access
Public area
Nearest road
Reems Creek Road
Postcode
28787

Geology at Reems Creek

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 rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit
Ashe Metamorphic Suite and Tallulah Falls Formation; Muscovite-biotite gneiss
Age
1000–540 Ma (Neoproterozoic)
Rock types
gneiss and mica schist
Elevation
2,160 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 Reems Creek

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 48°F in winter to 86°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ASHEVILLE 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:

Found at Reems Creek

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 Reems Creek.

Across the state line from Reems Creek

Reems Creek 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.

Reems Creek FAQ

Where is Reems Creek?+
Reems Creek is in Buncombe County, North Carolina, at 35.69179, -82.51100. Nearest road: Reems Creek Road.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Reems Creek?+
Reems Creek is reported to produce Garnet.
Is collecting allowed at Reems Creek?+
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 Reems Creek?+
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 Reems Creek?+
Reems Creek is workable year-round.
How do I get to Reems Creek?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 35.69179, -82.51100 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Reems Creek Road.

More rockhounding in North Carolina

See all 198 North Carolina spots →

Open Reems Creek on the map

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

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play