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Shooting Creek: Geode Digging in Clay County, North Carolina

Updated June 2026

Shooting Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Clay County, North Carolina. Reported finds include hyalite opal geode. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Map showing Shooting Creek in Clay County, North Carolina

Quick details

Access
Public area
Nearest road
Old Hwy 64 East
Postcode
28904

Geology at Shooting Creek

This spot sits on Ocoee Supergroup; Great Smokey Group, undivided, mapped as metagraywacke and metasiltstone that formed roughly 1000 to 540 million years ago. Concretions and geodes typically weather out of sedimentary beds like these, standing out as rounded, heavier-or-lighter-than-expected lumps.

Mapped unit
Ocoee Supergroup; Great Smokey Group, undivided
Age
1000–540 Ma (Neoproterozoic)
Rock types
metagraywacke and metasiltstone
Elevation
2,030 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 Shooting Creek

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 48°F in winter to 83°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HAYESVILLE 1 NE station (8 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Shooting 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 Shooting Creek.

Across the state line from Shooting Creek

Shooting 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.

Shooting Creek FAQ

Where is Shooting Creek?+
Shooting Creek is in Clay County, North Carolina, at 35.02311, -83.67514. Nearest road: Old Hwy 64 East.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Shooting Creek?+
Shooting Creek is reported to produce Hyalite Opal Geode.
Is collecting allowed at Shooting 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 Shooting Creek?+
Bring a crack hammer, a chisel, safety glasses, and a bucket. Candidates are rounder and lighter than solid rock; a soil pipe cutter opens them cleaner than a flat smash.
When is the best time to visit Shooting Creek?+
Shooting Creek is workable year-round.
How do I get to Shooting Creek?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 35.02311, -83.67514 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Old Hwy 64 East.

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