Big Creek: Garnet & Moonstone Rockhounding in Stokes County, North Carolina
- Minerals reported
- 3
- Elevation
- 800 ft
- Best months
- Year-round
Big Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Stokes County, North Carolina. Reported finds include garnet, moonstone, smoky quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Stokes County
- State
- North Carolina
- Nearest road
- Lynchburg Road
- Postcode
- 27053
- Coordinates
- 36.44996, -80.29006
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 Big Creek
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 49°F in winter to 88°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DANBURY station (6 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Big Creek
This spot sits on Mica Schist, mapped as mica schist that formed roughly 1000 to 485 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this typically carries quartz veins and sweats, and weathered crystals tend to end up in the soils and streams below.
- Mapped unit
- Mica Schist
- Age
- 1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)
- Rock types
- mica schist
- Elevation
- 800 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.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Big Creek.
Get the appSources & 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:
- North Carolina Geological Survey
- Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests
- Emerald Hollow Mine (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Big Creek
Each name 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 Big Creek.
- DanburyStokes County, North Carolina · 6 mi awayAgate, Carnelian, Chalcedony
- Pilot MountainSurry County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayQuartz
- Mount AirySurry County, North Carolina · 17 mi awayFeldspar, Quartz, Jasper
- White PlainsSurry County, North Carolina · 17 mi awayBeryl, Columbite, Quartz
- KernersvilleForsyth County, North Carolina · 24 mi awayChrysolite, Bronzite, Tourmaline
- Winston-SalemForsyth County, North Carolina · 26 mi awayHalloysite, Hematite, Magnetite
- BurchSurry County, North Carolina · 28 mi awayJasper, Quartz
- Yadkin CountyYadkin County, North Carolina · 29 mi awayCarnelian
Across the state line from Big Creek
Big 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.
- StuartPatrick County, Virginia · 13 mi awayAlmandine Garnet, Staurolite, Corundum
- Hurricane KnobPatrick County, Virginia · 20 mi awayKyanite
- Laurel ForkCarroll County, Virginia · 23 mi awayQuartz
- Fairy Stone State ParkHenry County, Virginia · 25 mi awayStaurolite
- Henry CountyHenry County, Virginia · 27 mi awayBlue Quartz
- Chestnut Creek WetlandsFloyd County, Virginia · 29 mi awayQuartz
Big Creek FAQ
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More rockhounding in North Carolina
See all 207 North Carolina spots →
Open Big Creek on the map
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