Shirttail Creek: Agate & Chalcedony Rockhounding in Baker County, Oregon

Updated June 2026

Shirttail Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Baker County, Oregon. Reported finds include agate, chalcedony, jasper, oregon jade, agatized wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Baker County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Shirttail Creek Road
Coordinates: 44.51759, -117.41944

Geology at Shirttail Creek

This spot sits on Columbia River Basalt Group; Grande Ronde Basalt, mapped as basalt flows that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Petrified wood typically comes from volcanic ash beds like the ones associated with this ground, where buried forests were slowly replaced by silica.

Mapped unit: Columbia River Basalt Group; Grande Ronde Basalt
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: basalt flows
Elevation: 3,000 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 Shirttail Creek

Best months: March to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 34°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HUNTINGTON station (14 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: April 1, 2026

BLM Oregon/Washington — Rockhounding & mineral material
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department — beach collecting rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Shirttail 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 Shirttail Creek.

Across the state line from Shirttail Creek

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

Shirttail Creek FAQ

Where is Shirttail Creek?+

Shirttail Creek is in Baker County, Oregon, at 44.51759, -117.41944. Nearest road: Shirttail Creek Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Shirttail Creek?+

Shirttail Creek is reported to produce Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Oregon Jade, Agatized Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Shirttail 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 Shirttail Creek?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.

When is the best time to visit Shirttail Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Shirttail Creek are March to June.

How do I get to Shirttail Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.51759, -117.41944 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Shirttail Creek Road.

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Open Shirttail Creek on the map

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