Best spot

Hampton Butte: Petrified Wood & Jasper Rockhounding in Deschutes County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Hampton Butte, north of Brothers in central Oregon, is the classic source of green petrified wood, where Eocene wood was replaced by jasper and chalcedony and tinted by copper and iron minerals. Collecting on the surrounding BLM public land turns up petrified wood, limb casts, agate, and jasper, with the prized pieces ranging from turquoise to dark green. Mindat catalogs the locality in Deschutes County, and the wood has been documented in scientific studies of Oregon's fossil forests. Reported finds include petrified wood, jasper, agate, limb casts. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Hampton Butte photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Green-tinted petrified wood from Oregon showing preserved grain, the signature material at Hampton Butte, Deschutes County, Oregon

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Deschutes County
State: Oregon
Coordinates: 43.85697, -120.25442

Geology at Hampton Butte

This spot sits on John Day/Clarno Group; Clarno Formation, mapped as mudflow, greenish gray, breccia, andesite flows, and greenish gray; calcic andesine some soda labradorite phenocrysts; vesicle fill: alteration mineral mostly in vesicles and fracture filling; alteration: iron magnesium montmorillonite clays silic carbonate zeolites hematite limonite; mineralogy: hornblende clinopyroxene hypersthene olivine augite hornblende-augite andesite that formed roughly 56 to 23 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: John Day/Clarno Group; Clarno Formation
Age: 56–23 Ma (Eocene to Oligocene)
Rock types: mudflow, greenish gray, breccia, andesite flows, and greenish gray; calcic andesine some soda labradorite phenocrysts; vesicle fill: alteration mineral mostly in vesicles and fracture filling; alteration: iron magnesium montmorillonite clays silic carbonate zeolites hematite limonite; mineralogy: hornblende clinopyroxene hypersthene olivine augite hornblende-augite andesite
Elevation: 4,780 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 Hampton Butte

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BARNES STN station (6 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 Hampton Butte

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 Hampton Butte.

Hampton Butte FAQ

Where is Hampton Butte?+

Hampton Butte is in Deschutes County, Oregon, at 43.85697, -120.25442.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Hampton Butte?+

Hampton Butte is reported to produce Petrified Wood, Jasper, Agate, Limb Casts.

Is collecting allowed at Hampton Butte?+

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 Hampton Butte?+

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 Hampton Butte?+

The most comfortable months at Hampton Butte are March to November.

How do I get to Hampton Butte?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.85697, -120.25442 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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