Pike Creek: Thundereggs & Jasper Rockhounding in Harney County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Pike Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Harney County, Oregon. Reported finds include thundereggs, jasper, agate, obsidian, fossils, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Harney County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Pike Creek Trail
Coordinates: 42.57690, -118.53060

Geology at Pike Creek

This spot sits on surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits, mapped as mixed fluvial sediment and mixed playa sediment that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Sedimentary layers like these are where fossils are typically preserved, and fresh exposures after rain or in active cuts tend to produce best.

Mapped unit: surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: mixed fluvial sediment and mixed playa sediment
Elevation: 4,330 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 Pike Creek

Best months: February to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 40°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FIELDS station (23 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Confirm rules before collecting

Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting — federal, state, and tribal rules differ.

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 Pike 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 Pike Creek.

Across the state line from Pike Creek

Pike 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.

Pike Creek FAQ

Where is Pike Creek?+

Pike Creek is in Harney County, Oregon, at 42.57690, -118.53060. Nearest road: Pike Creek Trail.

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

Pike Creek is reported to produce Thundereggs, Jasper, Agate, Obsidian, Fossils, Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Pike Creek?+

Confirm rules before collecting. Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting — federal, state, and tribal rules differ. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Pike Creek?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Pike Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Pike Creek are February to November.

How do I get to Pike Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.57690, -118.53060 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Pike Creek Trail.

More rockhounding in Oregon

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Open Pike Creek on the map

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