Stinkingwater Creek: Petrified Wood & Agate Rockhounding in Harney County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

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

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Harney County
State: Oregon
Coordinates: 43.66663, -118.46702

Geology at Stinkingwater Creek

This spot sits on sedimentary rocks; Drewsey Formation, mapped as tuffaceous sediment, fossils: plant fossils vertebrates fossils, and tuff that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Fossils are uncommon in volcanic rock itself; look to any interbedded sediments and ash beds, where plant material and bone are typically preserved.

Mapped unit: sedimentary rocks; Drewsey Formation
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: tuffaceous sediment, fossils: plant fossils vertebrates fossils, and tuff
Elevation: 3,920 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 Stinkingwater Creek

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 34°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 15°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DREWSEY station (11 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Stinkingwater 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 Stinkingwater Creek.

Across the state line from Stinkingwater Creek

Stinkingwater 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.

Stinkingwater Creek FAQ

Where is Stinkingwater Creek?+

Stinkingwater Creek is in Harney County, Oregon, at 43.66663, -118.46702.

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

Stinkingwater Creek is reported to produce Petrified Wood, Agate, Jasper, Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Stinkingwater 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 Stinkingwater 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 Stinkingwater Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Stinkingwater Creek are March to October.

How do I get to Stinkingwater Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.66663, -118.46702 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Oregon

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Open Stinkingwater Creek on the map

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