Ashwood: Geode Digging in Jefferson County, Oregon

Updated June 2026

Ashwood is a mapped rockhounding spot in Jefferson County, Oregon. Reported finds include agate, chalcedony, geode, jasper, thundereggs. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Jefferson County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Northeast Trout Creek Road
Postcode: 97711
Coordinates: 44.73582, -120.75422

Geology at Ashwood

This spot sits on John Day/Clarno Group; Clarno Formation, mapped as intrusives, plagioclase clinopyroxene orthopyroxene or hornblened less olivine phenocrysts; lithology: basaltic andesite andesite bit range from olivine basalt to dacite, volcanic breccia, angular to subangular andesite basalt fragments fragments; lithology: basaltic andesite andesite bit range from olivine basalt to dacite; matrix: andesite basalt freshly erupted ash, mafic flows, lithology: basaltic andesite andesite bit range from olivine basalt to dacite, andesite flows, and basalt flows that formed roughly 56 to 23 million years ago. Volcanic rock like this is classic geode and thunderegg country: gas cavities in the old flows can line themselves with quartz or agate over time.

Mapped unit: John Day/Clarno Group; Clarno Formation
Age: 56–23 Ma (Eocene to Oligocene)
Rock types: intrusives, plagioclase clinopyroxene orthopyroxene or hornblened less olivine phenocrysts; lithology: basaltic andesite andesite bit range from olivine basalt to dacite, volcanic breccia, angular to subangular andesite basalt fragments fragments; lithology: basaltic andesite andesite bit range from olivine basalt to dacite; matrix: andesite basalt freshly erupted ash, mafic flows, lithology: basaltic andesite andesite bit range from olivine basalt to dacite, andesite flows, and basalt flows
Elevation: 2,490 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 Ashwood

Best months: January to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 45°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 28°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ANTELOPE 6 SSW station (6 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Ashwood

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 Ashwood.

Across the state line from Ashwood

Ashwood 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.

Ashwood FAQ

Where is Ashwood?+

Ashwood is in Jefferson County, Oregon, at 44.73582, -120.75422. Nearest road: Northeast Trout Creek Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ashwood?+

Ashwood is reported to produce Agate, Chalcedony, Geode, Jasper, Thundereggs.

Is collecting allowed at Ashwood?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Ashwood?+

Bring a crack hammer, a chisel, safety glasses, and a bucket. Candidates are rounder and lighter than solid rock; a soil pipe cutter opens them cleaner than a flat smash.

When is the best time to visit Ashwood?+

The most comfortable months at Ashwood are January to November.

How do I get to Ashwood?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.73582, -120.75422 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Northeast Trout Creek Road.

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