Althouse Creek: Gold Prospecting in Josephine County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Althouse Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Josephine County, Oregon. Reported finds include agate, garnet, gold nugget, quartz, serpentine, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Josephine County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Beebe Drive
Coordinates: 42.11258, -123.53893

Geology at Althouse Creek

This spot sits on surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits, mapped as mixed fluvial sediment that formed within roughly the last 12,000 years. In sedimentary country like this, any placer gold is typically recycled from older gravels, concentrating again in modern stream beds.

Mapped unit: surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits
Age: < 1 Ma (Holocene)
Rock types: mixed fluvial sediment
Elevation: 1,720 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 Althouse Creek

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 48°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 31°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CAVE JUNCTION 1 WNW 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 Althouse 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 Althouse Creek.

Across the state line from Althouse Creek

Althouse 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.

Althouse Creek FAQ

Where is Althouse Creek?+

Althouse Creek is in Josephine County, Oregon, at 42.11258, -123.53893. Nearest road: Beebe Drive.

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

Althouse Creek is reported to produce Agate, Garnet, Gold Nugget, Quartz, Serpentine, Rhodonite, Oregon Jade, Jasper.

Is collecting allowed at Althouse Creek?+

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 Althouse Creek?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Althouse Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Althouse Creek are September to June.

How do I get to Althouse Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.11258, -123.53893 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Beebe Drive.

More rockhounding in Oregon

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Open Althouse Creek on the map

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