Warner Canyon: Petrified Wood & Quartz Rockhounding in Lake County, Oregon

Updated June 2026

Warner Canyon is a mapped rockhounding spot in Lake County, Oregon. Reported finds include petrified wood, quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Lake County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Winnemucca-to-the-Sea Highway
Coordinates: 42.23872, -120.31008

Geology at Warner Canyon

This spot sits on volcanic rocks, mapped as dacite tuff, tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, and rhyolite tuff that formed roughly 23 to 5 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: volcanic rocks
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: dacite tuff, tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, and rhyolite tuff
Elevation: 5,730 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 Warner Canyon

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LAKEVIEW 2 NNW station (3 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 Warner Canyon

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 Warner Canyon.

Across the state line from Warner Canyon

Warner Canyon 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.

Warner Canyon FAQ

Where is Warner Canyon?+

Warner Canyon is in Lake County, Oregon, at 42.23872, -120.31008. Nearest road: Winnemucca-to-the-Sea Highway.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Warner Canyon?+

Warner Canyon is reported to produce Petrified Wood, Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Warner Canyon?+

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 Warner Canyon?+

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 Warner Canyon?+

The most comfortable months at Warner Canyon are March to November.

How do I get to Warner Canyon?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.23872, -120.31008 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Winnemucca-to-the-Sea Highway.

More rockhounding in Oregon

See all 177 Oregon spots →

Open Warner Canyon on the map

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