Agate Hill: Agate & Jasper Rockhounding in Malheur County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Agate Hill is a mapped rockhounding spot in Malheur County, Oregon. Reported finds include agate, jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Malheur County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Disaster Peak Road
Coordinates: 42.02447, -117.86754

Geology at Agate Hill

This spot sits on sedimentary rocks, mapped as tuff, fossils: mammalian vertebrate fossils, and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit: sedimentary rocks
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: tuff, fossils: mammalian vertebrate fossils, and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks
Elevation: 5,320 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 Agate Hill

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 15°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MCDERMITT station (8 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 Agate Hill

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 Agate Hill.

Across the state line from Agate Hill

Agate Hill 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.

Agate Hill FAQ

Where is Agate Hill?+

Agate Hill is in Malheur County, Oregon, at 42.02447, -117.86754. Nearest road: Disaster Peak Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Agate Hill?+

Agate Hill is reported to produce Agate, Jasper.

Is collecting allowed at Agate Hill?+

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 Agate Hill?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Agate Hill?+

The most comfortable months at Agate Hill are March to November.

How do I get to Agate Hill?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.02447, -117.86754 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Disaster Peak Road.

More rockhounding in Oregon

See all 177 Oregon spots →

Open Agate Hill on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.