Gopher Holes: Petrified Wood Rockhounding in Malheur County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Gopher Holes is a mapped rockhounding spot in Malheur County, Oregon. Reported finds include petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Malheur County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Archie Myers Ranch Road
Coordinates: 42.06152, -117.96278

Geology at Gopher Holes

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. 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: sedimentary rocks
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: tuff, fossils: mammalian vertebrate fossils, and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks
Elevation: 5,530 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 Gopher Holes

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MCDERMITT station (13 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 Gopher Holes

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Petrified Wood Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Gopher Holes.

Across the state line from Gopher Holes

Gopher Holes 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.

Gopher Holes FAQ

Where is Gopher Holes?+

Gopher Holes is in Malheur County, Oregon, at 42.06152, -117.96278. Nearest road: Archie Myers Ranch Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Gopher Holes?+

Gopher Holes is reported to produce Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Gopher Holes?+

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 Gopher Holes?+

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 Gopher Holes?+

The most comfortable months at Gopher Holes are March to November.

How do I get to Gopher Holes?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.06152, -117.96278 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Archie Myers Ranch Road.

More rockhounding in Oregon

See all 177 Oregon spots →

Open Gopher Holes on the map

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