Haystack Butte: Jellybean Jasper & Agate Rockhounding in Malheur County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Haystack Butte is a mapped rockhounding spot in Malheur County, Oregon. Reported finds include jellybean jasper, agate, petrified wood, chalcedony, common opal. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Malheur County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Haystack Rock Road
Coordinates: 43.70700, -117.25700

Geology at Haystack Butte

This spot sits on Oregon-Idaho Graben; Lower member, mapped as arkosic sandstone and matrix: quartz plagioclase potassium feldspar detrital biotite or muscovite that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Sedimentary beds like these are the typical host for petrified and silicified wood, which weathers out as durable float on slopes and in washes.

Mapped unit: Oregon-Idaho Graben; Lower member
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: arkosic sandstone and matrix: quartz plagioclase potassium feldspar detrital biotite or muscovite
Elevation: 2,690 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 Haystack Butte

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 20°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, OWYHEE DAM station (4 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 Haystack Butte

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 Haystack Butte.

Across the state line from Haystack Butte

Haystack Butte 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.

Haystack Butte FAQ

Where is Haystack Butte?+

Haystack Butte is in Malheur County, Oregon, at 43.70700, -117.25700. Nearest road: Haystack Rock Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Haystack Butte?+

Haystack Butte is reported to produce Jellybean Jasper, Agate, Petrified Wood, Chalcedony, Common Opal.

Is collecting allowed at Haystack Butte?+

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 Haystack Butte?+

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 Haystack Butte?+

The most comfortable months at Haystack Butte are February to June.

How do I get to Haystack Butte?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.70700, -117.25700 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Haystack Rock Road.

More rockhounding in Oregon

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Open Haystack Butte on the map

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