Twin Springs Campground: Rockhounding in Malheur County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Twin Springs Campground is a mapped rockhounding spot in Malheur County, Oregon. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Malheur County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Twin Springs Road
Coordinates: 43.61720, -117.41790

Geology at Twin Springs Campground

This spot sits on Oregon-Idaho Graben; Upper member, mapped as vitric tuff, pale yellow, white, tuffaceous siltstone, grayish green, and bentonitic claystone that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this weathers into rocky slopes and float, and fresh exposures in cuts and drainages are usually the most productive places to look.

Mapped unit: Oregon-Idaho Graben; Upper member
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: vitric tuff, pale yellow, white, tuffaceous siltstone, grayish green, and bentonitic claystone
Elevation: 3,240 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 Twin Springs Campground

Best months: March to June. Typical highs run 92°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, OWYHEE DAM station (9 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

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Twin Springs Campground.

Across the state line from Twin Springs Campground

Twin Springs Campground 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.

Twin Springs Campground FAQ

Where is Twin Springs Campground?+

Twin Springs Campground is in Malheur County, Oregon, at 43.61720, -117.41790. Nearest road: Twin Springs Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Twin Springs Campground?+

Twin Springs Campground is on the rockhounding map but no minerals are listed in our reference. Open RockHoundR to see what other rockhounds have logged.

Is collecting allowed at Twin Springs Campground?+

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 Twin Springs Campground?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Twin Springs Campground?+

The most comfortable months at Twin Springs Campground are March to June.

How do I get to Twin Springs Campground?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.61720, -117.41790 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Twin Springs Road.

More rockhounding in Oregon

See all 177 Oregon spots →

Open Twin Springs Campground on the map

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