Chenowith Creek: Opalized Wood Rockhounding in Wasco County, Oregon

Updated June 2026

Chenowith Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Wasco County, Oregon. Reported finds include opalized wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Wasco County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Oak Hill Drive
Postcode: 97058
Coordinates: 45.62141, -121.24833

Geology at Chenowith Creek

This spot sits on surficial deposits; Missoula Flood deposits, mapped as mixed catastrophic flood sediment that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. 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: surficial deposits; Missoula Flood deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: mixed catastrophic flood sediment
Elevation: 380 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 Chenowith Creek

Best months: February to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 28°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, THE DALLES station (2 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Chenowith Creek

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

Opalized Wood Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Chenowith Creek.

Across the state line from Chenowith Creek

Chenowith Creek 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.

Chenowith Creek FAQ

Where is Chenowith Creek?+

Chenowith Creek is in Wasco County, Oregon, at 45.62141, -121.24833. Nearest road: Oak Hill Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Chenowith Creek?+

Chenowith Creek is reported to produce Opalized Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Chenowith Creek?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Chenowith Creek?+

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 Chenowith Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Chenowith Creek are February to November.

How do I get to Chenowith Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.62141, -121.24833 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Oak Hill Drive.

More rockhounding in Oregon

See all 177 Oregon spots →

Open Chenowith Creek on the map

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