Morrison Cove: Quartz & Amethyst Rockhounding in Bedford County, Pennsylvania

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Bedford County

State

Pennsylvania

Nearest road

Sportsmens Access Road

Postcode

16614

Coordinates

40.24370, -78.38524

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: Much of the cove is farmland and private property, so seek landowner permission and work roadcuts, field edges and float rather than crossing posted ground. Confirm access before collecting.

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.

Best time to visit Morrison Cove

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ALTOONA BLAIR CO AP station (5 mi away).

Geology at Morrison Cove

This spot sits on Gatesburg Formation, mapped as dolostone that formed roughly 540 to 485 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this dissolves and weathers readily, so fresh road cuts, quarries, and creek exposures are typically the most productive ground.

Mapped unit

Gatesburg Formation

Age

540–485 Ma (Cambrian)

Rock types

dolostone

Elevation

1,420 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.

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.

• Pennsylvania Geological Survey
• DCNR state park and state forest rules
• Allegheny National Forest
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules