Best spot

Nottingham Park: Serpentine & Garnet Rockhounding in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Updated July 2026

Nottingham County Park sits on the State Line serpentine barrens, one of the classic ultramafic exposures of the Pennsylvania Piedmont. Weathered serpentinite here yields serpentine, chromite, garnet, feldspar and tourmaline, and the barrens' distinctive flora makes it a well-documented geologic destination. It is an established, well mapped locality that stands out in eastern Pennsylvania. Reported finds include serpentine, garnet, feldspar, tourmaline, albite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Nottingham Park photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

A serpentine barrens streambed in the Pennsylvania State Line serpentine district, the same barrens habitat as Nottingham County Park, southern Chester County, Pennsylvania

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Chester County
State: Pennsylvania
Nearest road: Feldspar Trail (Blue)
Postcode: 19362
Coordinates: 39.73517, -76.04854

Geology at Nottingham Park

This spot sits on Ultramafic rocks, mapped as serpentinite that formed roughly 540 to 250 million years ago. Metamorphic belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.

Mapped unit: Ultramafic rocks
Age: 540–250 Ma (Paleozoic)
Rock types: serpentinite
Elevation: 410 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 Nottingham Park

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 84°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, OCTORARO LAKE station (4 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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.

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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Nottingham Park

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 Nottingham Park.

Across the state line from Nottingham Park

Nottingham Park is close enough to the Pennsylvania border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Nottingham Park FAQ

Where is Nottingham Park?+

Nottingham Park is in Chester County, Pennsylvania, at 39.73517, -76.04854. Nearest road: Feldspar Trail (Blue).

What rocks and minerals can you find at Nottingham Park?+

Nottingham Park is reported to produce Serpentine, Garnet, Feldspar, Tourmaline, Albite.

Is collecting allowed at Nottingham Park?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Nottingham Park?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Nottingham Park?+

The most comfortable months at Nottingham Park are March to November.

How do I get to Nottingham Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.73517, -76.04854 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Feldspar Trail (Blue).

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