Laughing Water Creek: Gold Prospecting in Custer County, South Dakota
- Minerals reported
- 3
- Elevation
- 6,000 ft
- Best months
- April to October
Laughing Water Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Custer County, South Dakota. Reported finds include columbite, gold, silver. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Custer County
- State
- South Dakota
- Nearest road
- Echo Valley Road
- Coordinates
- 43.81827, -103.61690
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: BLM records active mining claims in this area. Collecting from inside an active claim needs the claim holder's permission.
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 Laughing Water Creek
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 78°F in midsummer and 35°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CUSTER station (3 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Laughing Water Creek
This spot sits on ground mapped as Metagraywacke unit 2 that formed roughly 2500 to 1600 million years ago. In sedimentary country like this, any placer gold is typically recycled from older gravels, concentrating again in modern stream beds.
- Mapped unit
- Metagraywacke unit 2
- Age
- 2500–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)
- Elevation
- 6,000 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.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Laughing Water Creek.
Get the appSources & 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.
- BLM Montana-Dakotas rockhounding rules
- Buffalo Gap National Grassland
- South Dakota Geological Survey
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Laughing Water Creek
Each name 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 Laughing Water Creek.
- November MineCuster County, South Dakota · 4 mi awayArsenopyrite, Fluorapatite
- Tin MountainCuster County, South Dakota · 7 mi awayFluorapatite, Quartz, Almandine Garnet
- Hill CityPennington County, South Dakota · 8 mi awayBeryl, Red Cassiterite, Cervantite
- KeystonePennington County, South Dakota · 11 mi awayTourmaline, Spodumene, Lepidolite
- Hell CanyonCuster County, South Dakota · 12 mi awayBanded Agate, Jade, Jasper
- FairburnCuster County, South Dakota · 13 mi awayFairburn Agate
- Teepee Canyon AgatesCuster County, South Dakota · 16 mi awayAgate
- PringleCuster County, South Dakota · 18 mi awayFairhill Agate
Across the state line from Laughing Water Creek
Laughing Water Creek is close enough to the South Dakota border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- NewcastleWeston County, Wyoming · 25 mi awayGypsum
- Black Hills National ForestCrook County, Wyoming · 44 mi awayFluorite, Gold
- Warren PeakCrook County, Wyoming · 61 mi awayAzurite, Malachite
- MontroseSioux County, Nebraska · 62 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Fossil
- OrellaDawes County, Nebraska · 63 mi awayFairburn Agate, Jasper, Carnelian
- Copper Prince MineCrook County, Wyoming · 63 mi awayChrysocolla, Gold, Malachite
Laughing Water Creek FAQ
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More rockhounding in South Dakota
See all 47 South Dakota spots →
Open Laughing Water Creek on the map
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