Best spot

Tepee Canyon: Agate & Beryl Rockhounding in Custer County, South Dakota

Updated June 2026

Tepee Canyon is the home of the distinctive Tepee Canyon banded agate, a fortification agate of purples, reds, and oranges encased in a chocolate-brown limestone host. The old commercial diggings off US-16 west of Custer are no longer open to mining claims, and rockhounds have productively worked the tailings here for decades. Agates here sit several feet inside the limestone and usually must be chipped free. Reported finds include agate, beryl, almandine garnet, lepidolite, staurolite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Tepee Canyon photos

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

1 photo

A Teepee Canyon agate from Custer County showing fortification banding in red, yellow, and white set in its brown limestone host

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Custer County
State: South Dakota
Nearest road: Pleasant Valley Road
Coordinates: 43.55281, -103.94538

Geology at Tepee Canyon

This spot sits on ground mapped as Spearfish Formation that formed roughly 275 to 200 million years ago. Tough silica like agate and jasper typically survives weathering and collects as float in drainages and gravel.

Mapped unit: Spearfish Formation
Age: 275–200 Ma (Late Permian to Triassic)
Elevation: 3,900 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 Tepee Canyon

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, EDGEMONT 23 NNW station (5 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 Tepee Canyon

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 Tepee Canyon.

Across the state line from Tepee Canyon

Tepee Canyon 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.

Tepee Canyon FAQ

Where is Tepee Canyon?+

Tepee Canyon is in Custer County, South Dakota, at 43.55281, -103.94538. Nearest road: Pleasant Valley Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Tepee Canyon?+

Tepee Canyon is reported to produce Agate, Beryl, Almandine Garnet, Lepidolite, Staurolite, Tourmaline.

Is collecting allowed at Tepee Canyon?+

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 Tepee Canyon?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Tepee Canyon?+

The most comfortable months at Tepee Canyon are March to November.

How do I get to Tepee Canyon?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.55281, -103.94538 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Pleasant Valley Road.

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