Whitewood Creek: Geode Digging in Lawrence County, South Dakota
- Minerals reported
- 4
- Elevation
- 3,160 ft
- Best months
- March to November
The gravels of Whitewood Creek in the northern Black Hills are a reliable source of geodes lined with amethyst and chalcedony, along with silicified wood. Together with Spearfish Canyon it anchors Lawrence County's reputation as the best geode-hunting district in South Dakota. Reported finds include amethyst, geode, chalcedony, silicified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Permission required before collecting
- County
- Lawrence County
- State
- South Dakota
- Nearest road
- Whitewood Valley Road
- Coordinates
- 44.54648, -103.56394
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
Land & collecting status
Permission required before collecting
Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.
Access note: Reported as private property along the creek. No public land of record at the mapped point.
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 Whitewood Creek
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 16°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FT MEADE station (10 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Whitewood Creek
This spot sits on Alluvium, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Geodes weather out of their host rock and collect in gravels like these, where their round shape and light heft help them stand out.
- Mapped unit
- Alluvium
- Age
- 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
- Rock types
- coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
- Elevation
- 3,160 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 Whitewood 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 Whitewood 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 Whitewood Creek.
- Broken Boot Gold MineLawrence County, South Dakota · 15 mi awayGold, Arsenopyrite, Galena
- SavoyLawrence County, South Dakota · 22 mi awayGold, Fluorite, Silver
- Spearfish CanyonLawrence County, South Dakota · 22 mi awayAmethyst, Geode, Chalcedony
- PiedmontMeade County, South Dakota · 24 mi awaySelenite
- SummersetMeade County, South Dakota · 26 mi awayFossil
- Meade CountyMeade County, South Dakota · 29 mi awayYellow Barite, Amber Barite, Whewellite
- RochfordPennington County, South Dakota · 33 mi awayArsenopyrite, Galena, Gold
- Pennington CountyPennington County, South Dakota · 40 mi awayAmethyst
Across the state line from Whitewood Creek
Whitewood 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.
- Black Hills National ForestCrook County, Wyoming · 28 mi awayFluorite, Gold
- Warren PeakCrook County, Wyoming · 44 mi awayAzurite, Malachite
- Copper Prince MineCrook County, Wyoming · 46 mi awayChrysocolla, Gold, Malachite
- AlzadaCarter County, Montana · 53 mi awayBentonite
- NewcastleWeston County, Wyoming · 57 mi awayGypsum
Whitewood Creek FAQ
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More rockhounding in South Dakota
See all 47 South Dakota spots →
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