Hill City: Beryl & Red Cassiterite Rockhounding in Pennington County, South Dakota

Updated June 2026

Hill City is a mapped rockhounding spot in Pennington County, South Dakota. Reported finds include beryl, red cassiterite, cervantite, columbite, graphite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Pennington County
State: South Dakota
Nearest road: Campaign Hill Road
Postcode: 57745
Coordinates: 43.93329, -103.59407

Geology at Hill City

This spot sits on ground mapped as Metamorphosed black shale that formed roughly 2500 to 1600 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit: Metamorphosed black shale
Age: 2500–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)
Elevation: 5,370 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 Hill City

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HILL CITY station (2 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 Hill City

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 Hill City.

Across the state line from Hill City

Hill City 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.

Hill City FAQ

Where is Hill City?+

Hill City is in Pennington County, South Dakota, at 43.93329, -103.59407. Nearest road: Campaign Hill Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Hill City?+

Hill City is reported to produce Beryl, Red Cassiterite, Cervantite, Columbite, Graphite, Wolframite.

Is collecting allowed at Hill City?+

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 Hill City?+

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 Hill City?+

The most comfortable months at Hill City are March to November.

How do I get to Hill City?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.93329, -103.59407 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Campaign Hill Road.

More rockhounding in South Dakota

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Open Hill City on the map

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