Birch Creek: Kyanite Rockhounding in Box Elder County, Utah

Updated June 2026

Birch Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Box Elder County, Utah. Reported finds include kyanite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Box Elder County
State: Utah
Coordinates: 41.69148, -113.68535

Geology at Birch Creek

This spot sits on Older alluvial deposits, mapped as coarse alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Older alluvial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: coarse alluvium
Elevation: 5,910 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 Birch Creek

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 11°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GROUSE CREEK station (10 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Utah, Rockhounding overview
Utah Geological Survey, collecting guidelines
SITLA, surface use rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Birch Creek

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Kyanite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Birch Creek.

Across the state line from Birch Creek

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

Birch Creek FAQ

Where is Birch Creek?+

Birch Creek is in Box Elder County, Utah, at 41.69148, -113.68535.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Birch Creek?+

Birch Creek is reported to produce Kyanite.

Is collecting allowed at Birch Creek?+

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 Birch Creek?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Birch Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Birch Creek are March to October.

How do I get to Birch Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.69148, -113.68535 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Utah

See all 270 Utah spots →

Open Birch Creek on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.