San Rafael River: Sulfur Rockhounding in Emery County, Utah

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Emery County

State

Utah

Nearest road

Hambrick Bottoms Road

Coordinates

39.14088, -110.88873

Geology at San Rafael River

This spot sits on Morrison Formation (Brushy Basin and Salt Wash Members), mapped as sandstone mudstone that formed roughly 160 to 145 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

Morrison Formation (Brushy Basin and Salt Wash Members)

Age

160–145 Ma (Late Jurassic)

Rock types

sandstone mudstone

Elevation

5,330 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 San Rafael River

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 92°F in midsummer and 41°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 11°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CASTLE DALE station (8 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 San Rafael River

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

• Sulfur