South Temple Wash: Autunite & Carnotite Rockhounding in Emery County, Utah

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Emery County

State

Utah

Nearest road

Wild Horse Canyon

Coordinates

38.64591, -110.66713

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

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.

Best time to visit South Temple Wash

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 40°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 16°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GOBLIN VALLEY SP station (5 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at South Temple Wash

This spot sits on Bluff Ss, Summerville Fm, Curtis Fm, Entrada Ss, and Carmel Formation, mapped as sandstone that formed roughly 175 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

Bluff Ss, Summerville Fm, Curtis Fm, Entrada Ss, and Carmel Formation

Age

175–145 Ma (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic)

Rock types

sandstone

Elevation

5,200 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.

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