Salt Valley: Gold Prospecting in Grand County, Utah

Updated June 2026

Salt Valley is a mapped rockhounding spot in Grand County, Utah. Reported finds include azurite, carnallite, gold, gypsum, halite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Grand County
State: Utah
Nearest road: Delicate Arch Road
Coordinates: 38.73049, -109.52505

Geology at Salt Valley

This spot sits on ground mapped as Stream alluvium that formed within roughly the last 129,000 years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: Stream alluvium
Age: < 1 Ma (Late Pleistocene to Holocene)
Elevation: 4,280 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 Salt Valley

Best months: February to May. Typical highs run 98°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CASTLE VALLEY station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Salt Valley

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 Salt Valley.

Salt Valley FAQ

Where is Salt Valley?+

Salt Valley is in Grand County, Utah, at 38.73049, -109.52505. Nearest road: Delicate Arch Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Salt Valley?+

Salt Valley is reported to produce Azurite, Carnallite, Gold, Gypsum, Halite, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrolusite, Sylvite.

Is collecting allowed at Salt Valley?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Salt Valley?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Salt Valley?+

The most comfortable months at Salt Valley are February to May. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

How do I get to Salt Valley?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.73049, -109.52505 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Delicate Arch Road.

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Open Salt Valley on the map

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