The Needles: Barite & Calcite Rockhounding in Grand County, Utah

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Grand County

State

Utah

Nearest road

The Needle Road

Coordinates

38.68535, -109.91652

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.

Access note: BLM records active mining claims in this area. Collecting from inside an active claim needs the claim holder's permission.

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 The Needles

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 15°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MOAB CANYONLAND AP station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at The Needles

This spot sits on ground mapped as Dewey Bridge Member of Carmel Formation that formed roughly 175 to 160 million years ago. Ore minerals here are typically tied to veins and replacement zones, with old workings marking the productive ground.

Mapped unit

Dewey Bridge Member of Carmel Formation

Age

175–160 Ma (Middle Jurassic)

Elevation

5,210 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