Little Cottonwood: Apatite & Alunite Rockhounding in Salt Lake County, Utah

Updated June 2026

Little Cottonwood is a mapped rockhounding spot in Salt Lake County, Utah. Reported finds include apatite, alunite, biotite, hornblende, magnetite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Salt Lake County
State: Utah
Nearest road: Little Cottonwood Road
Postcode: 85092
Coordinates: 40.57016, -111.71354

Geology at Little Cottonwood

This spot sits on ground mapped as Alluvium that formed within roughly the last 12,000 years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium
Age: < 1 Ma (Holocene)
Elevation: 6,800 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 Little Cottonwood

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ALTA station (4 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 Little Cottonwood

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 Little Cottonwood.

Little Cottonwood FAQ

Where is Little Cottonwood?+

Little Cottonwood is in Salt Lake County, Utah, at 40.57016, -111.71354. Nearest road: Little Cottonwood Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Little Cottonwood?+

Little Cottonwood is reported to produce Apatite, Alunite, Biotite, Hornblende, Magnetite, Microcline, Feldspar, Pyrite, Quartz, Sphene, Sericite, Scheelite, Zircon.

Is collecting allowed at Little Cottonwood?+

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 Little Cottonwood?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Little Cottonwood?+

The most comfortable months at Little Cottonwood are April to October.

How do I get to Little Cottonwood?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.57016, -111.71354 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Little Cottonwood Road.

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Open Little Cottonwood on the map

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