Chinle Wash: Pyrope Rockhounding in San Juan County, Utah

Updated July 2026

Chinle Wash is a mapped rockhounding spot in San Juan County, Utah. Reported finds include pyrope. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: San Juan County
State: Utah
Nearest road: Canyon Drive
Coordinates: 37.01156, -109.70520

Geology at Chinle Wash

This spot sits on Glen Canyon Group, mapped as arenite that formed roughly 200 to 175 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: Glen Canyon Group
Age: 200–175 Ma (Early Jurassic)
Rock types: arenite
Elevation: 4,630 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 Chinle Wash

Best months: January to May. Typical highs run 97°F in midsummer and 45°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, MEXICAN HAT station (13 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 Chinle Wash

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

Pyrope

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Chinle Wash.

Across the state line from Chinle Wash

Chinle Wash is close enough to the Utah border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

NW San Juan CountySan Juan County, New Mexico · 61 mi awayChert, Garnet, Jasper

Chinle Wash FAQ

Where is Chinle Wash?+

Chinle Wash is in San Juan County, Utah, at 37.01156, -109.70520. Nearest road: Canyon Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Chinle Wash?+

Chinle Wash is reported to produce Pyrope.

Is collecting allowed at Chinle Wash?+

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 Chinle Wash?+

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 Chinle Wash?+

The most comfortable months at Chinle Wash are January 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 Chinle Wash?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.01156, -109.70520 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Canyon Drive.

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