Rat Hole Canyon: Wurtzilite Rockhounding in Uintah County, Utah

Updated July 2026

Rat Hole Canyon is a mapped rockhounding spot in Uintah County, Utah. Reported finds include wurtzilite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Uintah County
State: Utah
Nearest road: Upper Bitter Creek Road
Coordinates: 39.59247, -109.16653

Geology at Rat Hole Canyon

This spot sits on Mixed alluvium and colluvium, mapped as unconsolidated sand, gravel, silt, and clay that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Mixed alluvium and colluvium
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: unconsolidated sand, gravel, silt, and clay
Elevation: 6,410 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 Rat Hole Canyon

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FRUITA station (39 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 Rat Hole Canyon

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

Wurtzilite

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Rat Hole Canyon.

Rat Hole Canyon FAQ

Where is Rat Hole Canyon?+

Rat Hole Canyon is in Uintah County, Utah, at 39.59247, -109.16653. Nearest road: Upper Bitter Creek Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Rat Hole Canyon?+

Rat Hole Canyon is reported to produce Wurtzilite.

Is collecting allowed at Rat Hole Canyon?+

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 Rat Hole Canyon?+

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 Rat Hole Canyon?+

The most comfortable months at Rat Hole Canyon are March to November.

How do I get to Rat Hole Canyon?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.59247, -109.16653 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Upper Bitter Creek Road.

More rockhounding in Utah

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Open Rat Hole Canyon on the map

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