Strongs Canyon: Garnet Rockhounding in Weber County, Utah

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Weber County

State

Utah

Nearest road

Strong Canyon Trail

Postcode

84408

Coordinates

41.19714, -111.92694

Geology at Strongs Canyon

This spot sits on Mica-rich schist and gneiss of Farmington Canyon Complex, mapped as gray-brown, strongly foliated, mica-rich schist to gneiss containing variable amounts of muscovite, biotite, quartz, and feldspar, and with minor garnet in some layers; contains some thin layers of hornblende-plagioclase gneiss that formed roughly 2500 to 1600 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit

Mica-rich schist and gneiss of Farmington Canyon Complex

Age

2500–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)

Rock types

gray-brown, strongly foliated, mica-rich schist to gneiss containing variable amounts of muscovite, biotite, quartz, and feldspar, and with minor garnet in some layers; contains some thin layers of hornblende-plagioclase gneiss

Elevation

5,350 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 Strongs Canyon

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 35°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, OGDEN PIONEER PH station (3 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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.

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 Strongs Canyon

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

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