Fairy Stone State Park: Staurolite Rockhounding in Henry County, Virginia

Public accessBest spot1 mineralHenry County, VirginiaUpdated July 2026

Mineral reported: 1
Elevation: 1,490 ft
Best months: Year-round

Fairy Stone State Park is Virginia's most famous staurolite locality, source of the twinned iron-aluminum silicate crosses that give the park its name. Mindat and Virginia Department of Energy geology records document the staurolite in the surrounding Piedmont schist, and the park is built specifically around collecting the crosses, making it the state's signature and most beginner-friendly rockhounding stop. Reported finds include staurolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County: Henry County
State: Virginia
Nearest road: Goose Point Road
Coordinates: 36.77790, -80.09237

Get directions View on Google Maps

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: State park in Henry County. Fairy stone hunting is free in the designated collecting area that staff point visitors to; surface searching only, no digging or tools inside the park proper.

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 Fairy Stone State Park

46°J

51°F

58°M

69°A

76°M

83°J

86°J

85°A

79°S

70°O

59°N

50°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 46°F in winter to 86°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PHILPOTT DAM 2 station (4 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Fairy Stone State Park

This spot sits on Alligator Back Formation - Feldspathic metagraywacke, mapped as metagraywacke that formed roughly 1000 to 485 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: Alligator Back Formation - Feldspathic metagraywacke
Age: 1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)
Rock types: metagraywacke
Elevation: 1,490 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.

Today's weather

Is today a good day to go?

The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Fairy Stone State Park.

Get the app

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.

Virginia Energy, Geology and Mineral Resources
Virginia State Parks
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Fairy Stone State Park

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

Staurolite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Fairy Stone State Park.

Henry CountyHenry County, Virginia · 7 mi awayBlue Quartz
StuartPatrick County, Virginia · 13 mi awayAlmandine Garnet, Staurolite, Corundum
FloydFloyd County, Virginia · 18 mi awayQuartz
Chestnut Creek WetlandsFloyd County, Virginia · 20 mi awayQuartz
Hurricane KnobPatrick County, Virginia · 20 mi awayKyanite
Laurel ForkCarroll County, Virginia · 23 mi awayQuartz
Glade HillFranklin County, Virginia · 23 mi awayYellow Apatite
AxtonHenry County, Virginia · 24 mi awayGarnet

Across the state line from Fairy Stone State Park

Fairy Stone State Park is close enough to the Virginia border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Big CreekStokes County, North Carolina · 25 mi awayGarnet, Moonstone, Smoky Quartz
DanburyStokes County, North Carolina · 26 mi awayAgate, Carnelian, Chalcedony
Mount AirySurry County, North Carolina · 33 mi awayFeldspar, Quartz, Jasper
White PlainsSurry County, North Carolina · 36 mi awayBeryl, Columbite, Quartz
Pilot MountainSurry County, North Carolina · 37 mi awayQuartz
KernersvilleForsyth County, North Carolina · 44 mi awayChrysolite, Bronzite, Tourmaline

Fairy Stone State Park FAQ

Where is Fairy Stone State Park?+

Fairy Stone State Park is in Henry County, Virginia, at 36.77790, -80.09237. Nearest road: Goose Point Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Fairy Stone State Park?+

Fairy Stone State Park is reported to produce Staurolite.

Is collecting allowed at Fairy Stone State Park?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Fairy Stone State Park?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Fairy Stone State Park?+

Fairy Stone State Park is workable year-round.

How do I get to Fairy Stone State Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.77790, -80.09237 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Goose Point Road.