Crescent Beach: Agate & Chert Rockhounding in Clallam County, Washington
Updated June 2026
Agates were once plentiful enough at Agate Bay, just west of Crescent Bay on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to give the beach its name, and agate still weathers from the local basalt alongside variously colored chert and jasper. The setting on the northern Olympic Peninsula makes it one of the few documented agate beaches on the strait. Reported finds include agate, chert, jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Crescent Beach photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Crescent Beach in Clallam County, Washington
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Clallam County
- State
- Washington
- Nearest road
- Crescent Beach Road
- Coordinates
- 48.16121, -123.70942
Geology at Crescent Beach
This spot sits on beach deposits, mapped as sand and gravel that formed within roughly the last 12,000 years. Gravels like these concentrate whatever survives the river: agate, jasper, and other tough silica typically show up as rounded, waxy stones.
- Mapped unit
- beach deposits
- Age
- < 1 Ma (Holocene)
- Rock types
- sand and gravel
- Elevation
- 10 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 Crescent Beach
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 46°F in winter to 69°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PORT ANGELES FAIRCHILD INTL AP station (10 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:
- Washington Geological Survey (DNR)
- Stonerose Interpretive Center — Visit & rules
- BLM Spokane District
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Crescent Beach
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 Crescent Beach.
- Lake CrescentClallam County, Washington · 12 mi awayJasper
- DungenessClallam County, Washington · 27 mi awayAgate, Orbicular Jasper
- SapphoClallam County, Washington · 27 mi awayAgate, Orbicular Jasper
- Sol Duc RiverClallam County, Washington · 40 mi awayAgate, Chert, Jasper
- Ozette RiverClallam County, Washington · 44 mi awayGold
- Shi Shi BeachClallam County, Washington · 45 mi awayGold, Iridosmine, Platinum
- La PushClallam County, Washington · 46 mi awayAgate, Jasper
- KalalochJefferson County, Washington · 49 mi awayAgate, Jasper
Crescent Beach FAQ
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