Liberty: Gold Prospecting in Kittitas County, Washington
Updated June 2026
The Liberty and Swauk district produced some of the finest crystalline and wire gold specimens in the United States, formed in epithermal quartz veins above town and recovered as coarse nuggets in Swauk and Williams creeks. Hard-rock mines in the hills yield the crystallized gold, while placer ground in the valley has produced sizable nuggets. The district has been prospected continuously since the 1873 Swauk Creek gold rush. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Liberty photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Liberty in Kittitas County, Washington
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Kittitas County
- State
- Washington
- Nearest road
- Forest Road 9718-801
- Coordinates
- 47.26971, -120.63161
Geology at Liberty
This spot sits on Swauk Formation, mapped as continental sedimentary deposits or rocks that formed roughly 56 to 34 million years ago. In sedimentary country like this, any placer gold is typically recycled from older gravels, concentrating again in modern stream beds.
- Mapped unit
- Swauk Formation
- Age
- 56–34 Ma (Eocene)
- Rock types
- continental sedimentary deposits or rocks
- Elevation
- 3,400 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 Liberty
Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 76°F in midsummer and 30°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CLE ELUM station (14 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 Liberty
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 Liberty.
- LibertyKittitas County, Washington · 0 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony Nodules
- Red Top Mt. and Teanaway RidgeTop pick in WashingtonKittitas County, Washington · 7 mi awayBlue Agate Geode
- EllensburgKittitas County, Washington · 14 mi awayGeode
- Cle ElumKittitas County, Washington · 15 mi awayBlue Agate
- Middle Fork Teanaway RiverKittitas County, Washington · 16 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony Geode
- American RiverYakima County, Washington · 33 mi awayGold
- WatervilleDouglas County, Washington · 37 mi awayCommon Opal
- Petrified Forest State ParkKittitas County, Washington · 37 mi awayOpalized Wood, Petrified Wood
Liberty FAQ
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More rockhounding in Washington
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