Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes: Almandite & Kyanite Rockhounding in Iron County, Wisconsin

Updated June 2026

Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes is a mapped rockhounding spot in Iron County, Wisconsin. Reported finds include almandite, kyanite, staurolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Iron County
State: Wisconsin
Nearest road: Sandy Beach Road
Coordinates: 46.11086, -89.96272

Geology at Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes

This spot sits on Baraga Group; Michigamme Formation, undivided, mapped as metagraywacke that formed roughly 2500 to 1600 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: Baraga Group; Michigamme Formation, undivided
Age: 2500–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)
Rock types: metagraywacke
Elevation: 1,600 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 Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 78°F in midsummer and 20°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 0°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, REST LAKE station (4 mi away).

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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes

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 Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes.

Across the state line from Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes

Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes is close enough to the Wisconsin border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes FAQ

Where is Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes?+

Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes is in Iron County, Wisconsin, at 46.11086, -89.96272. Nearest road: Sandy Beach Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes?+

Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes is reported to produce Almandite, Kyanite, Staurolite.

Is collecting allowed at Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes?+

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 Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes?+

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 Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes?+

The most comfortable months at Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes are April to October.

How do I get to Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 46.11086, -89.96272 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Sandy Beach Road.

More rockhounding in Wisconsin

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Open Sandy Beach & Mud Lakes on the map

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