Red Gulch: Gypsum Rockhounding in Big Horn County, Wyoming

Updated June 2026

Red Gulch is a mapped rockhounding spot in Big Horn County, Wyoming. Reported finds include gypsum. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Big Horn County
State: Wyoming
Coordinates: 44.51752, -107.81888

Geology at Red Gulch

This spot sits on Alluvium and Colluvium, mapped as clay, silt, and sand that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium and Colluvium
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: clay, silt, and sand
Elevation: 4,190 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 Red Gulch

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 7°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SHELL station (2 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Wyoming
Wyoming State Geological Survey
Fossil Butte National Monument
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Red Gulch

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

Gypsum Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Red Gulch.

Across the state line from Red Gulch

Red Gulch is close enough to the Wyoming border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Red Gulch FAQ

Where is Red Gulch?+

Red Gulch is in Big Horn County, Wyoming, at 44.51752, -107.81888.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Red Gulch?+

Red Gulch is reported to produce Gypsum.

Is collecting allowed at Red Gulch?+

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 Red Gulch?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Red Gulch?+

The most comfortable months at Red Gulch are March to November.

How do I get to Red Gulch?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.51752, -107.81888 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Wyoming

See all 82 Wyoming spots →

Open Red Gulch on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.