Saratoga: Opalized Wood Rockhounding in Carbon County, Wyoming

Updated June 2026

Saratoga is a mapped rockhounding spot in Carbon County, Wyoming. Reported finds include opalized wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Carbon County
State: Wyoming
Nearest road: State Highway 130
Coordinates: 41.50190, -106.80751

Geology at Saratoga

This spot sits on Alluvium and Colluvium, mapped as clay, silt, and sand that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Petrified wood typically travels as tough float, and worked gravels like these are exactly where weathered pieces tend to collect.

Mapped unit: Alluvium and Colluvium
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: clay, silt, and sand
Elevation: 6,760 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 Saratoga

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 84°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 7°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SARATOGA 4N station (1 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 Saratoga

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

Opalized Wood Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Saratoga.

Across the state line from Saratoga

Saratoga 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.

Diamond PeakLarimer County, Colorado · 74 mi awayDiamond

Saratoga FAQ

Where is Saratoga?+

Saratoga is in Carbon County, Wyoming, at 41.50190, -106.80751. Nearest road: State Highway 130.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Saratoga?+

Saratoga is reported to produce Opalized Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Saratoga?+

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 Saratoga?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.

When is the best time to visit Saratoga?+

The most comfortable months at Saratoga are March to October.

How do I get to Saratoga?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.50190, -106.80751 in Google Maps. The nearest road is State Highway 130.

More rockhounding in Wyoming

See all 92 Wyoming spots →

Open Saratoga on the map

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