Black Hills National Forest: Gold Prospecting in Crook County, Wyoming

Updated June 2026

Black Hills National Forest is a mapped rockhounding spot in Crook County, Wyoming. Reported finds include fluorite, gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Crook County
State: Wyoming
Nearest road: Schoolhouse Gulch Road
Coordinates: 44.36412, -104.06551

Geology at Black Hills National Forest

This spot sits on ground mapped as Alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: Alluvium
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Elevation: 5,930 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 Black Hills National Forest

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 7°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BEAR RIDGE station (9 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: April 1, 2026

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

Found at Black Hills National Forest

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 Black Hills National Forest.

Across the state line from Black Hills National Forest

Black Hills National Forest 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.

Black Hills National Forest FAQ

Where is Black Hills National Forest?+

Black Hills National Forest is in Crook County, Wyoming, at 44.36412, -104.06551. Nearest road: Schoolhouse Gulch Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Black Hills National Forest?+

Black Hills National Forest is reported to produce Fluorite, Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Black Hills National Forest?+

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 Black Hills National Forest?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Black Hills National Forest?+

The most comfortable months at Black Hills National Forest are April to October.

How do I get to Black Hills National Forest?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.36412, -104.06551 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Schoolhouse Gulch Road.

More rockhounding in Wyoming

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Open Black Hills National Forest on the map

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