Red Desert: Agate & Chalcedony Rockhounding in Sweetwater County, Wyoming

Updated June 2026

Red Desert is a mapped rockhounding spot in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Reported finds include agate, chalcedony, chert, jasper, quartz, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Sweetwater County
State: Wyoming
Nearest road: Tipton-North Road
Coordinates: 41.81939, -108.27987

Geology at Red Desert

This spot sits on Playa lake and other lacustrine deposits, 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: Playa lake and other lacustrine deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: clay, silt, and sand
Elevation: 6,580 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 Desert

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 30°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 9°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WAMSUTTER station (19 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 Red Desert

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 Red Desert.

Red Desert FAQ

Where is Red Desert?+

Red Desert is in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, at 41.81939, -108.27987. Nearest road: Tipton-North Road.

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

Red Desert is reported to produce Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Quartz, Silicified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Red Desert?+

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 Desert?+

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 Red Desert?+

The most comfortable months at Red Desert are March to October.

How do I get to Red Desert?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.81939, -108.27987 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Tipton-North Road.

More rockhounding in Wyoming

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Open Red Desert on the map

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