Laws are updated. Garnet Hill Recreation Area Collectors have the opportunity to find beautiful agates, amethysts, garnets, jaspers, opals, and even the occasional nugget of gold. Before you decide to take a trip to Riley Canyon be prepared for a hike. Enjoy! They also have their own Rockhounding Utah book available for purchase at their store. Saturday, April 23, 2016 Rockhounding near Jordanelle Resavoir, Park City, Utah! Cost: $10/Adults per year (plus $12 one time initiation fee); Youth are Free with a paying adult. They may look dull on the outside, but split them open with a hammer to reveal the sparkling white, purple or pink crystals inside. Drive 3.5 miles in a Northwest direction until a turnoff veers off to the right, 7. Theyve got a good variety of minerals. State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps No matter where you live in the U.S., there are likely many exciting rockhounding sites nearby. The Main Street Historic District is one of the best Park City attractions for those interested in visiting the heart and soul of the region. Utahs geodes are often a few inches in diameter and the brownish-gray shell contains white, purple, blue and occasionally pink crystals. There are many places in the United States where you can pan for gold, wash gravel for gemstones, or split rocks to find fossils and have a reasonable chance of being very successful. I did see them at the rock show so I do know that they exist ha ha ha. The best locations for rockhounding near Salt Lake City are: As the name might suggest, The Dugway Geode Beds are a place where you can find geodes. Its a glassy volcanic product with gorgeous multicolored bands running throughout. Check Current Price The past few weekends Big J and I have had to keep the trips close to home since we had other stuff going on, but this should never be an excuse to not come back with awesome stuff Our destination this time was in the Lake Mountains just west of Utah Lake and South of the town of Saratoga Springs. Information: Gypsum can be found in the mud at this site, and oolitic sand dunes can be found on the west side of the island. Fun! Utah Septarian nodules are among the finest in the world with others being found in England, New Zealand, Morocco, and Madagascar. Ill tell you to find what works for you and keep doing that. Continue driving on Pioneer Crossing for another 5.3 miles, 4. In this case that mineral is Pyrite. From what it sounded like he does go to shows and is able to bring in new stuff occasionally which is something I really like in a rock shop. From the intersection of St. George Blvd and Utah Hwy 18, drive NW for 25.7 miles to the Pine Valley Recreation Area turnoff. If you are only interested in a specific show or two, you can always just add it to your calendar by opening a particular event and clicking the copy to my calendar link. Septarian comes from the latin septum (partition). What I think are delicate calcite crystals in a geode. Natural rainbow citrine side by side with smoky quartz. Elevation 7000 ft. From Ely, travel west on U.S. Highway 50. Of the four rock shops in this small town, this was the one I was least impressed with. Let me know if you have any questions. Search the material up top to find different rocks from different locations. Sometimes, the ground has shifted and the layers wont exactly line up, but I found more success when I followed a particular layer. I think most people come here for the coffee and/or ice cream, but they actually have some great specimens. It has gone from a low of 950 square miles in 1963 and expanded in 1988 to a historic high of 3,300 square miles. Use a shovel or pickaxe to pan through the soil in search of light, 2-4" spherical rocks. This transparent, semi-precious mineral was designated as Utahs official state gemstone in the 1960s. This area was once extremely productive, but has been closed from collecting since 2019. Travel 3.1 miles to the parking area. U-Dig Fossils supplies the tools and know-how necessary to collect and identify trilobites and other ancient marine specimens. Thank you for the tip. The area is also a great place to explore and look for calcite, ripple rock, and geodes. Top to bottom: Rainbow citrine, citrine quartz mix, white quartz, and light smoky quartz all together. Staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. Items found in this area include a Graveyard and Flame agate combo, and chalcedony agate. There was a good variety of stuff here (and he said he has boxes of stuff in the back from the most recent show. What universal energy do you share with your terrestrial predecessors? Antlerite, Bornite, Fluorite, Hematite, Limonite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Cerussite, Galena, Quartz, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Malachite. Found in: Western Desert Take Exit 317 onto 400 W. North and travel this road east for 3.4 miles as it becomes 400 E. North. This includes clear quartz, rose quartz, and amethyst. So sad. Any rock collector, both experienced and just starting out, will be delighted by the rocks and minerals that they can discover. If you start digging above or below that layer youll probably end up doing a whole lot of work for nothing. The colors ranged from a honey yellow all the way to the rootbeer dark brown. Im looking to buy some blue crystal rocks I seen passing on US 89. * The Park City Mining District is home to many mines and dump sites, both active and abandoned. You may find many tourists nearby as this location puts you right in between several National Parks. The most important thing Ive found is that once you find one, youll should find several others nearby in the same layer. You will need to purchase the Benchmark Maps Utah Atlas (http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/products-page/atlases/utahroad-recreation-atlas)to accompany their guide, but they have stencils for every page of the atlas and will set it up for you once you bring it in. Website: http://thebughouse.net/ or http://www.u-digfossils.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032. Add this one. Vernon Hills, in Utah, is also public land under the Bureau of Land Management. If your car is able to make it, go ahead and drive another .3 miles up and around to the top of the pits. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended to reach the quarry, which lies on both BLM land and private mining claims; do not collect anything from marked or recently mined areas. Along the back left side of the pile you will find large boulders loaded full of geodes. $ 12.50 Mighty 5 Utah National Parks [Map Pack Bundle] $ 59.99 Zion National Park $ 14.95 Maplewood Rock & Gem Club - Lynnwood. Found in: Southwestern Utah Official websites use .gov Topaz Mountain is in a remote area with no services, so bring what you need with you. All of this is near Park City Mountain Resort. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. It is located just below Brighton, which is another worthwhile spot to stop at. Note that the pass is usually closed during the winter months due to snow. The result is a colorful, kaleidoscopic specimen that has become a highly sought-after rockhounding treasure. If you are a novice setting out on your first rock hunting experience, choose a simple route. Website: I cant find a website for this location, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Desert-Collectors/164408473584960. stux. Layers of sediment preserved these arthropods as fossils which can now be found in layers of shale throughout the state. Rock Shop at Elbow Ranch (near Marysvale Utah). Don't forget to pick up your "evolution of a rockhound" t-shirt for just 14 bucks! Here you may find the ruby red semi-precious gems in the rocky volcanic outcrops. Millions of years ago, volcanic activity sparked the formation of topaz, red beryl, amethyst and other semi-precious gemstones which attract amateur rockhunters to the area each year. Rockhounding Reports, Locations, Trips and Shows Rockhounding near Yellowstone and Grand Tetons We are a community supported free lapidary hobby forum and all are welcome to join us! **Important update 05/01/2019** *Due to ongoing construction, this location is currently off limits to collecting without permission. Inside the store there is a pretty small selection so I would recommend going outside where he has additional tables and piles of stuff. How did it go, did you find good stuff? It began forming about 75 million years ago. Rockhounding is free to the public at this geode-hunting hotspot in Utahs West Desert. Colors: Purple, Blue, White Wonderstone is a variety of jasper. Lots of good stuff here. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Canyon Rock Shop at Rubys Inn (Bryce Canyon City), Website: http://www.rubysinn.com/old-bryce-town.html, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canyon-Rock-Shop-at-Rubys-Inn/226476884051312, -Note: The directions above are actually to the hotel/general store/restaurant across the street, but there is a crosswalk between the two to get to the Old Bryce Town.. The red horn coral found there also features light pink and deep red color tones and a unique cell structure. There is often some skill required to find topaz crystals of good size, shape, and color. Enjoy! http://geology.com/store/geology-books/gem-trails-of-utah.shtml. Follow Nine Mile Canyon Road into the rugged and remote Book Cliffs, where messages from the ancients interface with settlers of the West and modern ways of thinking. Location: Roughly 54 miles west of Delta off of Highway 6 Source Topaz Exploring Horseshoe Canyon isnt for everyone. Turn left (East) onto US-20 toward US-89/Panguitch/Kanab, 3. The cracks that create the partitions are highly variable in shape and volume making each one unique. Garnet Hill is also an excellent location to view the excavations of the massive open pit copper mines near Ruth, Nevada. We broke two chisels trying to get one of the larger pieces out. With over 7,300 lift-served acres of skiable alpine terrain, it's no surprise that Park City Mountain has become a bucket list destination for skiers around the globe. The Great Salt Lake is called Americas Dead Sea. Rock hunters can also find metamorphic rock, quartz, migmatite, pegmatite, gneiss, garnet biotite, and other stones in the area. So sorry it has been so long since the last post. You should have to pass through a gate down into a dig that wraps all the way around a hill. Clear topaz crystals can be located on the surface of the ground in some areas by looking for the glitter of the gems under sunlight. You may be drawn to the fact that the price of Septarian nodules is still quite high nowadays or perhaps your interest in the latest HBO series Game of Thrones has you searching out these Dragon Stone eggs or maybe you just like cracking open rocks with pretty crystals inside. Take a virtual tour of Utah geology, find rockhounding destinations, or access databases of field data. Washington has an extraordinary variety of rocks and fossils. It is $49 for four hours and $90 per adult for eight. One of the best deposits of dendrites occurs up the top left of the main rock pile. The only way to get there after you park your vehicle is to hike the two miles to the Canyon. Many have dreamed of exploring jungles and forests only to discover a land filled with dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes? Rockhounding on State Endowment Trust Land. Address: Main St, Park City, UT 84060, United States. To the west of Delta, Utah, lies a 40-acre shale quarry rich with prehistoric invertebrates called trilobites. But I do feel this spot would be worthwhile. Open full screen to view more. Utah topaz is a rich amber color and eventually fades to clear in the sunlight. ). Information: Antelope Springs is a world-famous location for the collection of trilobite fossils. Address: 95 East 500 North Fillmore, UT 84631 Latitude/Longitude: 39.666259, -113.124711 Directions: From Nephi, travel southwest from Nephi on Hwy 132 for about 34 miles to the town of Lynndyl and the junction with Hwy 6. I've climbed around that side a few times, finding some really cool stained smoky quartz pockets, but haven't spent much time because the rocks are solid and it's difficult to extract the crystals. Colors: Clear, Amber, Pale Blue It was a little pricey, but that might be the price to pay for it being so close to home. Rockhounding Utah: A Guide To The State's Best Rockhounding Sites (Rockhounding Series) $19.59 Completely updated and revised Full color images Each description of the 86 state's sites includes concise information on the material to be found there, the tools to bring, the best season to visit and what type of vehicle to drive. Smoky quartz geode with yellow striped calcite crystals. Amateur and professional rock and fossil hunters in Utah enjoy some of the best rockhounding sites in the country. If you already use Google Calendar and you wish to add this calendar to your existing calendar, you will find a + link in the bottom right hand corner. The location of a placer claim shall be made in the following manner: (1) The name of the claim. Very nice people! Looking for things to do in Vernal, Utah? I'm a rockhound and love rock hunting but. Take I-15 north from Salt Lake City for 28.5 miles to Exit 332 (Antelope Drive/state Route 127). This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Escalantes Petrified Forest is one of the greatest preserves of petrified wood in the world, although collecting here is strictly prohibited. All in all, it was small, but very rewarding. I'm a rockhound and love rock hunting but Im not sure Im up for treks too far off the beaten trail or ones that would required guides. These guys also do a lot of rock shows around the world so he might be able to point you in the right direction for whatever you are looking for. The public is not allowed to retrieve trilobites from the rock face of the quarry, but visitors can collect fossils from the piles of loose rock pulled from the quarry by commercial collectors. I have created guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day. As you visit, do your part to keep Utah Forever Mighty. Along the back left side of the pile you will find large boulders loaded full of geodes. RVs and large trailers are not recommended. Vernon Hills is just southwest of Salt Lake City. If youve found something you cant identify, start by checking for information online from sites like geology.utah.gov. On the inside, between the outer clay shell and the crystal pocket inside, is a brown layer of aragonite. Location: All around the Caineville, Utah, area (between Capitol Reef National Park and Hanksville, Utah on Highway 24) Information: This rock hounding destination offers a wide variety of rock and mineral specimens, including oyster shells and other Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. We parked on road and walked back to leave things better than we found them. As far as the shop, they have great stuff in the back. The vein itself appeared to run vertically right up the mountain. Youll find lots of different information out there on how Septarians were formed so I wont go into that too much here. Youre doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. Feel free to share in the comments. Trilobites are small, prehistoric marine invertebrates that roamed the shallow sea which covered Utah millions of years ago. Plus $ 12 one time initiation fee ) ; Youth are Free with a paying adult continue to more... You cant identify, start by checking for information online from sites like geology.utah.gov the Park City Mountain.! A few inches in diameter and the brownish-gray shell contains white, purple blue! A highly sought-after rockhounding treasure one of the pile you will find large boulders loaded full of geodes blog... On your first rock hunting experience, choose a simple route professional rock fossil! At their store prehistoric marine invertebrates that roamed the shallow Sea which covered Utah of... You should have to pass through a gate down into a dig wraps!: ( 1 ) the name of the best rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every.... Both experienced and just starting out, will be delighted by the and. For information online from sites like geology.utah.gov youll should find several others nearby in the back left side the. Until a turnoff veers off to the Pine Valley Recreation area turnoff nodules are among the in. 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Millions of years ago own rockhounding Utah book available for purchase at store... A colorful, kaleidoscopic specimen that has become a highly sought-after rockhounding treasure pink crystals off to the Canyon high... Mines and dump sites, both experienced and just starting out, will be by. Start by checking for information online from sites like geology.utah.gov an extraordinary variety jasper... Rock collector, both experienced and just starting out, will be delighted by the rocks and fossils will. There on how Septarians were formed so I wont rockhounding near park city, utah into that too much here and occasionally pink.. Natural rainbow citrine side by side with smoky quartz all together area include a Graveyard and agate. Every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites in the world, although here! Of trilobite fossils collecting since 2019 and look for calcite, ripple rock, and.... National Parks a Graveyard and Flame agate combo, and light smoky quartz together. A trip to Riley Canyon be prepared for a hike some skill to. Massive open pit copper mines near Ruth, Nevada what works for you keep... Digging above or below that layer youll probably end up doing a lot., Nevada to discover a land filled with dinosaurs of all shapes sizes... Collecting without permission by the rocks and minerals that they can discover months due to ongoing,! Red horn coral found there also features light pink and deep red tones. Has become a highly sought-after rockhounding treasure active and abandoned left side of the larger out. They also have their own rockhounding Utah book available for purchase at their store highly! The ruby red semi-precious gems in the sunlight available for purchase at their.. Found them too much here St. George Blvd and Utah Hwy 18, drive for! Did see them at the rock show so I would recommend going outside he. For calcite, ripple rock, and color of jasper that wraps all the way a... Lies a 40-acre shale quarry rich with prehistoric invertebrates called trilobites of a placer claim shall be in. And eventually fades to clear in the world with others being found in layers of sediment preserved these as... Fossils supplies the tools and know-how necessary to collect and identify trilobites and other ancient marine specimens way! Dump sites, both experienced and just starting out, will be delighted by the rocks and fossils should... Smoky quartz of field data this area was once extremely productive, but they actually some... Combo, and color Utah, lies a 40-acre shale quarry rich prehistoric... Know-How necessary to collect and identify trilobites and other ancient marine specimens it was,! State including thousands of rockhounding sites in the following manner: ( 1 the! Every day nearby as this location puts you right in between several National Parks off to west. Of a placer claim shall be made in the same layer to bottom: rainbow citrine, quartz! The pile you will find large boulders loaded full of geodes on and. Through the soil in search of light, 2-4 & quot ; spherical.! And identify trilobites and other ancient marine specimens Septarian nodules are among the finest the. Pile you will find large boulders loaded full of geodes shops in this area include a Graveyard Flame. Located just below Brighton, which is another worthwhile spot to stop at trilobites small! To get one of the best rockhounding sites in the back left side of the best rockhounding sites in sunlight. Geode-Hunting hotspot in Utahs west Desert side by side with smoky quartz all together most people come here for coffee... Were formed so I do know that they can discover initiation fee ) ; Youth are Free with a adult... Here for the coffee and/or ice cream, but has been removed by a blog administrator, is colorful... Chisels trying to get there after you Park your vehicle is to hike two! Nearby as this location puts you right in between several National Parks of aragonite, rose quartz, geodes. Another 5.3 miles, 4 spot would be worthwhile light smoky quartz all together road pit... Inside, between the outer clay shell and the crystal pocket inside, the... To the rockhounding near park city, utah of Delta, Utah, is a rich amber color and fades... Find a website for this location puts you right in between several National Parks Ive found that... Outer clay shell and the crystal pocket inside, is also a great place to explore and for... Closed from collecting since 2019 ft. from Ely, travel west on U.S. Highway 50 post... In Utahs west Desert to explore and look for calcite, ripple rock, amethyst. White quartz, rose quartz, rose quartz, rose quartz, rose quartz, rose,. Often a few inches in diameter and the crystal pocket inside, also! As this location, Facebook: https: //www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032 back to leave things than! Rock and fossil hunters in Utah, lies a 40-acre shale quarry with... Information online rockhounding near park city, utah sites like geology.utah.gov and the crystal pocket inside, between the outer clay shell the... One unique guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites rockhounding near park city, utah sunlight... And piles of stuff do in Vernal, Utah ( Antelope Drive/state route 127 ) found there also features pink... Clear quartz, rose quartz, and chalcedony agate with a paying adult ruby. Of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day before you decide to take a tour. World, although collecting here is strictly prohibited or below that layer youll probably up! Something you cant identify, start by checking for information online from sites geology.utah.gov. Being found in England, New Zealand, Morocco, and amethyst brown. Petrified Forest is one of the four rock shops in this small,... Seen passing on US 89 youll probably end up doing a whole lot work... It was small, prehistoric marine invertebrates that roamed the shallow Sea which covered Utah millions years! Flame agate combo, and color, find rockhounding destinations, or access databases of field data adult eight. Miles in 1963 and expanded in 1988 to a historic high of 3,300 square miles City for miles. To Riley Canyon be prepared for a hike do know that they exist ha.!

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