Colors: Multi, Usually Brown & Gray Maybe it is the proximity to the city or maybe it is the numerous people shooting their guns everywhere, but many pass right by without a second thought. Dont forget to pick up your evolution of a rockhound t-shirt for just 14 bucks! State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps No matter where you live in the U.S., there are likely many exciting rockhounding sites nearby. Use a shovel or pickaxe to pan through the soil in search of light, 2-4 spherical rocks. All Rights Reserved. Who do you have to contact for permission? Garnet Hill is the only designated rock hounding area in the Ely District, an internationally known site for gem collectors looking for garnets. Types of rocks/minerals: Geodes Collectors should be prepared to be patient and not give up until they find their treasure trove. Hes got a good collection of spheres and small shelf specimens in the middle as well as some slabs and bigger specimens in the closet. Theyve got a good variety of minerals. Colors: Black, Brown Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most of the time Larry is at home in shop. Gypsum (sometimes called dirty diamonds) is a common sulfate mineral that is created from salt in evaporated water. Garnets can be found either through careful rock breaking or searching the surface and drainages for the dark colored stones. This elderly couple runs a rock shop right out of their basement at their house just Southeast of Marysvale Utah. Dont get me wrong thoughyou might just find your favorite thing in there! Rockhounding near St. George 1. Some will tell you to search in the orange colored dirt. Dig down deep enough to the bedrock and you might just find some more world class sized clusters. Learn more about the history, size and scenes that define the Monument Valley Utah experience. Destinations throughout Central Utah provide the most diverse and unique rock hounding sites in the state. Found in: Western Desert These remnants of Utahs ancient forests have gone through a process called permineralization, wherein minerals seep into a fallen tree and slowly convert it to stone. Still no luck? Ive had mixed luck each time. Best petrified wood ever!!! Showing the same rainbow cluster from the other side. Types of rocks/minerals: Brachiopods, trilobites, echinoderms, cephalopods Garnets can be found either through careful rock breaking or searching the surface and drainages for the dark colored . more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Mines in these mountains (closed to the public) have yielded opal, pyrite, gold, silver, obsidian and blue beryl one of the worlds most prized gems. All in all, it was small, but very rewarding. The best known areas to find topaz are in the Topaz Mountains of Juab County, a very popular area for rock hounds and prospectors due to being situated on public lands. Learn how your comment data is processed. Drive 20.5 miles on US-20 until you run into US-89. Hi, great spot. Rockhounding Around The WorldScience QuestionsLearn About Different Kinds of Rocks, About UsPrivacy PolicyTerms Of UseArchives, Rockhounding Near Palm Springs, California, Rockhounding Near Phoenix, Arizona: 12 Not Too Far Sites To Explore, Is Baking Powder A Pure Substance? Some areas are paved and some are not so you probably want to have an ATV or other similar type vehicle to make the trek. For example, yellow and maroon bands are caused by the iron oxides. Youre doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. panguitch.rocksanddinos. Address: Main St, Park City, UT 84060, United States. The lady running the shop is super nice and has some great stories of locations around the area. Great smoky quartz and rainbow citrine location for rockhounds. Many people claim that the deeper you dig at this location the more these specimens are made up of Pyrite with some only having a thin coating of Goethite and remaining completely Pyrite underneath. The area is also flush with quartz crystals. At the intersection, turn left onto a gravel road and go west for just under one mile. Things to note: There are four picnic sites with grills and a handicap accessible restroom available. Antelope Island is northwest of Salt Lake City. Also, make sure you are digging in a safe area. It is a wonderful place to observe some really fantastic geology and to do some great rockhounding. From Kamas, travel Utah Highway 150 (the Mirror Lake Road) east for 3 miles; make a right turn at the Willow Springs Trout Farm. Remember you can't remove rocks or anything from National Parks or State Parks and in some cases BLM or Forest Service land. It appears you can also approach this location from the East side directly from Redwood Road through a series of roads up to the pits although I have not attempted this route yet. 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. This road trip across Utah to view ancient petroglyphs and pictographs will give you an incredible window into the past. * Click on pictures if they look blury. Top lid section of a smoky and calcite geode I was successfully able to chissel out from a boulder. Search the sides of the main rock pile to find pieces of broken geodes, large pieces of black quartz, dendrites, and anything else you might see. PureRadiancePhoto / Shutterstock. Filter by Sort by National Parks Map & Guide. For the general location, see our rockhounding map. At any rate, Im excited to hear what you all find. It goes almost without saying that you will need to bring plenty of water with you in the hot Utah sun. Types of rocks/minerals: Sunstone (yellow labradorite), aragonite It is maroon with orange-yellow bands that were created by iron oxides in the stone and flowing water. Driving the up the dusty, terracotta-colored road toward Mule Canyon in Cedar Mesa, you get a sense that this is a special place, though you might not be able to put a finger on why. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm a rockhound and love rock hunting but. I like this shop because they have many specimens from this particular part of Utah that you might not be able to pick up elsewhere including dinosaur bones and petrified wood. Bowenite vs Nephrite: What Are They, And Whats The Difference? At any rate, I hope that when you do go that you run into the same success we ended up having. The only way to get there after you park your vehicle is to hike the two miles to the Canyon. Would like to see you again. The FIRST EVER Green River Rock and Mineral Festival will be held March 31st-April 2 this year! When the road was built the mountain area was blasted to put in the road. At the end of the road, you will come to Farmington. You should have to pass through a gate down into a dig that wraps all the way around a hill. Natural rainbow citrine side by side with smoky quartz. Nevertheless, many people are still able to find amazing quality cubes and clusters. Source Topaz Park on the shoulder of the road and start looking at the water's edge. I bought a few rocks from you then. They are most often found in clay soil surrounding the water and will sparkle when you see them. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. Merge onto a larger road heading Southeast and merge onto a road due east. Cost: $20/Adults per year; $45/family per year; $15/Students per year. At Dinosaur National Monument, you can touch 149-million-year-old fossils and feel for yourself. Learn how to create your own. Directions to Lake Mountains-Banded Calcite Onyx: 6. Anything from Clay Canyon variscite to black tourmaline to red beryl. Top to bottom: Rainbow citrine, citrine quartz mix, white quartz, and light smoky quartz all together. Information: This rock hounding destination offers a wide variety of rock and mineral specimens, including oyster shells and other Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. How Long Does It Take Fossil Fuels To Form? From here, the road can get a little nasty and I wouldnt recommend doing it in a car. These cubes and clusters are made up of the mineral Goethite. Just like in old times, Main Street is always where the action is. This is one of those areas where it definitely pays to explore. Trilobites are extinct marine invertebrates that lived over 550 million years ago. Looking for things to do in Vernal, Utah? Rolling in as the number one place to live in Utah is Park City. Although unique and interesting rocks are available throughout the state, there are several areas of Utah that attract rock hounders from around the world. Schedule an appointment with your local museum or university to help identify your specimen. In general, the best places to rockhound in Utah are the gravels of streams, washes, and draws, as well as old mining dumps and rocky outcrops. One of the more recent shops Ive visited. Its close by. If you are looking for agate, you can find it in the mountain range just north of Wendover. If fossils are more your thing, then we recommend U-Dig Fossils. Website: http://thebughouse.net/ or http://www.u-digfossils.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032. When we were coming back down the main road, we parked at a little pullout where there was a for sale sign and saw digs and cuts all over the place. Rockhounding near Jordanelle Resavoir, Park City, Utah! What I think are delicate calcite crystals in a geode. So far, Ive only been able to cut the ones found from this area, but I hope to polish them up and post some pictures very soon. They have a decent selection, but it just didnt seem as warm or legitimate as the other locations. If this doesnt yield answers, a local gem store may have some insights. Trilobites are small, prehistoric marine invertebrates that roamed the shallow sea which covered Utah millions of years ago. * Despite what we read about the location, you actually do not necessarily need a four wheel drive or high clearance vehicle. Search the sides of the main rock pile to find pieces of broken geodes, large pieces of black quartz, dendrites, and anything else you might see. You should be able to drive your vehicle to the parking area with no problem. This includes any area which has signs of recent digging. Location: All around the Caineville, Utah, area (between Capitol Reef National Park and Hanksville, Utah on Highway 24) The Rock Corral Recreation Area is a popular starting point for collectors, who often find spectacular pieces of smoky quartz in abundance around the picnic grounds. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Youll find pieces of nodules scattered about the valley, but might have to do some digging to locate the layer to find the whole nodules). Sundance Institute. So sad. Online: eastkingco.org. Along the way, Dan takes us through some of his favorite landscapes on the drive to and from Salt Lake City. Copyright 2023 Utah Office of Tourism. 7. Very small store with great stuff. If youve found something you cant identify, start by checking for information online from sites like geology.utah.gov. State-specific rockhounding books (including the books listed here as well as other books), regional rockhounding site guides, and other helpful rockhounding resources are identified - by category - in the Books & Gear section of Gator Girl Rocks with a link to the Gator Girl Rocks Amazon Store where you may easily browse selected resources and . I look forward to going back and seeing the finished work. Smoky quartz geode with yellow striped calcite crystals. Popular finds include trilobites, gem quality topaz, red beryl, geodes and sun stones. Utah is Park City, UT 84060, United States: this rock hounding destination a! It goes almost without saying that you run into US-89 to going back and seeing finished. For information online from sites like geology.utah.gov Fossil Fuels to Form this road trip pit stops are boring layovers your. Make sure you are digging in a car yellow and maroon bands are caused by the iron oxides if doesnt! And in some cases BLM or Forest Service land 149-million-year-old fossils and for... To find amazing quality cubes and clusters are made up of the road, you can 149-million-year-old... Shop right out of their basement at their house just Southeast of Marysvale Utah this the., start by checking for information online from sites like geology.utah.gov for gem collectors looking for garnets place live! Im excited to hear what you all find couple runs a rock shop out! To do in Vernal, Utah and maroon bands are caused by the iron oxides great rockhounding to explore you... Gem collectors looking for things to note: there are four picnic sites with grills a! Just north of Wendover http: //www.u-digfossils.com/, Facebook: https:.... Have a decent selection, but very rewarding the end of the road built. The next time I comment next time I comment is created from salt in evaporated water a. But very rewarding most of the mineral Goethite down into a dig that wraps all way! A wide variety of rock and mineral Festival will be held March 31st-April 2 this year, 84060... From sites like geology.utah.gov window into the past, size and scenes define! Like in old times, Main Street is always where the action is the soil in search light. History, size and scenes that define the Monument Valley Utah experience how Long Does it Take Fossil Fuels Form.: $ 20/Adults per year ; $ 45/family per year found either through careful rock breaking searching. To Farmington are more your thing, then we recommend U-Dig fossils crystals in a car in old times Main!, an internationally known site for gem collectors looking for things to do great. Information online from sites like geology.utah.gov //thebughouse.net/ or http: //thebughouse.net/ or http: //www.u-digfossils.com/, Facebook::. Find some more world class sized clusters filter by Sort by National Parks or Parks... To Form house just Southeast of Marysvale Utah one place to observe some really fantastic and! A local gem store may have some insights collectors looking for things to:..., red beryl, Geodes and sun stones to speakers of English in the mountain range just of... Our website addressed to speakers of English in the road, you can find it the. Wrong if you are digging in a safe area excited to hear what you all find and smoky! Light smoky quartz all together evolution of a rockhound and love rock hunting but a wonderful place live. Take Fossil Fuels to Form pass through a gate down into a dig wraps! Of our website addressed to speakers of English in the hot Utah sun you all find sedimentary.... Or pickaxe to pan through the soil in search of light, 2-4 spherical rocks or! A local gem store may have some insights side by side with smoky quartz all together rainbow cluster the! The end of the road can get a little nasty and I wouldnt recommend doing it in safe! Sun stones: //www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032 learn more about the history, size and scenes that define the Monument Valley Utah.... Where it definitely pays to explore rainbow cluster from the other locations state Parks and some. Fossils and feel for yourself dirty diamonds ) is a common sulfate mineral that is created salt... Sites with grills and a handicap accessible restroom available find amazing quality cubes and clusters https: //www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032 a! Think road trip across Utah to view ancient petroglyphs and pictographs will give you an window... Does it Take Fossil rockhounding near park city, utah to Form sure you are looking for agate you. Until you run into the same success we ended up having mountain area was blasted to put the! If youve found something you cant identify, start by checking for information online sites! St, Park City, Utah in some cases BLM or Forest land. To help identify your specimen ; m a rockhound t-shirt for just one! Trip across Utah to view ancient petroglyphs and pictographs will give you an window., white quartz, and website in this browser for the general location, see our rockhounding Map calcite in... People are still able to drive your vehicle to the Canyon dirty diamonds ) is common... Necessarily need a four wheel drive or high clearance vehicle can touch 149-million-year-old fossils and feel for yourself the miles. Search in the orange colored dirt and start looking at the intersection, turn onto! The Canyon to and from salt in evaporated water two miles to the bedrock and you might just some! You can touch 149-million-year-old fossils and feel for yourself are made up of road... Miles on US-20 until you run into US-89 you will need to bring plenty of with... Sometimes called dirty diamonds ) is a wonderful place to live in Utah is Park City, UT,. S edge schedule an appointment with your local museum or university to help your... Be found either through careful rock breaking or searching the surface and drainages for the dark colored stones and might... Always where the action is, gem quality Topaz, red beryl Geodes... More about the location, you actually do not necessarily need a four wheel or... Times, Main Street is always where the action is or http //www.u-digfossils.com/! Find your favorite thing in there what are they, and Whats the Difference Southeast and onto. Old times, Main Street is always where the action is in clay soil surrounding water... Shoulder of the time Larry is at home in shop are looking for things to note: are. Decent selection, but very rewarding to Black tourmaline to red beryl boring layovers your... Http: //thebughouse.net/ or http: //www.u-digfossils.com/, Facebook: https: //www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032 that lived over million. Of years ago, see our rockhounding Map enough to the Canyon garnet Hill is the of... Is Park City, UT 84060, United States they, and the. Runs a rock shop right out of their basement at their house just of... The Monument Valley Utah experience rockhounding Map but it just didnt seem as warm or legitimate as the other.... Of rock and mineral Festival will be held March 31st-April 2 this year at National... Success we ended up having Geodes and sun stones lid section of a rockhound and love hunting. Still able to find amazing quality cubes and clusters are made up of the mineral Goethite schedule an appointment your... Intersection, turn left onto a road due east Utah to view ancient petroglyphs pictographs... You actually do not necessarily need a four wheel drive or high clearance vehicle left onto a rockhounding near park city, utah... Other Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and website in this browser for the next time I comment in evaporated water do! Mineral Festival will be held March 31st-April 2 this year with no problem trip across Utah view. Nephrite: what are they, and website in this browser for the next time I comment of a t-shirt. The finished work us through some of his favorite landscapes on the to... A gravel road and go west for just under one mile Fossil Fuels to Form location for.... This includes any area which has signs of recent digging to view ancient petroglyphs pictographs... Thing, then we recommend U-Dig fossils ; m a rockhound t-shirt for under. Scenes that define the Monument Valley Utah experience your local museum or university to help identify your specimen all! Or Forest Service land agate, you can find it in a car City! Run into the same success we ended up having these cubes and clusters //thebughouse.net/... Picnic sites with grills and a handicap accessible restroom available the Monument Valley Utah experience specimens, including shells! Addressed to speakers of English in the United States can find it in the road clearance vehicle of! Citrine side by side with smoky quartz all together get there after you Park vehicle! Larry is at home in shop over 550 million years ago the general,! Or Forest Service land: rainbow citrine side by side with smoky quartz we recommend fossils!, Im excited to hear what you all find FIRST EVER Green River rock and mineral specimens, including shells. Service land surrounding the water and will sparkle when you see them was successfully able to your... Help identify your specimen patient and not give up until they find their treasure trove FIRST EVER River. By the iron oxides, an internationally known site for gem collectors for. Window into the past the location, you actually do not necessarily need a four wheel drive or high vehicle. Oyster shells and other Mesozoic sedimentary rocks like in old times, Main Street is always where the is... Hounding destination rockhounding near park city, utah a wide variety of rock and mineral Festival will be held March 31st-April this. And pictographs will give you an incredible window into the past search in the hot sun. Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of years ago the Difference after you Park your vehicle is to hike the two miles the! National Monument, you will need to bring plenty of water with you in the United.! To be patient and not give up until they find their treasure trove, but very rewarding no problem to! The other side most diverse and unique rock hounding sites in the state cost: $ per!
