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- Bureau of Land Management
- Forest Service
- National Park Service (no collecting)
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- Department of Defense
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Tribal land (Bureau of Indian Affairs)
- State land
Land data from the BLM; private land is left blank. Maps can be out of date, so check signs and mining claims on the ground.
Rockhounding map: public places to collect
Every place on this map is named for rock collecting or gold panning by the agency that manages it, and each one links to that official source. Tap a pin for the rules, what you can find and directions. Switch onWho manages the land under Layers to see BLM, Forest Service, park and state land around it.
What the pin colors mean
- Free collecting: 11 places
- Gold panning: 4 places
- Ask the office first: 5 places
Free collecting means the managing agency allows personal collecting there without a fee. Ask the office first means the agency names the site for rockhounding but does not state the limits.
Who manages the land
- Bureau of Land Management
- Forest Service
- National Park Service (no collecting)
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- Department of Defense
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Tribal land (Bureau of Indian Affairs)
- State land
The rules depend on who manages the land. See rock collecting rules by type of land before you go.
All places on the map
Arizona
3 places
- Black Hills Rockhound AreaFree collecting
Open for public digging without fees or permits; camping up to two weeks; summers above 100°F. Source · On the map
- Round Mountain Rockhound AreaFree collecting
BLM rockhound area near Duncan; no fee; reached through New Mexico and 12 miles of dirt road. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
BLM’s map marker, near the New Mexico line; check the route with the Safford office.
- Lynx Creek Gold Pan Day Use AreaPanning allowed
A day use area used mainly for recreational gold panning; vault toilet, no drinking water, free. Source · On the map
California
7 places
- Wiley Well District Geode Beds (Hauser Geode Beds)Free collecting
A BLM-listed rockhounding area; as of October 15, 2026, Wiley’s Well Road is 4x4 only and closed to RVs and trailers. Source · On the map
- Chambless Rock Collecting AreaFree collecting
On the southern edge of the Trilobite Wilderness, where only non-motorized hand tools are allowed. Source · On the map
- Flattop Mountain Rock Collecting AreaFree collecting
A plentiful supply of jasper, according to the BLM; a 4x4 is required. Source · On the map
- Savahia Peak Rock Collecting AreaFree collecting
A BLM-listed rockhounding area that the BLM calls an excellent site for chalcedony. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
BLM’s own page gives two different locations; confirm with BLM Needles, 760-326-7000.
- Obsidian collection areas near Lassen Creek CampgroundAsk the office first
The Forest Service places the campground near obsidian collection areas but states no limits; ask the forest. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
The pin is Lassen Creek Campground; the Forest Service does not map the collection areas themselves.
- Crystal Mine near Lookout CampgroundFree collecting
Personal-use limit: one 5-pound bucket per week, according to the Forest Service. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
The pin is Lookout Campground; the mine is a few miles away on Forest Road 033.
- Union Flat Campground recreational mining areaPanning allowed
Recreational mining is hands and pans only; watch for the claim markers of existing mining claims. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
The pin is the campground; the mining area is downstream of it.
Nevada
2 places
- Garnet HillFree collecting
The only designated rockhounding area in the Ely District; no fee, no water, elevation 7,000 ft. Source · On the map
- Oak Springs Trilobite SiteAsk the office first
Six kinds of trilobites in shale near Oak Springs Summit; the BLM page states no collecting rules, so ask before you collect. Source · On the map
Oregon
8 places
- Glass ButtesFree collecting
Set aside by the BLM for rock collecting; reasonable personal amounts with hand tools. Source · On the map
- Oregon Sunstone Public Collection AreaFree collecting
No fee; no collecting for trade or commercial purposes; stay off the private claims around the area. Source · On the map
- Succor Creek State Natural AreaFree collecting
Limited souvenir collecting: up to 1 gallon per person a day and 3 gallons a year. Source · On the map
- Whistler Springs rockhounding siteAsk the office first
A Forest Service rockhounding site; the roads to and inside the campground are very rough. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
The pin is Whistler Campground; the site is inside the campground, just downhill from the restroom.
- White Fir Springs agate bedsAsk the office first
Agate beds popular for rockhounding; the last mile to the campground is rough, high-clearance 4WD recommended. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
The pin is White Rock Campground; the agate beds are on the way to it.
- Maury Mountain agate bedsAsk the office first
Red, green and gold moss agates, according to the Forest Service; limits are not stated. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
The pin is Elkhorn Campground, which the Forest Service places near the agate beds.
- Quartzville Back Country Byway (BLM portion)Panning allowed
Recreational mining is allowed along the BLM portion of the byway; 14-day stay limit. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
One point on an 18-mile byway; panning is allowed along the BLM portion.
- Island Creek Day Use Area, Cow Creek Back Country BywayPanning allowed
A stop to pan for gold; do not trespass on the private mining claims marked along the creek. Source · On the map
Approximate pin
The pin is the byway’s listing point, not the day use area itself.
Map data
- Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap
- USGS The National Map: orthoimagery (public domain)
- BLM Surface Management Agency (national map service)
- Places: the official source linked from each place in the list above
