Rockhounding in Nevada: where you can collect

Updated October 20, 2026. Rules come from BLM Nevada and the agencies named on this page; sources are at the end.

Two-thirds of Nevada is BLM land

Nearly 80% of Nevada is federal land, and the Bureau of Land Management alone manages about two-thirds of the state. On BLM land you may collect common rock specimens with hand tools for private use. The BLM’s designated rockhound area is Garnet Hill near Ely. Nevada’s famous opal and turquoise come mostly from private mines and fee digs.

Federal land: 79.8% of Nevada; the BLM manages 67.2% (2024)
BLM rule: Common rock specimens, hand tools only, for private use
Designated rockhound area: Garnet Hill, near Ely
Opal and turquoise: Mostly private mines and fee digs

The map shows 2 places. They are all listed on this page.

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Places to collect

Garnet HillFree collecting
Find: garnets · BLM Ely District
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
Find: trilobite fossils · BLM Ely District
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

The places in detail

Garnet Hill

The only designated rockhounding area in the BLM’s Ely District. Garnets usually occur as single crystals in small cavities in rhyolite, and some weather out and wash downhill; most are not gem quality. From Ely, head west on US 50 and take the graded road about a quarter mile north of the Ruth turnoff; the parking area is 3.1 miles in. The road suits passenger cars but is winding and somewhat steep. There is no fee and no water, at about 7,000 feet. Facilities include picnic sites with grills, a restroom and two informal areas for tents or small campers; RVs and large trailers are not recommended.

Oak Springs Trilobite Site

Fossils of six kinds of trilobites in shale near Oak Springs Summit, about 12 miles west of Caliente on US 93; turn north at mile marker 81. There is a parking lot, a trail register, an interpretive sign and a picnic table, no restrooms and no fee. The BLM page does not state collecting rules, so ask the BLM before you take anything.

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge around Virgin Valley allows rock collecting by hand from the surface only, up to seven pounds a day for personal use. Digging, tools and artifacts are prohibited, vehicles may use only open routes, and camping is limited to 14 days in any 30 in designated campgrounds. For digging Virgin Valley opal, see the fee mines on where to find opal.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park: no collecting

Removing or disturbing any rock, fossil or other feature is prohibited, and so is metal detecting.

Rules on BLM land in Nevada

Hand tools, private use: common rock specimens may be collected with hand tools only. Commercial mining of common minerals needs a permit or contract.
Petrified wood: 25 pounds plus one piece a day and 250 pounds a year; pieces over 250 pounds need a permit or contract, and it may not be traded or sold without a BLM contract.
Wilderness and wilderness study areas: hobby collecting only, with no surface disturbance.
Excluded areas: BLM Nevada’s collecting leaflet lists areas of critical environmental concern, including Stewart Valley near Gabbs, and the Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Areas. It also lists wilderness and wilderness study areas, so ask the field office before collecting there.
Historic sites are closed to all collecting: cabins, sawmills, graves, trail traces, mining areas, town sites, ranches and railroads.
Leave artifacts: prehistoric tools and stone flakes are prohibited, and cultural resources may not be removed without a permit.

Before you go

Wet roads: many Nevada backcountry roads become completely impassable when wet.
Weather: the BLM tells visitors to know and be prepared for extreme weather.
Water: carry your own; Garnet Hill has none.

State gemstones

Precious gemstone: Virgin Valley black fire opal
Semiprecious gemstone: Nevada turquoise

Blue-green turquoise veins and patches in tan and brown host rock — Nevada turquoise in its host rock, from the Royston district northwest of Tonopah. Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0.

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Questions

How much petrified wood can I collect on BLM land in Nevada?

Up to 25 pounds plus one piece a day, and no more than 250 pounds a year. Pieces over 250 pounds need a permit or contract, and you may not trade, barter or sell what you collect without a BLM contract.

Where can I look for garnets in Nevada?

At Garnet Hill near Ely, the only designated rockhounding area in the BLM’s Ely District. The garnets usually sit as single crystals in small cavities in rhyolite. There is no fee and no water.

Can I collect rocks at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge?

The refuge’s rules allow collecting by hand from the surface only, up to seven pounds a day for personal use. Digging, tools and collecting artifacts are prohibited.

Can I take fossils from Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park?

No. Removing or disturbing any rock, fossil or other feature is prohibited, and so is metal detecting.

Can I rockhound in wilderness areas?

BLM Nevada allows only hobby collecting in wilderness and wilderness study areas, and it must not disturb the ground surface.

What are Nevada’s state gemstones?

Nevada law names the Virgin Valley black fire opal as the state precious gemstone and Nevada turquoise as the state semiprecious gemstone.

How much of Nevada is federal land?

79.8%, according to the Congressional Research Service’s 2024 figures. The BLM alone manages about 47.2 million acres, roughly two-thirds of the state.

Sources

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