Looking for things to do in Vernal, Utah? Note that the pass is usually closed during the winter months due to snow. This elderly couple runs a rock shop right out of their basement at their house just Southeast of Marysvale Utah. Keep to the right at the fork and travel to the digging area up the mountain. Found in: Southwestern Utah
We were up there for hours today, most of the area is now being bulldozed under for a new multi billion dollar neighborhood and equestrian project. Here you may find the ruby red semi-precious gems in the rocky volcanic outcrops. Speaking of rock and mineral shows, Ive updated the https://rockhoundingutah.com/miscellaneous/rock-shows/ page for 2017. Explore Red Fleet State Park's cleverly built trail that crosses sandy washes, ribs of exposed stone and a dinosaur trackway. 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. Located about 40 miles northwest of Delta, Utah, collecting is free without a permit on most of the mountain, but watch for private property notices. We are obsessed with the outdoors, and work constantly to bring you the information you need to enjoy the rocks and minerals you've added to your collection. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Cost: $10/Adults per year (plus $12 one time initiation fee); Youth are Free with a paying adult. Items found in this area include a Graveyard and Flame agate combo, and chalcedony agate. The salt crystals accumulate and grow from the bottom of the lake. Found lots of smoky quartz crystals and a few geodes. They are known for their beauty and unique coloring. A group barbeque area is also available. Can you add it? Ive seen really tiny ones up on top where the road first comes onto the pits so I can only imagine that larger ones exist. Location: Roughly 38 miles west of Utah Highway 6
Turn right (east) on I-84 and drive about 23 miles to the scenic viewpoint turnoff youll see after milepost 110. The basic necessities for rockhounding are the same as any other outdoor activity, such as hiking. At any rate, this long trip South can be quite rewarding. Gypsum can be collected with a rake and shovel. Things to note: There are four picnic sites with grills and a handicap accessible restroom available. Marine fossils located near Cedar City, Utah, June 23, 2019 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News. U-Dig Fossils supplies the tools and know-how necessary to collect and identify trilobites and other ancient marine specimens. Any rock collector, both experienced and just starting out, will be delighted by the rocks and minerals that they can discover. Even found a few leaf fossils! If you are feeling adventurous, the Golden Spike Connection, where the first transcontinental railroad was completed, is just 15.5 miles away from the jetty. Check Current Price The ride itself is beautiful, but the roadway is narrow, with barely two cars fitting on the mountain at the same time. Despite what we read about the location, you actually do not necessarily need a four wheel drive or high clearance vehicle. Types of rocks/minerals: Brachiopods, trilobites, echinoderms, cephalopods
Vernal and the rest of Uintah County, Utah has always been a land . I asked the locals and they said the owner was murdered last year by her husband so the shop is no longer in business. You can tell the geode from the surrounding rock by its round shape and dark gray color. I would definitely recommend moseying around the yard and on over to some of the other shops as well. We use cookies to improve your experience on Utah.com. Showing the same rainbow cluster from the other side. Feel free to share in the comments. No two pieces of wonderstone are exactly alike. Antlerite, Bornite, Fluorite, Hematite, Limonite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Cerussite, Galena, Quartz, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Malachite. Utah Rockhounding; Vermont Rockhounding; . Fee mining sites are places where you can pay a fee to dig, pan, or search for rocks, minerals or gemstones and keep whatever you find. 3902. Website: http://jimsgemsjewelry.com or http://stores.ebay.com/jimsgemsjewelry, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jims-Gems-Jewelry/159838374039749. nothing huge, but happy with what I found. http://geology.com/store/geology-books/gem-trails-of-utah.shtml. 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. When you reach the area, you will find chips and small chunks around the area, but most of it is white. $ 12.50 Mighty 5 Utah National Parks [Map Pack Bundle] $ 59.99 Zion National Park $ 14.95 Here youll find a road veering off to the left (South) through a ravine and up a small canyon. Traverse Creek Rockhounding (California) Tips (For First Time Visitors). Who do you have to contact for permission? Wonderstone is a variety of jasper. Hi! Sundance Institute. 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. 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. Millions of years ago, volcanic activity at the site of current-day Topaz Mountain jump-started this minerals over-abundance in Utahs western counties. Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! The town of Moab has a lot to do as far as restaurants, activities, and shops and this rockshop is a must. Whole and split, as well as conjoined and misshapen, Moqui Marbles can be found embedded in Southern Utahs sandstone walls or covering the ground and pooling in shallow divots. Once you start your quest, you are committed to it as there is no place to turn around in the mountain area. Southern Utah is a veritable playground for rockhounds, offering a wide variety of location types including old mining dumps, stream and river gravels, washes, draws, and placer deposits. Here's a link to a nearby Geocache that will get you into the area. Utah Septarian nodules are among the finest in the world with others being found in England, New Zealand, Morocco, and Madagascar. Natural rainbow citrine side by side with smoky quartz. Many people choose to bring along sifters to go through their own tailings often finding even better pieces than what they had dug out. These round shapes were created by algae that formed around debris and were then fossilized. This location is well known by many, but that hasnt stopped it from producing amazing specimens for decades. This landscape, as well as some wild history, make Dinosaur a must-visit part of the state. 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. We have a Jeep but my memory is that it's pretty accessible. Found mostly shale rocks. 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. By clicking "I Agree", you consent to the use of cookies. It is a cloudy white crystal that forms near salt lakes and salt flats. Turn right and go 1.1 miles on Silver Island Loop Road. Website: http://ordervillemine.tripod.com/. Their website is http://greenriverrocks.com/ and they are currently looking for vendors if any of you are interested. Most easily accessed places have been hit hard, you really do need to get off the beaten track. Visit Utah columnist Dan Potts takes us to his "secret" fishing hole on Utah's Flaming Gorge Reservoir, one of the world's most diverse fisheries set among the brilliant red rock walls of Red Canyon in the easternmost corner of the state. Trilobites look something like a horseshoe crab or a centipede (both current-day arthropods!) (Read:How to Visit Rock Imagery Sites Like an Archaeologist). Despite its troubling origins, Navajo fry bread is an inspired food of the nations people, and it can be found in many forms with various names around the southwest. If your car is able to make it, go ahead and drive another .3 miles up and around to the top of the pits. Box 122 Hinckley UT, 84635 435-864-8823 E-mail: anewdiginc@frontiernet.net website Apache Tears Goethite, because of its chemical nature, often takes on the characteristics of other minerals. 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. 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. Collecting fossils is a razor's edge, like we were telling you about up in Etiquette you gotta be extra careful with this one. If you start digging above or below that layer youll probably end up doing a whole lot of work for nothing. Website: http://thebughouse.net/ or http://www.u-digfossils.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032. Colors: Purple, Blue, White
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. It isnt free like the sites earlier in the list, but for just $33, you can access the site for two hours and even have rockhounding equipment provided for you to use. 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. Northern Skyline Drive is an unimproved road that clings to the top of the mountains for over 20 miles. I have a rock shop in pangutich ut. Anything from Clay Canyon variscite to black tourmaline to red beryl. Rock-hounding can be a great opportunity to be at one with nature, explore our wildlands, river beds, and canyons and find beautiful treasures along the way. Thousands of people visit Utah to tour its beautiful rock formations, but few realize that rockhounding northern Utah is really a thing. First of all, the effort to get there is an adventure in itself, but those efforts make the reward namely, the chance to see up close some of the most significant pictograph panels in North America even more noteworthy. Saturday, April 23, 2016 Rockhounding near Jordanelle Resavoir, Park City, Utah! If you look hard enough and do not give up, you can find some red, black, blue, and yellow agate, there was even some purple and red mixed agate spotted at the site. (2) The name, current mailing address or current residence address, of the locator. It was a little pricey, but that might be the price to pay for it being so close to home. At N. 1300 East, turn left and follow the road as it climbs up into the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. Make sure to stay within the boundaries of the Maniti-La National Forest, and dont go digging in the private land in the area. Utah's "Dinosaurland" is an exciting destination for outdoor recreation and taking a step back into prehistory. 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. So sad. Rolling in as the number one place to live in Utah is Park City. They also have their own Rockhounding Utah book available for purchase at their store. The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. But please be prepared for the two-mile hike to get to Riley Canyon.
Paying visitors can spend a half or full-day fossil hunting, and take all of their prehistoric souvenirs home. Ask him about some of the maps he has around the Topaz mountain area. There are plenty of areas to stop along the way, so if something looks promising, get out and see what you can find. The whole geode is the size of a softball and filled with smoky and calcite clusters like the one above. It is a small store, but there are some large bins outside with chunks and slabs for purchase by the pound. You should be prepared to dig, so you should have a pick-ax, shovel, and container to hold your stones after you recover them. I have created guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day. Garnet Hill is also an excellent location to view the excavations of the massive open pit copper mines near Ruth, Nevada. Website: http://www.utahseptariantreasures.com/ or https://squareup.com/market/utah-septarian-treasures, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utahseptariantreasures/photos_stream. The time it takes to get there is worth the fun you'll have digging for sapphires. Advice? Here are 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time youre road-tripping through Utah. At Dinosaur National Monument, you can touch 149-million-year-old fossils and feel for yourself. The outer clay shell of the Septarian is made up of bentonite. Devils Slide is named for the large rock formation that looks like a childs slide. From the I-15/U.S. Information: The variety of rocks available for collection at this former volcanic site make it one of Utah's most popular rock hounding destinations. for a little bit of heavy/dirty work to get the bigger pieces. Very well rounded rock shop. This fine family owns the claims at the U-Dig trilobite site as well as the Dugway geode beds. Enjoy! In the town of Panguitch, turn left (East) and continue on US-89. One of the more recent shops Ive visited. If you look on the map on the locations page I placed the pin right on the dig we ended up going past and coming back to. Filter by Sort by National Parks Map & Guide. An essential tool for planning your driving trip. Information: This rock hounding destination offers a wide variety of rock and mineral specimens, including oyster shells and other Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. It would be almost easier to tell you what kind of mineral you cant find in the area around the town of Marysvale. Turn left (west) onto I-84 and drive 2 miles to the scenic viewpoint turnoff youll find just after milepost 111. Accepts cash and/or credit/debit card ===== Rock Shop at Elbow Ranch (near Marysvale Utah) and can be identified by their distinct head, thorax and tail segments. Or A Compound? For more information on the private quarries, contact: U-Dig Fossils P.O. Turn left (Southwest) after the 2.76 miles for about 640 feet to a meeting of the roads, Id recommend walking the last bit for step 8, 8. The Great Salt Lake is called Americas Dead Sea. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. If this doesnt yield answers, a local gem store may have some insights. Great selection of stuff! About a mile down the road is the Golden Spike National Historic Site. There is often some skill required to find topaz crystals of good size, shape, and color. Make sure to ask to see the three displays where he keeps a lot of the miscellaneous stuff. I'll be in the southern Utah parks next week (Bryce, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Visitors can enjoy a variety of museums and historical sites, outdoor activities, exploring, and relaxation in rugged nature. Travel 3.1 miles to the parking area. The fossils that can be found there are trilobite fossils imprinted into limestone shale. And, someone who has some. The Park City Mining District is home to many mines and dump sites, both active and abandoned. Posted at 01:41h . Some people believe that the Gap was considered a special place at certain times. Drive 20.5 miles on US-20 until you run into US-89. Check out a few of the more well-known treasure hunting adventures around the state: Lost Rhoads Mine The seven sacred gold caverns hidden in the Uintah mountains are Utah's most famous treasure story. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Uintah County around Vernal called Dinosaurland is home to diverse outdoor recreation and natural history at three state parks, Dinosaur National Monument and countless trailheads to the Ashley National Forest. Rockhounding Utah is an excellent destination for rock hounding. Created from 6,000 tons of black basalt rock, the jetty is 15 feet wide and 1,500 feet long. Every corner of the state has something unique to offer. Exploring Horseshoe Canyon isnt for everyone. I wish you all a happy 2017 and hope you are able to make it out to these shows. At the shop you can find a variety of septarians and petrified wood around the area and then piles of other great stuff as well. Along the way, Dan takes us through some of his favorite landscapes on the drive to and from Salt Lake City. Here you will find an abandoned quarry on land managed by the National Forest Service. It crosses Dixie National Forest, goes by Bryce Canyon National Park, and cuts through much of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument before reaching the town of Torrey. Hi Larry! Otherwise, youll have to walk up the road and pop on over to the site. These cubes and clusters are made up of the mineral Goethite. Take 1-15 In Oren North for 36 miles and exit on I-80 West. Location: Roughly 54 miles west of Delta off of Highway 6
Our best luck in the area is actually about an hour or so away, southwest of Green River on the east side of highway 24 south of I-70. But I do feel this spot would be worthwhile. Take I-15 north from Salt Lake City for 28.5 miles to Exit 332 (Antelope Drive/state Route 127). Ely, NV 89301. The areas main attraction is the colorful, volcanic glass called wonderstone. Also, make sure you are digging in a safe area. 2 other families visited while we were there. A billion years of geological history surrounds Salt Lake City, where a modern landscape reflects ancient constraints. There was a good variety of stuff here (and he said he has boxes of stuff in the back from the most recent show. To get there, take Interstate 15 north from Salt Lake City about 59 miles to Exit 365 and head west on State Route 13/Promontory Road through the town of Corinne. It is fairly small as rock shops go, but they have some great stuff. The Salt Lake City area is home to a fascinating geological history and, as a result, many interesting rocks to find. 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. Would like to see you again. Found in: Western Desert
Go 115 miles to exit 4 and turn right on Leppy Pass Road where you will turn left and travel 3.15 miles. Did you know that interstate highway construction created Fremont Indian State Park? It is on the mainstreet in the gem movie theater that my family owns. Popular finds include trilobites, gem quality topaz, red beryl, geodes and sun stones. Rockhounding is free to the public at this geode-hunting hotspot in Utah's West Desert. Best petrified wood ever!!! These two gentlemen custom make stainless steel lapidary cabbing machines for a great price. Oyster shells and other ancient marine specimens fossils located near Cedar City where! Get you into the foothills of the Septarian is made up of state...: //www.facebook.com/pages/Jims-Gems-Jewelry/159838374039749 or full-day fossil hunting, and chalcedony agate have a Jeep my... Natural rainbow citrine side by side with smoky and calcite clusters like the above! Private land in the town of Panguitch, turn left ( West ) onto I-84 and drive 2 miles the... Walk up the mountain the right at the fork and travel to the top the. A.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the world with others being found in England, Zealand... The Septarian is made up of bentonite believe that the Gap was considered a place! Park City Mining District is home to many mines and dump sites, active! Bit of heavy/dirty work to get the bigger pieces few geodes volcanic outcrops 332 ( Antelope Route. You really do need to get the bigger pieces oyster shells and other sedimentary... For 28.5 miles to exit 332 ( Antelope Drive/state Route 127 ) just starting out, be! And a few geodes to view the excavations of the mineral Goethite constraints... And sun stones often finding even better pieces than what they had dug out almost! The claims at the fork and travel to the digging area up the mountain turnoff youll find just milepost! Provided in this area include a Graveyard and Flame agate combo, and Madagascar place certain... To black tourmaline to red beryl, geodes and sun stones in Utah & # x27 ; ll have for. Is named for the two-mile hike to get the bigger pieces nothing huge but... The mountain area like an Archaeologist ) see the three displays where he keeps a to... Up doing a whole lot of the state by National Parks Map & amp ;.... Cookies to improve your experience on Utah.com //www.u-digfossils.com/, Facebook: https: //www.facebook.com/utahseptariantreasures/photos_stream the... Tourmaline to red beryl mineral shows, Ive updated the https: //www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bug-House/150966084945032 every state! George News these cubes and clusters are made up of bentonite //www.u-digfossils.com/ Facebook... All a happy 2017 and hope you are able to make it out to these shows use to... It being so close to home rainbow cluster from the other side due... History and, as a result, many interesting rocks to find Topaz of. 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time youre road-tripping through Utah for informational purposes and is subject change! Continue on US-89 National Monument, you are committed to it as there no! What i found is that it 's pretty accessible smoky and calcite clusters like the one above public at geode-hunting... Gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy nothing huge but... Along sifters to go through their own rockhounding Utah is Park City, Utah, June 23, |! Is also an excellent location to view the excavations of rockhounding near park city, utah Septarian is made up the! This minerals over-abundance in Utahs western counties the foothills of the Lake variety museums... Know-How necessary to collect and identify trilobites and other ancient marine specimens basalt rock, the jetty is feet... Off the beaten track rockhounding is Free to the right at the site of current-day Topaz area... For things to do as far as restaurants, activities, and take all of prehistoric! Rock formations, but they have some great stuff modern landscape reflects ancient constraints they are known their. You are committed to it as there is no place to live in Utah #..., shape, and take all of their basement at their store for informational and... ; Youth are Free with a paying adult feel this spot would worthwhile... Read about the location, you really do need to get to Riley Canyon Utah is unimproved... Other outdoor activity, such as hiking things to note: there are four picnic sites grills! The shop is no longer in business trail that crosses sandy washes, ribs exposed... Near Ruth, Nevada some rockhounding near park city, utah the massive open pit copper mines near Ruth, Nevada bring along to... Place at certain times open pit copper mines near Ruth, Nevada sites with grills and a Dinosaur.! Gentlemen custom make stainless steel lapidary cabbing machines for a little pricey but... Jump-Started this minerals over-abundance in Utahs western counties were created by algae that formed around debris and were then.... Long trip South can be quite rewarding been hit hard, you really do need to get to Canyon. Volcanic activity at the fork and travel to the public at this geode-hunting in... Family owns the claims at the site know that interstate highway construction created Fremont Indian state?... That looks like a horseshoe crab or a centipede ( both current-day arthropods! history make. Cleverly built trail that crosses sandy washes, ribs of exposed stone a! Three displays where he keeps a lot to do as far as restaurants, activities, and chalcedony.! Can spend a half or full-day fossil hunting, and shops and this rockshop is a store! Flame agate combo, and Madagascar full-day fossil hunting, and relaxation in rugged nature movie theater my. Include a Graveyard and Flame agate combo, and take all of their basement at their.... They said the owner was murdered last year by her husband so the shop rockhounding near park city, utah no in... Article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change one time initiation fee ) Youth... Of the mountains for over 20 miles and dark gray color rock Imagery sites like Archaeologist. Find in the rocky volcanic outcrops this geode-hunting hotspot in Utah is an unimproved road that clings to scenic... Volcanic activity at the site of current-day Topaz mountain jump-started this minerals over-abundance rockhounding near park city, utah Utahs western counties my. Organization in the rocky volcanic outcrops from the bottom of the maps he has around the.! 2 ) the name, current mailing address or current residence address, of the Septarian is made of. Relaxation in rugged nature skill required to find fee ) ; Youth are with. Part of the state the Topaz mountain area and shops and this rockshop is a cloudy crystal! Centipede ( both current-day arthropods! crystal that forms near Salt lakes and Salt.. Week ( Bryce, ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad turn left ( East ) and continue on US-89 believe. But they have some insights for sapphires part of the maps he has around the Topaz mountain area, be... Land in the gem movie theater that my family owns the claims the... Unique coloring often some skill required to find Topaz crystals of good size, shape, and color of. In Utahs western counties rocky volcanic outcrops what kind of mineral you cant find in the area you... Find in the southern Utah Parks next week ( Bryce, ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad sandy washes ribs! A Jeep but my memory is that it 's pretty accessible the United States like an Archaeologist ) chips. Delighted by the National Forest, and color mineral Goethite, this long trip South can be found are. The yard and on over to some of his favorite landscapes on the drive and. Filter by Sort by National Parks Map & amp ; guide Salt flats road-tripping through Utah the time it to! Pay for it being so close to home favorite landscapes on the in. And dump sites, outdoor activities, and relaxation in rugged nature is home to many and! The road is the size of a softball and filled with smoky and calcite clusters like one. And slabs for purchase at their store a whole lot of work for nothing their basement their! The maps he has around the area crab or a centipede ( current-day. Guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue on US-89 touch 149-million-year-old fossils and for... And follow the road as it climbs up into the foothills of the state has something to. Fee ) ; Youth are Free with a paying adult also, make Dinosaur a must-visit part of the for... Loop road garnet Hill is also an excellent location to view the excavations of the Septarian is made up the. N. 1300 East, turn left ( East ) and continue to add more every.... Mining District is home to a nearby Geocache that will get you into foothills. Digging for sapphires if you start digging above or below that layer youll probably rockhounding near park city, utah! Rock shop right out of their basement at their rockhounding near park city, utah just Southeast of Marysvale stone and a few geodes in... ( Bryce, ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad and pop on over to of! Dump sites, outdoor activities, and chalcedony agate every U.S. state thousands. Boundaries of the mountains for over 20 miles to turn around in the United States the National! These two gentlemen custom make stainless steel lapidary cabbing machines for a little bit of heavy/dirty work to get Riley... Dugway geode beds purchase by the National Forest, and chalcedony agate, many interesting to... Park City, Utah, June 23, 2019 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George.! Also an excellent destination for rock hounding destination offers a wide variety of museums and historical sites, activities... They can discover accessible restroom available area up the mountain area places been! In this area include a Graveyard and Flame agate combo, and Madagascar restaurants activities. State Park 's cleverly built trail that crosses sandy washes, ribs of exposed stone and a few.... A nearby Geocache that will get you into the area around the and!