Oregon Rockhounding Map

Oregon, with its geographic and geologic diversity, is a unique state, offering a great gem-hunting experience. The land of the waves-washed coastline, high deserts, river valleys, towering volcanoes and mountain ranges are rich in mineral deposits.

Along the 300 miles of the Pacific Coast, there are a great number of excellent locations to find agate, jasper, petrified wood, and marine fossils. The Willamette River and its tributaries carry mineral materials from volcanic deposits of the Cascade Mountains. The high desert and forest of Central Oregon provide great opportunities to find high-quality thundereggs, geodes, agate, jasper, petrified wood, limb casts, and obsidian. Eastern and Southeastern Oregon are known to be the regions with the great source of agate, jasper, thundereggs, geodes, petrified wood, and leaf fossils.

Recreational Rockhounding Guide - Shortly

The majority of rock and mineral collecting sites are lying on the federal lands managed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management) or U.S. Forest Service.

The U.S. Forest Service limits amounts of specimens up to 10 pounds. Some lands within the National Forest are closed for collecting due to wilderness designation.

The BLM (Oregon & Washington) no-fee daily collecting limits of rocks and minerals including semiprecious gemstones, mineral specimens, and common invertebrate fossils in reasonable amounts for personal use. Petrified wood can be collected for personal use — up to 25 pounds each day, plus one piece, but no more than 250 pounds in any calendar year.

Collection does not occur in developed recreation sites or areas, unless designated as a rockhounding area by BLM.

The collection of agates on the beaches is limited to one gallon per day and three gallons per year.

Rockhounding is restricted in Wilderness Area to the surface collection only.

Items May Not Be Collected

Vertebrate fossils (dinosaurs bones, fish, - anything with a backbone), and shark teeth
Any material remains of prehistoric or historic human life or activities
Projectile points include ‘arrowheads’ and pottery

Caution: Abandoned mine sites are unstable and extremely dangerous. Rotten timber, open shafts, poisonous gases, insufficient oxygen can be lethal. Never attempt to enter and explore abandoned mines.

DISCLAIMER

The Oregon Rockhounding Map provides information about some of the many rockhounding sites of the state of Oregon. Information is subject to change at any time, and Oregon Discovery team cannot guarantee that is either current or correct. Be aware that there are some mine claims and private lands near the public collecting areas. Determining the land status and minerals' collection rules at the site is your primary responsibility.

Currently, this map is incomplete but new rockhounding sites and related details will be added in the future.