White Rock Springs Rockhounding

• White Rock Springs is a thunderegg rockhounding site
• Be aware, the area east of NF-3350 is under MHRC claim



White Rock Springs is one of a few thunderegg collecting sites located within the boundaries of the Ochoco National Forest at the southern edge of Mill Creek Wilderness. Digging is prohibited on wilderness land. There is a private mining claim of Mt. Hood Rock Club that can be accessed through club membership. This area is fenced off.

On the northern side of the road, you will find a few pits where you can start digging with a geological pick and shovel. The soil is relatively soft here.

Generally, most of the eggs found here tend to be small, ranging between 1 and 2 inches. Cores might be clear grayish agate, contain miniature quartz crystals or have completely crystal structure with purple or blue hues. If you want to find better materials in the area, make an arrangement with the Mt. Hood Rock Club.

The White Rock Campground is within walking distance from the collecting area. This is a free first-come, first-served campground with picnic tables, fire pits, and a vault toilet. Wildcat South Trailhead at the northern edge of the campground provides access to the southeastern portion of Mill Creek Wilderness through Wildcat Trail (#833).

Check a map of Mill Creek Wilderness and trails.

Please keep this place clean, pack out all your trash.

A high-clearance vehicle with four-wheel drive is recommended for the final 1.3 miles.

Another public thunderegg collecting area White Fir Springs is located 2 miles away on your route to White Rock Springs.



Mount Hood Rock Club Dispute

Our team received a request to remove the article because the posted coordinates is on the private Mt Hood Rock Club claim (see comments).

We contacted US Forest Service. According to them, the coordinate we provided here are on public land. The part of the USFS response and a map is bellow.

" I just spoke to our Law Enforcement Officer for USFS and he advised that I was correct. There are no restrictions, and that’s actually a plotted hot spot for our rockhounders on our rockhounding map. I attached a screenshot photo of where those coordinates plotted on my OnX Map, and it is Ochoco National Forest land- so if our LEO says you are good to go- you are officially good to go my friend and ENJOY! Just had a group come out with quite a few beautiful thundereggs from that area! I hope you have a fabulous time!"

White Rock Springs Rockhounding

White Rock Springs Thundereggs

White Rock Springs Thundereggs

White Rock Springs | Facts

Open: Best time: May-October
Managed by: US Forest Service
Location: Ochoco National Forest

Rocks & Minerals: Thundereggs
Tools: Shovel, geology pick
Activities: Rockhounding, camping, and hiking

Distance from the parking: Vary
Road access: A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is suggested
Day-use fees: None
Popularity: Low to moderate

Accommodations: Camping is allowed in the Ochoco National Forest; White Rock Campground

Lodging in Prineville, Oregon

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay

Elevation: 5,340 ft (1,628 m)

White Rock Springs is located:

  • 29 miles northeast of Prineville
  • 82 miles northeast of Bend
  • 220 miles southeast of Portland.

Adventures Nearby



Directions to White Rock Springs

From Prineville,

    • Take Highway 26 east and go for approximately 20 miles to milepost 41
    • After milepost 41 go 0.4 miles to Forest Road 3350 (Wildcat Mountain Road)
    • Turn left onto NF 3350 and continue 6 miles (always take a left fork) to the junction with Forest Service Road 300; you will pass White Fir Springs Agate Beds
    • Turn right here and proceed up Forest Service Road 300 for about 1.2 miles to the intersection with NF 350
    • Turn left and park your car just before the fence.

White Rock Campground is located 0.4 miles further.

GPS: N 44°25.212' W 120°33.060' | 44.4202, -120.551




4 Comments

  1. This is NOT correct. The coordinates you are posting are of the private Mt Hood Rock Club claim. The area past the barbed wire fence is a wilderness preserve where no digging is allowed. White Rock needs to be removed from your list or moved up to the actual White Rock camping area. This is the private TNT mine claim originally owned by Tim Fischer and now by MHRC and you are actively encouraging people to illegally claim jump which can get them arrested. If you want to go to this site, look into becoming a member. It is inexpensive but the membership fees help pay for the claim and maintenance of it.

    1. Coordinates were taking outside of the Mt.Hood Rock Club fence which was on the hill slope in 2018 near Forest Road 3350.
      Let me know if the fence was moved down to the road after 2018.

      1. There is no fence surrounding the MHRC claim. The barbed wire fence is the edge of the wilderness area where digging is not allowed. The GPS coordinates you have on here are probably from the Rockhounding Oregon book which was written years ago when there was a lapse in the claim ownership. Unfortunately the author never updated the locations when the newer edition came out. The claim is posted online and clearly shows that the claim covers the whole NF 350 road until the barbed wire gate. So nobody should be turning on NF 350 to dig anything unless they are members and report how much material they removed so it can be reported to BLM. It is also posted on the BLM site interactive map.

        https://thediggings.com/mines/ormc172827

        Please either remove this listing or add a notice to not dig in this area as it is a private claim. The only public agate beds in this area are at White Fir (which is technically jasper). You are actively encouraging the general public to break the law.

    2. Author

      We contacted to US Forest Service. The GPS coordinate posted on this site is public land.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.