Nevada Adventure, On The Rocks
Millions of years of geological activity have made Nevada the perfect place for mining gold and other precious minerals. They have also formed countless rockhounding sites loaded with unimaginable diversity. Getting down—and maybe dirty—in the hills of Nevada is one of the easiest, least expensive, and most rewarding pastimes you’ll ever find.
Digging in the dirt has never been more fun.
Swing that pickaxe into all corners of the Silver State
Turquoise in Central Nevada
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Is there a bad time to road trip the Free-Range Art Highway or Loneliest Road in America?
NEAREST CITY: Tonopah or Austin
TERRAIN TYPE: Pavement
VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: Any style will do
TOOLS REQUIRED: Rock hammer and your wallet
LAND MANAGER: Private property
Nevada has more turquoise mines than any other state. Rule of thumb: If you’re out and about and happen to find some turquoise-hued stones, chances are it probably is turquoise. There are more than 100 turquoise mines in Nevada, and while many are private, you can book with Otteson Brothers Turquoise in Tonopah and dig to your heart’s content at the famous Royston Mine. This is the very place that inspired the famous shade of blue that Tiffany & Co. uses as its signature hue.
No time to dig? Beeline it to one of the best turquoise shops in northern Nevada—Jason’s Art Gallery in Austin. The proprietors have owned this store (and their own turquoise mine) for decades, turning both local and regional cabochons into rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Not quite in the cards to make it that far north? Erick Begay Native American Jewelry in Boulder City is a lovely southern outpost. Look for the pearl and turquoise combos Erick has become famous for.
Garnets in Ely
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring or fall
NEAREST CITY: Ely
TERRAIN TYPE: Dirt road suitable for most cars. Coincidentally, heading in after a rainstorm will likely be your best luck, but it also means rocks may have washed down the road, too. Sharp rocks are present, so take it slow and you should be set.
VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: AWD or 4WD is recommended, but most vehicles should have no issue
TOOLS REQUIRED: Rock hammer and garden rake
LAND MANAGER: BLM
Just west of Ely on Highway 50, Garnet Hill is an unexpected gem. When prospectors first came to Nevada, they kept turning up red gemstones in the mountains between Ely and Elko. Originally assumed to be rubies—hence the name of the Ruby Mountains—the stones turned out to be garnets, and pretty sizable ones at that.
Garnet Hill is a Bureau of Land Management area replete with an accessible bathroom and four picnic sites. But let’s be honest, you didn’t come here for the picnic—you came for the stones. The hills are full of almandine garnets, which are generally a rich, dark color. Flashes of red often burn within the multifaceted stones that can be found lying on the ground. You read that correctly—they can be found lying on the ground as well as in the rocks that populate the hillsides.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Hiked your tail all over Garnet Hill and still turned up empty handed? Head into Ely for Garnet Mercantile. Here, you’ll find local Shoshone sisters who make tons of incredible American Indian goods. From hand-beaded moccasins and deerskin quivers to a variety of garnet jewelry, they’ve got it.
Black Fire Opal in Denio
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Fall, when the weather is best
NEAREST CITY: Denio
TERRAIN TYPE: Lots of dirt road driving in these parts. The majority of the way, on Highway 140, is paved. From there, you’ll need to travel on a well-maintained dirt road to the opal mines.
VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: AWD or 4WD is recommended, but most vehicles should have no issue. FYI that you’ll likely have very little cell reception.
TOOLS REQUIRED: If you pay to play, all tools will be provided
LAND MANAGER: Private property
The only place in North America you’ll find this very rare opalized prehistoric wood is in northwestern Nevada. It’s no wonder Virgin Valley black fire opal is the state gemstone. Opals are made when silica-packed solutions settle into cracks and voids, which can occur in rocks, tree branches, you name it. While spotting these gems can be tough at first, the folks at Bonanza, Rainbow Ridge, and Royal Peacock opal mines are all ready to assist you in your hunt. These mines charge a digging fee, but with that you’ll get expert advice, and some offer free camping and other amenities.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Ready to rockhound northwestern Nevada? Be sure to call ahead. This area is super remote with few accommodations nearby. Make sure the mines are open before you head out, too.
Wonderstone Near Fallon
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Any time of year. The route is harder to drive after wet weather.
NEAREST CITY: Fallon
TERRAIN TYPE: Once you turn at the Grimes Point/Hidden Cave Archaeological Site off U.S. 50, the road quickly turns to dirt. If you don’t feel comfortable going more than a couple miles, just pull over and start searching the surrounding hills.
VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: AWD or 4WD is recommended, but most vehicles should be able to get you within walking distance
TOOLS REQUIRED: A bucket and gloves
LAND MANAGER: BLM
Just east of Fallon at the Grimes Point turnoff, Wonderstone Mountain is easily spotted thanks to its orange hills capped by rhyolitic tuff. Due to the volcanic activity the area has witnessed, the unmistakable bands of red, orange, white, and brown are everywhere. The ground is covered in material of every color and size. Once you have your fill of these multi-hued rocks, look for agate, green rhyolite, and even jasper, which have all been found in the area, too.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Leave the hammer home, as you’ll find a rainbow of rocks lying on the ground. Larger boulders exist, but with all the material easily found at your fingertips, why crash into these majestic features?
Trilobites in Caliente
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring or fall, unless you wanna sweat it out in extreme summer temps
NEAREST CITY: Caliente
TERRAIN TYPE: Paved road to the mile marker 81 turnoff. There are some serious sandy spots, so unless you’ve got 4WD, park at the turnoff and walk the quarter mile in.
VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: AWD or 4WD is recommended, but most vehicles should be able to get you within walking distance
TOOLS REQUIRED: Rock hammer and garden rake
LAND MANAGER: BLM
If it’s fossils you’re after, it doesn’t get better than Oak Springs Trilobite Area. Along with amazing views of Joshua trees and yucca plants, this area is loaded with shale that contains six types of trilobites. These prehistoric marine arthropods became fossilized in mud when the waters that once covered Nevada dried up.
Look for a trench—this is where the fossils are—and be prepared to be patient. There may be many unsuccessful attempts before you find your prize, but when you split open a piece of shale with a 500-million-year-old trilobite inside, all your effort will have been worth it. And unlike other fossils you might find elsewhere in the state, the specimens you discover at this BLM site are fully yours to keep.
Gemfield Near Goldfield
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Any time of year. There’s not much cover, so it might get hot in the summer.
NEAREST CITY: Goldfield
TERRAIN TYPE: Rough dirt road
VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: AWD or 4WD is recommended
TOOLS REQUIRED: Rock hammer, bucket, gloves, and cash for the pay-as-you-hunt system
LAND MANAGER: Private property
Some of the best rockhounding in southern Nevada lies north of Goldfield in a place called Gemfield. There, you can dig for chalcedony, agate, jasper, quartz, and countless other stones. Snag a few pocket-sized baubles or load actual buckets of finds for a small fee. Though the rest of the state is loaded with dig sites presenting this kind of diversity, Gemfield is special because so many types of rocks and minerals are found within one area.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Before you head out on your dig, download our free Nevada Rockhounding Guide for more tips on all things rockhounding.
Tools to Take & Etiquette Tips
Ready to build your own rockhounding adventure kit? Stock your gear bag with a rock hammer and a screwdriver or ice pick for digging and chipping away at potential finds. A rake or trowel can also come in handy at places like Garnet Hill and Royal Peacock. A squirt bottle is another pro addition—wet the rocks to help reveal the gems hidden within. Cushion your knees with a blanket, towel, or even knee pads. Don’t forget a bucket for holding all your treasures!
Whether you’re on your way to privately owned, pay-to-dig sites, BLM recreation areas, or simply heading down a dusty road to start digging, brush up on our Dirt Road Code to make sure you’re recreating responsibly. Remember that rockhounding (or taking anything you find in general) is not allowed in any Nevada State Parks or Great Basin National Park. It’s also illegal to take any arrowheads, spearpoints, or American Indian artifacts you may come across.
