From the category archives:

Gem Trails by State

Bristol Mountain Onyx (S CA Site 31)

by JerryFebruary 26, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Mitchell’s map and directions will get you there, but it gets a little confusing about midway along the powerline road with the gasline road sometimes separating and crossing each other. At one point the gasline road gets lost in a dune. 4WD is mandatory. The 2 mile hike into the quarry is quite moderate, [...]

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Broadwell Dry Lake (S CA Site 32)

by JerryFebruary 26, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: We only had an afternoon available, so decided to try Site A, but we’re not sure if we got there. We had problems with Mitchell’s map and directions after the turn west away from the dry lake. There was a fork at 2.5 miles not shown on the map. Bear right as the left [...]

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Cadiz (S CA Site 25)

by JerryFebruary 24, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Mitchell’s map and directions to the site are misleading. The turn off Cadiz Rd is just before the 2nd curve where the road turns right to cross the railroad. From the parking area below the deposits, follow the trail left across the face, then around and up into the higher shale deposits on the [...]

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Chambless (S CA Site 26)

by JerryFebruary 22, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: We visited Sites B and C. Mitchell’s directions to the sites are generally accurate, however there is no street sign for “Mactull Ave”. It is the road just across the highway from the Chambless Water Company. A couple of blue painted cairns have been placed to help mark the road to site C. Use [...]

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Big River Agate (S CA Site 21, AZ Site 60)

by JerryFebruary 13, 2010 Arizona

Directions: We only visited Site B. Mitchell’s directions to the site are accurate. The site is clearly identified by the dome-shaped hill composed of red rhyolite, see photo.
Google Map
Date: February 2010
Notes: We stopped at 3 locations, the first 1.4 miles from Hwy 62, then 2 miles, and finally at about 3 miles. We obtained jasper [...]

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Cargo Muchacho Mountains (S CA Site 8, AZ Site 56)

by JerryJanuary 19, 2010 Arizona

Directions: We only visited Site B, on Indian Pass Rd. Mitchell’s directions are accurate. Rather than park at the designated site, we ventured a short distance further east and took a side road off to the right which led about 1/4 mile over and down to a wash.
Google Map
GPS: 33.001 N 114.778 W
Date: January 2010
Notes: [...]

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Yermo (S CA Site 47)

by JerryDecember 12, 2009 California - Southern

Directions: You should have no trouble following Mitchell’s directions to the sites. The “old pole line” road noted in the text for Site B is marked as BLM Rd 7640.
Google Map
GPS: Site B – N34.937, W 116.758; Site C – N34.943, W 116.771
Date: December 2009
Notes: Don’t bother with Site A, very little material, none above [...]

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Paul Bunyan Agate (S CA Bonus)

by JerryDecember 9, 2009 Bonus Sites

Directions: This site is located just northeast of Barstow, CA. From I-15 just east of town take Fort Irwin Rd north 7.1 miles. Turn left on Irwin  Rd and after 1/2 mile turn right on a minor dirt road. Follow it 1.9 miles north, then at the base of a small mountain take the road [...]

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Warm Springs (OR R3 Site 60 – GR)

by JerryOctober 5, 2009 Gem Trails by State

Directions: Garret’s directions and map will get you there and get you to the various sites. His GPS coordinates are accurate. We came from the Burns side and found the roads to all the collecting sites in very good shape (until it rained).
Google Map
Date: October 09
Notes: Our rock club (Central Oregon Rock Collectors) made a [...]

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Ames Creek (OR R1 Site 19 – GR)

by JerryOctober 5, 2009 Gem Trails by State

This is a side note confirming the Holleywood Ranch fee dig site near Ames Creek (a few miles outside of Sweet Home) mentioned in the book. Our rock club (Central Oregon Rock Collectors) made a field trip to the ranch in Sept 09. There is literally tons of wood available and digging in the excavated [...]

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