From the category archives:

Gem Trails by State

Dugway (UT Site 25)

by JerryApril 10, 2012 Gem Trails by State

Directions: We drove from Delta and Mitchell’s mileages are generally accurate. You should be able to find the site. The road he shows going north from Delta is Jones Rd, ending at UT 174 at the power plant. On the way we stopped at the Delta Rock Shop where they were very helpful and provided [...]

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Winslow Petrified Wood (AZ Site 37)

by JerryMarch 29, 2012 Arizona

Directions: You will have no trouble locating Territorial Road, the gravel road of Mitchell’s directions. Note that the collecting area is a checkerboard of state and private ranch land. There is a sign and registration box at the intersection with AZ99 where you can register at no cost to access these lands. Also, McHood Park [...]

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Vidal Junction (S CA Site 20)

by JerryMarch 29, 2012 California - Southern

Directions: The site we visited was a couple miles north of the chalcedony site Mitchell describes. It is a designated rockhound area on the Parker District BLM map. At about 11 miles from Vidal Junction watch for BLM road 642 or a mile north road 634. Road 642 is the better road, you will need [...]

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Lake Havasu (S CA Site 23)

by JerryMarch 7, 2012 California - Southern

Directions: This site is not the “agate hill” that Mitchell describes and that is under claim by the Needles Gem and Mineral Society, but it is nearby, so I am listing it here. We found information and directions for the site we visited on the BLM map for the Parker, AZ, area. Follow Lake Havasu [...]

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Turtle Mountains (S CA Site 22)

by JerryMarch 7, 2012 California - Southern

Directions: For starters, Turtle Mountain Road is 26 miles north of Vidal Junction and the south side of the sign post says Indian Trail. But the road is hard to miss. It is also BLM road 434. There is a good camp site at 6 miles where the road crosses Chemehuevi Wash. There is no [...]

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Yermo (SoCal, Region 3, Site 47)

by pshiromaNovember 22, 2011 California - Southern

Directions: Mitchell’s map is fine.
Date: November, 2011
Site Notes: We skipped sites A and B and were going to head up to sites C and D. However, after making the left hand turn to the west of the dump, I began to notice a lot of large agates in the road bed and in the wash, [...]

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Rainbow Ridge Opal (NV Site 23)

by JerrySeptember 26, 2011 Gem Trails by State

Directions: The book directions are fine and the site is easily reached. Mitchell doesn’t mention that the campground is available and free (first come basis). Dry camping only, but water is available and there is a shower room and a warm spring fed pool.
Date: June 2011
Notes: The weather was perfect in early June, but it [...]

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White Fir (OR Site 36 GR)

by JerrySeptember 26, 2011 Gem Trails by State

Directions: Garret’s directions are good (as always). The sign “Agate Beds” actually leads to the jasper egg area, while the real agate eggs are at the 4.3 mile mark, up to the right, just before the camping area.
Date: August 2011
Notes: We worked both the jasper and agate beds and had good success at both. Find [...]

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Rabbit Hills (OR Site 76 GR)

by JerrySeptember 26, 2011 Gem Trails by State

Directions: It can get confusing with many roads wandering around the area, but follow the map or directions in the book, watch for the signs and you should be fine. The public campground is free and very nice, with ramadas, tables and restrooms (dry camp only).
Date: June 2011
Notes: While we know folks who have found [...]

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Hector Hills (S CA Region 2, Site 34)

by pshiromaJune 5, 2011 California - Southern
Thumbnail image for Hector Hills (S CA Region 2, Site 34)

Over the Memorial Day weekend we visited the Hector Hills location. Mitchell’s map is fine although the site is expansive and takes more time than we had available.
The road heading south from 66 that eventually connects to the Hector Mine is a well maintained county road fully passable by standard passenger cars. For those without [...]

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