From the category archives:

Gem Trails by State

Field Road (SoCal, Site 50)

by pshiromaJanuary 30, 2011 California - Southern

Date of Visit: January 29, 2011
Directions: The location is easy to reach and the map is fine. We visited Site A.
Notes: As the book states, Site A is expansive. We parked at the end of the paved road and walked east towards the wash, going approximately 150 yards from where we parked. After all the [...]

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Jacumba Minerals (S CA Site 1)

by JerryJanuary 11, 2011 California - Southern

Directions: This site is easy to find. In-Ko-Pah is Exit 77 on I-8 at 3000 feet in the western Jacuma Mountains. From the end of the road you can drive another tenth of a mile before parking. There was a recent model trailer set up along side the road to Site B, but it appeared [...]

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Oatman Fire Agate (AZ Site 4)

by JerryNovember 28, 2010 Arizona

Directions: The Gem Trails directions are accurate for this site. Look for the claims sign on the north side of the highway and park in the area just below.
Date: November 2010
Notes: We visited the site from nearby Laughlin, NV, on a cool, sunny late fall day. There are multiple claims in the area, but we [...]

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Hallelujia Mountain (N CA Site 42)

by FishBonzSeptember 13, 2010 California - Northern

What a great location! Even without getting the hang of chiseling away the host rock and not finding any meaningful vugs of quartz crystals, I still managed to find some decent terminated quartz crystals just lying around in the dirt and under bushes. There is quartz everywhere here – just be sure to [...]

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Pulga Site B (N CA Site 35)

by FishBonzSeptember 13, 2010 California - Northern

Found “Site B” without too much difficulty. Although the guide indicates it requires a hike up Camp Creek Rd., it is currently driveable all the way to the diggings. It was sad to see that someone has hit the cliff side with what must be power equipment, to clean out what must have [...]

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Acton (SoCal R4, Site 66, Site C)

by pshiromaSeptember 6, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Map will get you there without issue.
Date: September 6, 2010
Notes: On Hubbard Road, approximately 3/4ths of a mile from Escondido Canyon Road there is a dirt road leading north from Hubbard road into the low hills. At least one rockhounding site I visited indicated that this dirt road is passable for standard passenger [...]

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San Gabriel Mountains Actinolite (SoCal R3, Site 39)

by pshiromaSeptember 4, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Map will get you to the location without issue. However, Mitchell is right about the difficulty in finding an appropriate turnout.
Date: September, 2010.
Notes: There is an additional collection area south of the Inspiration Point turn out. Take the Blue Ridge Truck Trail from the southern side of the  turnout approximately six miles to the [...]

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Calapooia River (OR R1, Site 24 GR)

by Heather DAugust 8, 2010 Gem Trails by State

I drove the Callapooia river road, and there are not many gravel bars to find at this time. Most of the river is private land. There is a gate across the road to the United States creek that belongs to Weyerhauser. I met a local gold panner who said the best panning is on the [...]

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Lovelock Agate (NV R2, Site 33)

by JessiJune 22, 2010 Gem Trails by State

Directions: The directions were easy enough to follow, but the road to the left and the “parking area” to the right sort of sneak up on you. (There is a lot of sage and grass growing in them, so perhaps they are getting harder to see as time goes by). There is plenty of parking, [...]

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Fallon Agate (NV R3, Site 45)

by JessiJune 22, 2010 Gem Trails by State

Directions: We were not able to find the wash area, but did make it to Green Mountain. The map in the book shows the road going straight past the “pits”, but in reality, the road has to zig-zag around the mine property. But once you are past the mine, any road will get you out [...]

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