clay city rockhounding

You can buy geodes on Amazon to crack open yourself! The thing is, many of the now defunct mines in Virginia City still have this fabled silver goo oozing out of the walls. I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. The Discover Pass was created in 2011 to increase revenue towards parks and recreation across Washington State. Most of it is found in the states eastern and western parts, particularly in the Columbia Plateau basalts or the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park in Vantage. Find out all about the value of amber in the article below:How Much is Amber Worth? Skykomish is tinywith a populationof less than 200 people anda history ofbeing a railroad and logging town. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. The wood is black because it contains carbon. Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. Gold. For ease of reference, Ill break up the state into the four regions shown on the map below. There are no exact coordinates available for the minerals location. Along with incredible state parks, this area is home to a number of multi-colored agate with moss, plumes, fortifications, and eyes. The fee you pay to dig at any of these mines is well worth it in every way: you can dig for the entire day, and are provided with tons of tools and a knowledgeable person nearby to help answer any questions. These are mostly comprised of beaches, old mining prospects, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. 23. They are exceptionally clear and are very desirable for their aesthetic beauty. New York is an exciting state for rockhounding, both for its large quantity of prospective rockhounding locations and the wide variety of rocks and minerals to be found. All 50 States Answered, Washington Department of Natural Resources State Trust Lands Map, Washington Non-DNR Major Public Lands Portal, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Arsenic, Arsenopyrite, Azurite, Chalcopyrite, Malachite, Melaconite, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Realgar, Scorodite, Quartz crystals, Corundum (blue, pink), Thulite, Plagioclase, Azurite, Bornite, Chalcopyrite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz, Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Geodes, Jasper, Petrified wood, Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Jasper, Quartz crystals. Located on the western side of the state just north of highway 50, for a small fee of $70 or less, you can have all-day access to the site and keep whatever you can collect! It is about 60 miles south of Seattle via WA-167 S. The exact GPS coordinates are 46.928434, -122.236806. Rockhounding In Tennessee 1. But, more often than not, there shell be: a dark red, almost brownish gemstone sitting right on top of the ground. Washington is home to a wide variety of fossils, ranging from ancient plants to mammoth bones (the mammoth happens to be the state fossil). The colors vary depending on the various impurities which precipitate into the void space along with the silica. Guide: PRO Tips On How to Find MORE Gold in Your Backyard, 7 Simple Ideas: What to Put on Rocks to Make Them Look Wet. One of the most common questions rockhounds have is whether or not they are allowed to collect at a certain location. The gravels of Vantage, Columbia River, hillsides of Mabton, Rattlesnake Mountain, and Cairn Hope Peak are also significant central Washington areas to look for fossilized or petrified wood. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Amethyst can be found in eastern Washington in the area of gravels, and streams, of Newport. In southwest Washington, you can find quartz in the beach gravels of Long Beach and Ocean Park or in the Mt Adams area. It is located at 219 Irvine Rd Clay City, Kentucky. The rockhounder in you has been waiting for this place, located along the Great Basin Highway, in between ET Fresh Jerky (Hiko) and Caliente near mile marker 81. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Our state also has a plethora of fossils including crinoids, clams, trilobites, snails, corals, and at least one dinosaur. But you dont have to be a commercial gold miner to get after it. Bennett Fine Art Studio | 1805 Harvard St. 77008. The ferry costs $9.25 per person for one ride. You can find chert in the northwest regions of Washington. When it comes to quartz, amethyst, and even amethyst crystals, Cedar Ponds is the perfect area! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Groundwater then replaces the plant material with inorganic material. You can also discover some spots to go rocking collecting to find different minerals. All 50 States Answered, New Yorks Office of General Services Bureau of Land Managements website, New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Finders doesnt always mean keepers, guys. TERRAIN TYPE: Pavement, with a dirt parking lot, VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: Any rig will do the trick. The mines and sand along the Sultan River offer the chance to find gold. Ready to rockhound northwestern Nevada? Box 548 Clay City, KY 40312 (606) 663-2224 - Office (606) 663-0672 - Fax Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm [email protected] We'll be back soon with more rad stories about the unusual people, places, and history that makes Nevada different than any place you've ever been. Here are the top 10 rockhounding sites in the state of New York: Best Rockhounding Locations in New York A wide variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones can be found in New York including garnet, fluorite, labradorite, hematite, quartz crystals, sphalerite, sunstone, barite, and pyrite. City of Clay City 4651 Main Street P.O. An excellent place for gem hunting is Mount Adams, located in Yakima County/Skamania County. If you ever wondered where to go rockhounding in Washington state, practically everywhere is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Clay Canyon Varicite, since the mine is closed, is valued at $60. There is black petrified wood around Snoqualmie Falls, which is a waterfall. My family and I enjoy exploring nature, rockhounding on the rivers, creeks, lakes, sand dunes and gravel roads and landscape near us in llthw middle of lower. There are no exact coordinates for the fossil. Always make sure you are in an area that you can legally collect. and Teanaway Ridge, on both sides of the road. Gold is oftennear deposits of copper and lead. There is petrified wood, calcite, stilbite, and mordenite by Cherry Creek. Of all the historic mine tours you can take up there, this one cuts to the chase, feels like youre in an important place, and serves up the perfect amount of info. Be sure to call head. 6. The good news is this: everything spelled out below does in fact sit on BLM Recreation Areas, or are privately owned and you pay a fee, go in, and dig. The first one is jadeite, which can come in many different colors which are often streaked. NW Rockhounds opened its doors in 2015 and is known for organizing regular meet ups, workshops, talks, and rockhounding expeditions. As with most states, each county in New York will have records of who owns each piece of property. The best places for rockhounding in central New York are the mines and rock exposures near Middleville, where the famous Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals can be found in abundance. For trips longerthan a day,there is lodging available in Port Ludlow. On this outing we head out to. Costs per Carat and More! While not particularly common, there are some select locations in New York where geodes have reportedly been found. There are hematite and placer gold near the south bank of the Skagit River. Youre damn right we saved the best for last! You wont regret it, as you will indeed find amazing and unique specimens wherever you may roam! Herkimer Diamonds can also be found in sandstone outcrops near Middleville. The locations and information contained in this article are primarily derived from academic papers, online resources, and other outside sources. You can go and hunt for them in places such as Lyman Lake, Loon Lake Cooper Mine, Chattaroy, the gravels of Little Spokane River, or Bald Butte. Red Top Mt. Where to find it, you ask? The Seattle and Tacoma metro areas arent well known for their rockhounding, although you may be able to find some interesting specimens along the shores of the Puget Sound. The quality of the stones found here arent considered to be very valuable monetarily speaking, but sentimentally speaking? Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make looking for and checking out potential gifts quick and review easy! That Mysterious Blue Clay in Virginia City. You can find obsidian, geodes, agates, opals, gold, fossilized wood, fossils, and more. Here, you can find chalcedony in Kalama, Lucas Creek, Centralia, in the Chehalis River gravels near Doty, the gravels of Pe Ell, Lebam gravels for Willapa River, in the beach gravels of Long Beach or Ocean Park, or in Green Creek north of Holcomb, and Mt Adams area. Gold panning is common on the banks of rivers and creeks, while agates, jasper, quartz minerals, and other specimens are also found. The geology of the state is dominated by its relatively recent glacial activity which scored the bedrock and left interesting materials in its wake. I'm Mike Rhea, and I'm a professional Geologist with a passion for rocks, minerals, and everything related to Geology. It is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Please see the map below for reference. The bank is located in the northwest region of the state in Hamilton, Washington. The reason? Herkimer Diamonds are double-terminated quartz crystals, which means they come to a point on both ends. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "rockhoundreso-20"; Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home), Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids), Ten Most Common Types of Rocks You Can Find In Rivers. Owners Lann and Juliet Kittleson say kids and dogs are always welcome! An hour south of Oklahoma City is the town of Paoli. The Grand Coulee area is particularly notable for its opalized wood specimens, and there are several areas including Bald Butte where rockhounds can hope to collect their own quartz crystals. This gradual process often produces beautiful banding and interesting patterns. Specimens may become depleted from other collectors, the location may have been built on or altered, locality information in literature may be inaccurate, and property ownership may have changed hands. Plenty of ancient plants and dinosaur bone fossils can be found throughout Washington. TIP:Quartz has a lot of different varieties. The best places to rockhound in Washington are Pacific Ocean beaches, river and stream gravels, and countless mines found across the state. TERRAIN TYPE: Paved road all the way to the turnoff. For trips longerthan a day,there is lodging available in Monroe at the 2-star hotel Best Western Sky Valley Inn for around $104 per night. From the Ajax Turquoise Mine to the Cyprus Sieritta, an impressive 29 mines dot central Nevada, most just a potentially really special stones throw from Austin, Eureka, Tonopah, or Carlin. Along the Skagit River, or near Oak Harbor, the famous Washington jade can be found at Whidby Island. In Cowlitz County, in the southwest of Washington, there is a city named Kalama. Make sure you have a good map before you venture out. For trips longer than a day, there is lodging available in nearby towns such as Eatonville and Ashford. Simply put, housing counselors help people find and keep good homes. But when you do split that shale open and inside is a 500-million-year-old fossil, itll be worth it. You never quite imagine a hobby like rockhounding may creep into your life and steal all your free time, then you discover a world of garnets, turquoise, opals and beyond right in the heart of the Silver State. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. It is about 64miles east of Seattle via I-90 E. The exact coordinates are 47.433238, -121.448629. Rule of thumb: if youre out and about and happen to find some turquoise-hued stones, chances are, its probably turquoise. Lets see what other types of fossils you can find in Washington! Couldn't ask for more. The gem is also light and 1 carat of it can float in salt water. Felch Creek area. Plenty of such specimens have been discovered in the western part of the state, on the Olympic Peninsula. Many people like it when the rocks look wet. Here are some of the best places in New York where you can dig for your own crystals. Find out more about all quartz varieties in the article below:Complete List of Quartz Varieties: Know Them All! The Pacific Ocean beaches are the best places to rockhound, but for more diverse specimens including amethyst geodes you can check out the other locations on this list including and Mt. Amber is a gem that can come in colors like amber, blue, and green. TIP:Rivers in Washington State are full of beautiful rocks. When prospectors originally came to the Nevada territory in search of everything from copper to silver to gold, they kept coming up with red hued stones in mountain ranges from Ely to Elko. Quality fossil digging sites are hard to find in the state, but luckily there are a few locations that a open to the public where rockhounds can go with the hope of discovering their own quality specimens. The best places to go rockhounding in Northwestern Washington are the beaches of the Pacific Ocean and the gravels of the many regional rivers and creeks. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. Satorilost. To see fossils on display I would recommend checking out the Burke Museum. The southwest of Washington is, however, the richest in amethyst. With that in mind, weve never encountered more than 5 people here, which is always a surprise. V3, Jackson Kittitas Co. Ellensburg Diamonds 66 Lackamas Lake Vancouver Natrolite,Stilbite,Calcite,Chabazite [1] It is located at the intersection of New York State Route 199 and Route 308, where the towns of Milan, Red Hook, and Rhinebeck meet. The garden rake tends to come in the most handy at Garnet Hill and Royal Peacock. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. But before they knew what was below the surface, those prospectors were lookin for one thing, and one thing only: GOLD. Royal Peacock and Rainbow Ridge are pretty near each other. The more guidance and resources you have, the better. VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: Any type should work, you can always hoof it the last stretch. Stilbite is a mineral that belongs to the zeolite group, and its crystals are usually pointed and tabular. Petrified wood is a fossil that is formed from plants that are protected from decaying from soil. The most common fossil is probably fossilized clamshells. BUT the beautiful thing about Oak Springs is that this is an official BLM Recreation Site, meaning its all yours to hound your heart out. Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 505-1200 Kingman Field Ofice Field Ofice 2755 Mission Boulevard 21605 North 7th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85027-2099 . Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 4, 2022, 10am-5pm. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Gold is abundant in Washington; you can pan for it in many places. There was just such an obnoxious amount of it that they hardly knew what to do with it all, which came with a handful of colorful stories about prospectors using this mysterious blue clay to pave roads, fill in potholes, and even mortar their home foundations. Due to the relatively recent and extensive volcanic activity in the area, Washington State is one of the best states in the entire U.S. for rockhounding. They stood thirteen feet tall or more and weighed around ten tons. Tip: You can buy geodes on Amazon to crack open yourself! amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Lots of times the garnets are lodged into other pieces of rock, so dont dismiss those. New York is one of the best places in the United States to find garnets in relative abundance. If you are a beginner (or unfamiliar with the area), we suggest that you check out a book called Gem Trails of Washington. Opal. From there, youll need to travel on a well maintained dirt road to the opal mines. Other desirable rocks and minerals such as geodes and opal are also are fairly common if you look in the right locations. A place near Mercur Canyon: a place south of Grantsville: and places off the claim site near Lucin, Utah. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. The best places for rockhounding in Washington State are the Horse Heaven Hills area, the Pacific Ocean beaches, stream gravels, rivers, the beaches around Olympic National Park, and the endless mines across the state. Capturing the Nevada Landscape One Timelapse At A Time, NEVADA CAMPING: Bring On That Resting Relaxation Face, 3 National Monuments in Nevada: Ancient, Epic, and All to Yourself, 12 Reasons To Stop Everything And Get To Pioche, Where the Crowds Aren't: 10 Secluded Silver State Escapes, Get Outside Guide: Summer in Nevada's Ruby Mountains, Nevada-fy Your Next Zoom Meeting With These Virtual Backgrounds, Find Your Flock: 6 Premier Perches for Birding in Nevada, 401 N. Carson StreetCarson City, NV 89701. In Central Washington, you can find (blue agate) geodes at the Red Top Mt. This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. The place is impressive, and worth admiring. These remote sites do not have reliable cell phone service. Rockhounding Etiquette 101Rockhounding Tools: What to PackTurquoise Galore in Central NevadaTrilobite Paradise at CalienteThat Mysterious Blue Clay in Virginia CityBlack Fire Opal Bonanza in the SheldonGlorious Garnets in Ely. But, both are equipped with places for RVs so the roads arent thaaaat bad if an RV can hack it. When it comes to southwest Washington, the beaches, and the streams of Aberdeen, Moclips, Kalaloch, Queets, and Long Beach, you can find agate, jasper, chert, chalcedony, and quartz. But Black Fire Opal? If you like the robins egg blue stuff, whos stopping ya?! Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. VEHICLE TYPE NEEDED: All wheel drive is preferred, but most cars should be able to cut it. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. When it comes to chalcedony, in Central Washington, you can find it in places such as in the gravels of Middle Fork Teanaway River, in Ellensburg, Liberty, or you can go to southwest Washington. There are some impressive BLM managed sites in NV, but this one always manages to be my favorite. Its safe to say that no matter where you go, the land you step foot on belongs to someone. Copyright 2022 Rockhound Resource | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Androvette Clay Pits, SW tip of Staten Island, N side of road N of Middleville, in sandstone, Fowler, area stream beds, sedimentary exposures, Genesee River near Norton St., in limestone banks, You can actually buy authentic Herkimer Diamonds from Amazon. More Information. In the southwest region of Washington, you can find chert in the area of beach gravels of Queets. Each region will have its own list of rockhounding locations with an accompanying map. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you). Who knows the truth to that, but I for one, WANT to believe that actual streets of silver at the silver mining mecca. It is about 85 miles north of Seattle via I-5 N. The exact GPS coordinates are48.517063, -121.967882. Hello, I am John.As a little boy, I was fascinated by stones and liked to take them home. Plenty of fossilized large molar teeth can be found in the western portion of the state. But do you know how to achieve this? For agates, you can try the gravels near the river in the Ringold area. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material. Aside from amazing views of the Joshua Trees, and Yucca plants in the valley below, this area is loaaaaded with thousands of pieces of shale that contain six types of trilobites. You're our kind of people. 5. Find frequently asked questions in the section below: Petrified wood is the state gemstone of Washington since 1975. Mabton, area draws, washes, hillsides, etc. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring or fall, right after its rained. Do you know what rocks you can most often find in and near rivers? NOTE: All the locations listed in these tables are clickable, and will take you to the location on Google Maps. And do you know why? For trips longerthan a day,there is lodging available in nearby towns such as Eatonville and Ashford. As with most states, each county in Washington will have records of who owns each piece of property. The state of Washington is among the best places for rockhounding. In Central Washington, you can find them in the gravels of Tunk Creek. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information on this page. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! Unfortunately for rockhounds, the law in most states prohibits them from publishing their names or contact information online. Still did not find the answer to your answers about rockhounding in Washington State? The lava outcrops in Pullman are filled with fire opals. Rock City, New York. Nevada is unlike any other place because quite literally, there arent a whole lot of fences the exploring is yours for the taking. Adams. Its depth also goes on for more than 600 feet, and its width stands at a mile and a half. Specimens may become depleted from other collectors, the location may have been built on or altered, locality information in literature may be inaccurate, and property ownership may have changed hands. The Virgin Valley is the only place in North America where the Black Fire Opal is found in any sort of large quantity, and is available for all your pickaxe swingin delight at about a dozen places in the neck of Nevada, but your best bets are Bonanza Opal Mines, Rainbow Ridge, or Royal Peacock, baby. It is about 40 miles west of Seattle via WA-305. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. Another rich place for finding quartz in Washington is King County, especially around North Bend. No wonder it earned its spot as the official state gemstone. Amethyst is usually purple or reddish purple. Amber that has plants or insects inside is worth more money thanamber without them. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Like a cave system, mine shafts or adits maintain a consistent temperature year round. It is filled with all kinds of geologic activity from petrified forests, glaciers, giant lava flows, caverns, active volcanoes, and caves. upstream from Lyle, American River, placer deposits for many miles. It is about 75 miles northeast of SeattleviaI-5 N and WA-530 E/State Rte 530 NE. If you search in the road cuts and gravels at Willapa Hills, you might just find them. The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links): Washington has plenty of valuable rocks that can be a great addition to any collector. Unfortunately for rockhounds, the law in most states prohibits them from publishing their names or contact information online. From hand-beaded moccasins, to deerskin quivers, to all the jewelry you can imagine, theyve got it. TERRAIN TYPE: Dirt road, suitable for most cars. Chalcedony geodes can be found in Middle Fork Teanaway River or in its gravels. Check out the list of all needed tools and equipment for rockhounding in the article below:The Complete Guide: All Tools You Need for Rockhounding, Sedimentary vs. Igneous Rocks: Differences & Similarities, Rockhounding in Kansas: Best Locations & What to Find. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. The Columbian Mammoth is the official state fossil of Washington since 1998. This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. It is about 30 miles east ofSeattle via I-90E. Amber is quite rare, even when it comes to Washington. Geodes are highly abundant in this state, so lets see exactly where you can find them and others. Zestimate Home Value: $64,900. Common opal can be found in the gravels, excavation areas, or diggings in Waterville. That, and who needs diamonds when you can find 2 carat garnets sitting right on top of the damn ground? amzn_assoc_asins = "B01IEX2TEO,B0002YWWVE,B08N41884X,B01CV1XW5K"; Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. Minerals are abundant in Washington, as you can find various specimens such as jade, opalized wood, fossilized wood, chalcedony, gold, and perhaps even turquoise. 3. Complete List of Quartz Varieties: Know Them All! Rockhounding on Public Land: Laws and Regulations, Can You Collect Rocks in State Parks? A turquoise mine in NevadaThe Royston Mine, just outside Tonopahwas the very place that inspired the color. But then of course youve got the garnets! There is amber along the east side of the Fiften-Mile Creek. Eastern Washington boasts quite a few notably rockhounding destinations. This part of the state boasts a wide variety of minerals to be found, equitably distributed throughout the region. My family and I enjoy exploring nature, rockhounding on the rivers, creeks, lakes, sand dunes, gravel roads and landscape near us in the middle of lower Mich. The river is located in the northwest region of the state in Sultan, Washington. To book a tour at Otteson Brothers Turquoiseand trust us, this rockhounders delight,through and throughclick here. BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Washington State! El Reno. Marble. Weve never left this place empty handed, whether Ive got 5 minutes or 2 hours to work with. TIP:And its rockhounding time now! That being said, when you are planning on going out into the woods or off the cell-tower grid, you are going to need to have information in hard copy. Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook $19.73 A must have for every serious rockhound! Theres a vein of azurite for the taking just outside Yerington, at Mason Pass Road. Many minerals, Arsenopyrite, Asbestos, Leucopyrite, Pyrite, Aegirine, Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Molybdenite, Orthoclase, Perthite, Pyrite, Quartz, Stilbite, Wernerite, Zircon, Barite, Galena, Sphalerite, Pyrite, Quartz, Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Diopside, Graphite, Muscovite, Phlogopite, Pyrite, Pyroxene, Smoky Quartz crystals, Scapolite, Tourmaline, Tremolite, Apatite, Calcite, Diopside, Muscovite, Pyrite, Rutile, Tourmaline, Barite, Galena, Gypsum, Sphalerite, Fluorite. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Albite, Pyrite, Smoky Quartz crystals, Tourmaline, etc. To determine what type of public land a particular location is on, I would recommend starting with the Washington Department of Natural Resources State Trust Lands Map and the Washington Non-DNR Major Public Lands Portal. A type of fossilized wood, namely petrified wood, can be found in the Petrified Forest State Park and can be collected in certain places. Waterville, area excavations, gravels, diggings, etc. Southwest, in Camas, with a bit of luck, you might also find gold in the sandbars near the river. Not quite in the cards to make it that far north? Lets start with agatized fossil shells. Placer gold is a concentration of gold minerals in a secondary deposit. It is about 60 miles south of Seattle via WA-167 S. The exact GPS coordinates are46.928434, -122.236806. Adams area. It is a beautiful place with many sights to see, and enthusiasts will love the diversity that comes with it. Other sources include: Wisconsin Rockhounding Location Guide & Map, Florida Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. In general, we dont recommend that people invest or spend much (if any) money to enjoy rockhounding. Clay City Puyallup Crystals Washington State Mineral Council Cle Elum Ellensburg Cle Elum Agate 66 Gems & Minerals of WA., Ream . I have written entire articles which cover the rockhounding laws and regulations for nearly every type of public land you can think of. For trips longerthan a day,there is lodging available in Darrington at Darrington Motor Inn motel. Baker Hotel in Concrete for around $70 per night. Southwest Washington is the most abundant in geodes. The best places to find agates in Washington are: Tip: Check out my Complete Rock Tumbling Guide to make your rocks and gemstones really shine! There is placer gold near the Sauk River. TheSpringHill Suites by Marriott is a 3-star hotel around $178 a night. Prepare your tools, and head to Mount Adams for a unique rockhounding experience! They are a blast to find and even better to crack open to see what treasures they hold inside.