Where to find jade in the U.S.

American jade collecting is mostly nephrite (not Myanmar jadeite). Target California coastal and Trinity Alps localities, Alaska creek cobbles, and Wyoming jade country — then verify land status before you dig.

Turquoise & jade collecting guide Gemstones type hub Sites near me

37 directory listings mentioning jade.

What U.S. collectors actually find

Most American “jade” is nephrite — a tough amphibole rock that takes a polish and shows apple to dark green colors. Facetable jadeite is extremely rare domestically. Expect cobbles, boulders, and stream-worn pieces more often than gem slabs.

Best regions to start

California (Trinity Alps and coastal localities), Alaska jade creeks, and Wyoming jade fields produce the majority of documented recreational finds. Many classic spots sit on private or claimed ground — prefer listings with clear access notes and never dig active claims.

Field ID tips

Nephrite feels dense and greasy-smooth when polished by water; broken faces look fibrous under a 10x lens. Serpentine look-alikes are softer. Bring a hardness kit and leave questionable green rock until you can verify.

Jade rockhounding map

Pin map of directory listings that mention jade.

35 sites with coordinates

Jade rockhounding sites

GPS-backed directory listings — open each card for access notes and coordinates.

Anchorage Vc Jade — mixed rockhounding site near AK, AK

MixedAK

Anchorage Vc Jade

Anchorage VC Jade is a documented rockhounding destination in AK. Collectors visit for mixed minerals and rocks and related material. Access rules and land ownership vary — confirm current status with the managing agency or landowner before collecting.

Fee variesAlaska

Jade (carved & Polished) — mixed rockhounding site near AK, AK

MixedAK

Jade (carved & Polished)

Jade (carved & polished) is a documented rockhounding destination in AK. Collectors visit for mixed minerals and rocks and related material. Access rules and land ownership vary — confirm current status with the managing agency or landowner before collecting.

Fee variesAlaska

Jade Creek — nephrite jade rockhounding site near Alaska, AK

Nephrite JadeAK

Jade Creek

Jade Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near AK. Reported specimens include Nephrite Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesAlaska

Jade Creek Jade Locality — jade rockhounding site near Kobuk, AK

JadeAK

Jade Creek Jade Locality

The Jade Mountain region in the Brooks Range is one of North America's significant nephrite jade sources in remote Arctic terrain.

Fee variesKobuk

Jade Mountains — nephrite jade rockhounding site near Alaska, AK

Nephrite JadeAK

Jade Mountains

Jade Mountains is a documented mineral occurrence near AK. Reported specimens include Nephrite Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesAlaska

Shungnak — gold rockhounding site near Alaska, AK

GoldAK

Shungnak

Shungnak is a documented mineral occurrence near AK. Reported specimens include Gold (placers), Platinum, Asbestos, Nephrite Jade, Serpentine. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesAlaska

Big Sur Area — jade rockhounding site near California, CA

JadeCA

Big Sur Area

Big Sur area is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Jade, Nephrite, Serpentine. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Eel River Gravels — jadeite rockhounding site near California, CA

JadeiteCA

Eel River Gravels

Eel River Gravels is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Jadeite, Nephrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Happy Camp Jade Mines — jade rockhounding site near California, CA

JadeCA

Happy Camp Jade Mines

Happy Camp Jade Mines is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Jade, Gold, Serpentine, Gold-laced jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Leech Lake Area — pectolite rockhounding site near California, CA

PectoliteCA

Leech Lake Area

Leech Lake Area is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Pectolite, Nephrite, Calcite, Jadeite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Limekiln Creek Beaches Area — rhodonite rockhounding site near California, CA

RhodoniteCA

Limekiln Creek Beaches Area

Limekiln Creek Beaches Area is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Rhodonite, Axinite crystals, Nephrite Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

North Fork Of Eel River — nephrite jade rockhounding site near California, CA

Nephrite jadeCA

North Fork Of Eel River

North Fork of Eel River is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Nephrite jade, Crocidolite, Jadeite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Ocean Beach Area (big Sur Coast) — jade rockhounding site near California, CA

JadeCA

Ocean Beach Area (big Sur Coast)

Ocean beach area (Big Sur coast) is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Ocean Beaches (central Coast) — california jade rockhounding site near California, CA

California JadeCA

Ocean Beaches (central Coast)

Ocean Beaches (Central Coast) is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include California Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Paso Robles Area — jadeite rockhounding site near California, CA

JadeiteCA

Paso Robles Area

Paso Robles Area is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Jadeite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Trinity Alps Jade Locality — jade rockhounding site near Weaverville, CA

JadeCA

Trinity Alps Jade Locality

Creeks and serpentine slopes in the Trinity Alps region of Shasta-Trinity National Forest occasionally expose nephrite jade cobbles in glacial gravels.

Fee variesWeaverville

Trinity River — chalcedony rockhounding site near California, CA

ChalcedonyCA

Trinity River

Trinity River is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Chalcedony, Gold, Jasper, Jade, Petrified Wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Trinity River / Willow Creek — jade rockhounding site near California, CA

JadeCA

Trinity River / Willow Creek

Trinity River / Willow Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Unnamed Location (jade) — jade rockhounding site near California, CA

JadeCA

Unnamed Location (jade)

Unnamed Location (Jade) is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

Willow Creek Area — nephrite jade rockhounding site near California, CA

Nephrite JadeCA

Willow Creek Area

Willow Creek area is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Nephrite Jade, Serpentine. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesCalifornia

San Antonio Mountains — jade rockhounding site near Nevada, NV

JadeNV

San Antonio Mountains

San Antonio Mountains is a documented mineral occurrence near NV. Reported specimens include Jade, Petrified wood, Wonderstone. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesNevada

Tonopah (petrified Algae Area) — petrified algae rockhounding site near Nevada, NV

Petrified algaeNV

Tonopah (petrified Algae Area)

Tonopah (petrified algae area) is a documented mineral occurrence near NV. Reported specimens include Petrified algae, Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesNevada

Seiling & Taloga — agate rockhounding site near Oklahoma, OK

AgateOK

Seiling & Taloga

Seiling & Taloga is a documented mineral occurrence near OK. Reported specimens include Agate, Jadeite, Jasper, Petrified wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesOklahoma

Antelope — agate rockhounding site near Oregon, OR

AgateOR

Antelope

Antelope is a documented mineral occurrence near OR. Reported specimens include Agate, Chalcedony, Geodes, Jade, Jasper. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesOregon

Brookings — agate rockhounding site near Oregon, OR

AgateOR

Brookings

Brookings is a documented mineral occurrence near OR. Reported specimens include Agate, Jasper, Nephrite jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesOregon

Shirttail Creek — agate rockhounding site near Oregon, OR

AgateOR

Shirttail Creek

Shirttail Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near OR. Reported specimens include Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Oregon Jade, Agatized Wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesOregon

Sugarloaf Mt. — nephrite rockhounding site near Oregon, OR

NephriteOR

Sugarloaf Mt.

Sugarloaf Mt. is a documented mineral occurrence near OR. Reported specimens include Nephrite, Serpentine. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesOregon

Umpqua River — oregon jade rockhounding site near Oregon, OR

Oregon JadeOR

Umpqua River

Umpqua River is a documented mineral occurrence near OR. Reported specimens include Oregon Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesOregon

Hell Canyon — agate rockhounding site near South Dakota, SD

AgateSD

Hell Canyon

Hell Canyon is a documented mineral occurrence near SD. Reported specimens include Banded Agate, Jade, Jasper, Geodes, Fossils. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesSouth Dakota

Pleasant Valley Creek — agate rockhounding site near South Dakota, SD

AgateSD

Pleasant Valley Creek

Pleasant Valley Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near SD. Reported specimens include Banded Agate, Jade, Jasper, Fossils, Geodes. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesSouth Dakota

Bridgeport — jadeite rockhounding site near Washington, WA

JadeiteWA

Bridgeport

Bridgeport is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Jadeite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Atlantic City — agate rockhounding site near Wyoming, WY

AgateWY

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is a documented mineral occurrence near WY. Reported specimens include Agate, Chalcedony, Gold, Nephrite jade, Jade, Jasper, Muscovite, Quartz crystals, Agatized wood, Opalized wood, Tourmaline. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWyoming

Fremont County — agate rockhounding site near Wyoming, WY

AgateWY

Fremont County

Fremont County is a documented mineral occurrence near WY. Reported specimens include Sweetwater Agate, Nephrite jade, Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWyoming

Lander — agate rockhounding site near Wyoming, WY

AgateWY

Lander

Lander is a documented mineral occurrence near WY. Reported specimens include Agate, Jasper, Nephrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWyoming

Seminoe Reservoir — jade rockhounding site near Wyoming, WY

JadeWY

Seminoe Reservoir

Seminoe Reservoir is a documented mineral occurrence near WY. Reported specimens include Jade. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWyoming

Warm Springs — agate rockhounding site near Wyoming, WY

AgateWY

Warm Springs

Warm Springs is a documented mineral occurrence near WY. Reported specimens include Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Jade, Nephrite jade, Quartz crystals, Silicified wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWyoming

Wl Marion & Lb Curtis Jade Claim — corundum rockhounding site near Fremont, WY

CorundumWY

Wl Marion & Lb Curtis Jade Claim

Wl Marion & Lb Curtis Jade Claim is a known mineral occurrence in Fremont, Wyoming, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Corundum, Gemstones.

Fee variesFremont

FAQ

Where can you find jade in the United States?

Nephrite jade occurs in California (including Trinity Alps and coastal localities), Alaska jade creeks, and Wyoming jade fields. Open our jade map below for directory listings with GPS and access notes.

Is U.S. jade the same as jadeite?

Most U.S. field finds are nephrite. Facetable jadeite is extremely rare domestically — do not expect Myanmar-style jadeite boulders on public land.

Can I collect jade on public land?

Some BLM and Forest Service parcels allow casual personal collecting within limits, but famous jade ground is often private or claimed. Always verify ownership and quantity rules before digging.

Related: pay-to-dig sites, agates in the USA, geodes near me.