FossilCA
Elysian Park
Fossil collection site in the Modelo, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsRockhounding sites near Los Angeles
24 rockhounding collecting sites within about 120 miles of Los Angeles, California.
This page lists 24 natural rockhounding sites near Los Angeles, California, sorted by distance within about 120 miles.
Where can you collect near Los Angeles?
Near Los Angeles, California, our directory maps 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 120 miles of the city center — including 2 agate & jaspers, 21 fossilss, and 1 other. The closest mapped spot is Elysian Park (1.9 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
At a glance — rockhounding sites near Los Angeles
| Central place | Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 120 miles |
| Mapped spots | 24 |
| Closest listing | Elysian Park (1.9 mi) |
| Specimen types | Agate & Jasper (2), Fossils (21), Other (1) |
| Typical fees | 24 varies |
All rockhounding sites near Los Angeles
24 rockhounding collecting sites in California, sorted by distance from the city center. For live GPS sorting, use rockhounding sites near me.
FossilCA
Rock Creek Quadrangle
Fossil collection site, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Brown's Canyon
Fossil collection site in the Monterey, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Moore's Canyon
Fossil collection site in the Monterey, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Millbrook Drive
Fossil collection site in the Modelo, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Rincon Del Potrero, Santa Monica
Fossil collection site, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Del Gado Drive
Fossil collection site in the Modelo, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: coastal indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View details
MoonstoneCA
Area Near Redondo Beach
Area Near Redondo Beach is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Moonstone. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossilCA
Santa Monica, In Rustic Canyon
Fossil collection site, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Csun Loc. 153
Fossil collection site in the Tuna Canyon, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: submarine fan. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Altamira Shale
Fossil collection site in the Monterey, Orange County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Malaga Cove Midden
Fossil collection site, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Hilltop Quarry
Fossil collection site in the San Pedro, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Woodland Hills
Fossil collection site in the Monterey, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Cit Loc. 264
Fossil collection site in the Timms Point Silt, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: offshore. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro
Fossil collection site in the Monterey, California. Environment: slope. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View details
AgateCA
Unnamed Location (la County)
Unnamed Location (LA County) is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Quartz. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossilCA
Soledad Canyon
Fossil collection site in the Fernando, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Humphreys
Fossil collection site in the Towsley, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: basinal (siliceous). Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsChalcedonyCA
Tick Canyon
Tick Canyon is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Chalcedony, Banded Agate, Bloodstone. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossilCA
Poyer's Quarry
Fossil collection site in the Modelo, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: offshore. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
San Pedro, Offshore
Fossil collection site, Los Angeles County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Lacmip 41828
Fossil collection site in the Pico, Santa Barbara County, California. Environment: deltaic indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilCA
Lacmip 41836
Fossil collection site in the Pico, Santa Barbara County, California. Environment: deltaic indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsMap of rockhounding sites near Los Angeles
Pins within about 120 miles — open a listing for fees, access, and directions.
24 sites mapped near Los Angeles
Closest sites by distance
- Elysian Park — 2 mi · Fossil
- Rock Creek Quadrangle — 3 mi · Fossil
- Brown's Canyon — 11 mi · Fossil
- Moore's Canyon — 11 mi · Fossil
- Millbrook Drive — 13 mi · Fossil
- Rincon Del Potrero, Santa Monica — 14 mi · Fossil
- Del Gado Drive — 14 mi · Fossil
- Area Near Redondo Beach — 15 mi · Moonstone
- Santa Monica, In Rustic Canyon — 16 mi · Fossil
- Csun Loc. 153 — 19 mi · Fossil
- Altamira Shale — 20 mi · Fossil
- Malaga Cove Midden — 20 mi · Fossil
- Hilltop Quarry — 21 mi · Fossil
- Woodland Hills — 22 mi · Fossil
- Cit Loc. 264 — 22 mi · Fossil
Types of rockhounding sites near Los Angeles
Browse by specimen type in California — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Agate & Jasper (2)
Where to find agates and jasper in the U.S. — Lake Superior beaches, Ellensburg blue, Wyoming Sweetwater fields, Texas Terlingua, Mojave desert beds, and colorful chalcedony shorelines.
Fossils (21)
Trilobites, brachiopods, petrified wood, and other paleontological collecting on public land.
Other (1)
Mixed or specialty collecting — zeolites, fluorescent minerals, thundereggs, and unique regional finds.
Natural collecting sites in the Los Angeles area
Los Angeles is a practical launch point for day trips to natural rockhounding sites in California. Within about 120 miles you will find 24 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with Elysian Park about 1.9 mi from the city center.
The mix spans agate & jasper, fossils, other — related terms searchers use include creek gravel collecting, desert washes, road cuts, and field collecting.
How distances work near Los Angeles
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in California with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the Los Angeles city center — not driving time. A creek rockhounding site 12 miles away on forest roads can take longer than a river access point 20 miles away on a highway.
Field collecting near Los Angeles includes informal gravel bars, dry washes, quarry faces, and developed park collecting areas. Rules, fees, and seasonal access differ by land manager. Never assume collecting is allowed without checking the listing and posted signs the day you visit.
Safety and field conditions near you
Field conditions near Los Angeles change after rain, snowmelt, and summer heat. Unstable slopes, heat exhaustion, loose rock, and flash floods are real risks at creek and quarry rockhounding sites — most sites have no supervision. Check weather and local advisories before you start digging.
We publish original planning copy, safety tips, and last-updated dates on each listing. See our editorial policy for sourcing standards, or contact us if access or conditions have changed.
Rockhounding sites near Los Angeles — FAQ
Where can you collect near Los Angeles?
Near Los Angeles, California, our directory lists 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 120 miles — mainly 2 agate & jaspers, 21 fossilss, and 1 other. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
How many rockhounding sites are near Los Angeles, California?
This page shows 24 mapped rockhounding collecting sites within about 120 miles of Los Angeles. The full California directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
What is the closest rockhounding site to Los Angeles?
The closest mapped spot to Los Angeles is Elysian Park (1.9 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
Are rockhounding sites near Los Angeles free?
24 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
What types of rockhounding sites are near Los Angeles?
Near Los Angeles, documented specimen types include agate & jaspers, fossilss, other. A rockhounding site is a natural outcrop, wash, or creek gravel bar — not a fee dig or shop. Filter by type on the California state page or open each card for specimen and access details.
When is the best time to visit rockhounding sites near Los Angeles?
Late spring through early fall is the usual field season near Los Angeles, but snowmelt, drought, and weekend crowds change conditions week to week. Check each listing before you drive — storms can make washes and creek banks unsafe.
Is it safe to collect near Los Angeles?
Field collecting near Los Angeles carries real risks: unstable slopes, heat, loose rock, and no rangers at most unofficial sites. Check weather and posted warnings the day you visit. Read our rockhounding safety basics guide and each listing's safety section before you dig.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.