24 rockhounding collecting sites within about 120 miles of San Francisco, California.
This page lists 24 natural rockhounding sites near San Francisco, California, sorted by distance within about 120 miles.
Near San Francisco, California, our directory maps 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 120 miles of the city center — including 3 agate & jaspers, 15 fossilss, and 6 others. The closest mapped spot is Unnamed Location (chalcedony/curtisite) (0.5 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
| Central place | San Francisco, California |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 120 miles |
| Mapped spots | 24 |
| Closest listing | Unnamed Location (chalcedony/curtisite) (0.5 mi) |
| Specimen types | Agate & Jasper (3), Fossils (15), Other (6) |
| Typical fees | 24 varies |
24 rockhounding collecting sites in California, sorted by distance from the city center. For live GPS sorting, use rockhounding sites near me.
Unnamed Location (Chalcedony/Curtisite) is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Chalcedony, Curtisite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
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Fort Point Area is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Diabase, Datolite, Basalt, Apophyllite, Aragonite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsUnnamed Location (Spherulitic Chert) is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Spherulitic Chert. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
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Fossil collection site in the Siesta, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: lacustrine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsCoyote Point is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Chert, Jasper. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Briones, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsCrystal Springs Reservoir is a documented mineral occurrence near CA. Reported specimens include Chromite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Temblor, Alameda County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Monterey, Marin County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Orinda, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Briones, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Martinez, Solano County, California. Environment: offshore. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: offshore. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: offshore. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Briones, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossil collection site in the Diablo, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsBlack Point is a known mineral occurrence in Contra Costa, California, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Cinnabar, Copper, Malachite.
View detailsMitchell Canyon is a known mineral occurrence in Contra Costa, California, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Malachite.
View detailsFossil collection site, Contra Costa County, California. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsEagle Peak is a known mineral occurrence in Contra Costa, California, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Malachite.
View detailsMount Zion Copper Company is a known mineral occurrence in Contra Costa, California, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Gold, Malachite, Silver.
View detailsPins within about 120 miles — open a listing for fees, access, and directions.
24 sites mapped near San Francisco
Browse by specimen type in California — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
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.
Trilobites, brachiopods, petrified wood, and other paleontological collecting on public land.
Mixed or specialty collecting — zeolites, fluorescent minerals, thundereggs, and unique regional finds.
San Francisco 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 Unnamed Location (chalcedony/curtisite) about 0.5 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.
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in California with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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.
Field conditions near San Francisco 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.
Near San Francisco, California, our directory lists 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 120 miles — mainly 3 agate & jaspers, 15 fossilss, and 6 others. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
This page shows 24 mapped rockhounding collecting sites within about 120 miles of San Francisco. The full California directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
The closest mapped spot to San Francisco is Unnamed Location (chalcedony/curtisite) (0.5 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
24 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
Near San Francisco, documented specimen types include agate & jaspers, fossilss, others. 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.
Late spring through early fall is the usual field season near San Francisco, 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.
Field collecting near San Francisco 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.