FossilWA
Wenas Creek Mammoth Site
Fossil collection site, Washington. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsRockhounding sites near Yakima
24 rockhounding collecting sites within about 100 miles of Yakima, Washington.
This page lists 24 natural rockhounding sites near Yakima, Washington, sorted by distance within about 100 miles.
Where can you collect near Yakima?
Near Yakima, Washington, our directory maps 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 100 miles of the city center — including 6 agate & jaspers, 2 geodess, 4 fossilss, and 3 gold & mineralss. The closest mapped spot is Wenas Creek Mammoth Site (23 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 Yakima
| Central place | Yakima, Washington |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 100 miles |
| Mapped spots | 24 |
| Closest listing | Wenas Creek Mammoth Site (23 mi) |
| Specimen types | Agate & Jasper (6), Geodes (2), Fossils (4), Gold & Minerals (3), Turquoise & Opal (3), Other (6) |
| Typical fees | 24 varies |
All rockhounding sites near Yakima
24 rockhounding collecting sites in Washington, sorted by distance from the city center. For live GPS sorting, use rockhounding sites near me.
Petrified woodWA
Cairn Hope Peak
Cairn Hope Peak is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Petrified wood, Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
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AgateWA
Ellensburg Blue Agate Beds
Rare blue agate nodules occur in basalt flows around Ellensburg, making the area a sought-after destination for Pacific Northwest collectors.
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OpalWA
Mattawa
Mattawa is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
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GeodeWA
Ellensburg
Ellensburg is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Geodes. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsOpalWA
Petrified Forest State Park
Petrified Forest State Park is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Opalized wood, Petrified wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsPetrified woodWA
Mabton
Mabton is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Petrified wood, Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsAgateWA
Bickleton
Bickleton is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Agate, Carnelian, Jasper, Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
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GoldWA
American River
American River is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
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AzuriteWA
New Find
New Find is a known mineral occurrence in Yakima, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Gold, Malachite, Silver.
View detailsPetrified woodWA
Rattlesnake Mt.
Rattlesnake Mt. is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Petrified wood, Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsOpalWA
Horse Heaven Hills
Horse Heaven Hills is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsGoldWA
Ewell
Ewell is a mineral prospect in Kittitas, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.
View detailsAgateWA
Cle Elum
Cle Elum is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Blue Agate. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsGoldWA
Liberty
Liberty is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsAzuriteWA
Elizabeth Gold Hill
Elizabeth Gold Hill is a mineral prospect in Yakima, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Galena, Gold, Malachite.
View detailsAmazoniteWA
Hansen Creek Amazonite
Forest roads near Hansen Creek in the Cascades access pegmatite zones where blue-green amazonite and smoky quartz crystals weather out of decomposed granite.
View detailsAzuriteWA
Gold Hill
Gold Hill is a mineral prospect in Yakima, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Galena, Gold, Malachite.
View detailsAzuriteWA
Chinook
Chinook is a known mineral occurrence in Yakima, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Galena, Gold, Malachite.
View detailsGeodeWA
Red Top Mt. And Teanaway Ridge
Red Top Mt. and Teanaway Ridge is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Blue Agate Geodes. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsAgateWA
Red Top Mountain Agate
Red Top Mountain and nearby Teanaway country are famed for carnelian agate nodules in andesite flows north of Cle Elum.
View detailsAgateWA
Middle Fork Teanaway River
Middle Fork Teanaway River is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Agate, Chalcedony Geodes. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsAgateWA
Mt. Adams
Mt. Adams is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Jasper, Quartz crystals. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsChromiteWA
Blewett Camp
Blewett Camp is a historic mining site in Chelan, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Chromite, Cinnabar, Copper, Galena, Gold, Silver.
View detailsMap of rockhounding sites near Yakima
Pins within about 100 miles — open a listing for fees, access, and directions.
24 sites mapped near Yakima
Closest sites by distance
- Wenas Creek Mammoth Site — 23 mi · Fossil
- Cairn Hope Peak — 25 mi · Petrified wood
- Ellensburg Blue Agate Beds — 27 mi · Agate
- Mattawa — 33 mi · Opal
- Ellensburg — 34 mi · Geode
- Petrified Forest State Park — 35 mi · Opal
- Mabton — 39 mi · Petrified wood
- Bickleton — 40 mi · Agate
- American River — 41 mi · Gold
- New Find — 42 mi · Azurite
- Rattlesnake Mt. — 45 mi · Petrified wood
- Horse Heaven Hills — 45 mi · Opal
- Ewell — 45 mi · Gold
- Cle Elum — 46 mi · Agate
- Liberty — 47 mi · Gold
Types of rockhounding sites near Yakima
Browse by specimen type in Washington — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Agate & Jasper (6)
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.
Geodes (2)
Where to find geodes near you — Keokuk / Warsaw Formation crystals, Utah Dugway BLM beds, Indiana limestone, Tennessee plateau nodules, and more hollow quartz-lined collecting sites.
Fossils (4)
Trilobites, brachiopods, petrified wood, and other paleontological collecting on public land.
Gold & Minerals (3)
Placer gold, pyrite, copper minerals, and general ore-mineral localities open to casual collecting.
Turquoise & Opal (3)
Turquoise, opal, variscite, and other prized lapidary materials from the American Southwest and beyond.
Other (6)
Mixed or specialty collecting — zeolites, fluorescent minerals, thundereggs, and unique regional finds.
Natural collecting sites in the Yakima area
Yakima is a practical launch point for day trips to natural rockhounding sites in Washington. Within about 100 miles you will find 24 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with Wenas Creek Mammoth Site about 23 mi from the city center.
The mix spans agate & jasper, geodes, fossils, gold & minerals, turquoise & opal, other — related terms searchers use include creek gravel collecting, desert washes, road cuts, and field collecting.
How distances work near Yakima
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in Washington with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Yakima — FAQ
Where can you collect near Yakima?
Near Yakima, Washington, our directory lists 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 100 miles — mainly 6 agate & jaspers, 2 geodess, 4 fossilss, and 3 gold & mineralss. 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 Yakima, Washington?
This page shows 24 mapped rockhounding collecting sites within about 100 miles of Yakima. The full Washington directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
What is the closest rockhounding site to Yakima?
The closest mapped spot to Yakima is Wenas Creek Mammoth Site (23 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 Yakima free?
24 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
What types of rockhounding sites are near Yakima?
Near Yakima, documented specimen types include agate & jaspers, geodess, fossilss, gold & mineralss, turquoise & opals, others. A rockhounding site is a natural outcrop, wash, or creek gravel bar — not a fee dig or shop. Filter by type on the Washington state page or open each card for specimen and access details.
When is the best time to visit rockhounding sites near Yakima?
Late spring through early fall is the usual field season near Yakima, 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 Yakima?
Field collecting near Yakima 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.