Rockhounding in Monterey County, California

3 mapped rockhounding spots in Monterey County. Most commonly produces nephrite jade, serpentine, axinite, jade.

Monterey County rockhounding photos

Representative spot and material photos from this county, shown where verified public image records are available.

1 photo

Jade Cove BIg Sur California at Big Sur area, Monterey County, California — Big Sur areaMonterey County, California

Minerals reported in Monterey County

Nephrite Jade2
Serpentine2
Axinite1
Jade1
Nephrite1
Rhodonite1

Standout in Monterey County

Hand-picked spot in Monterey County, chosen for unusual mineralogy or documented public access. Each card opens the full coordinates and access notes.

Top pick
Big Sur area
Public
Monterey County
Big Sur is California's clearest public jade locality because sanctuary rules specifically allow loose nephrite collection in the Jade Cove authorized area below mean high tide. Mindat records jade and nephrite at Big Sur, and Los Padres National Forest planning documents note historic jade collecting around Plaskett Creek, Jade Cove, Willow Creek, and offshore.
Jade, Nephrite, Serpentine

Spots in Monterey County

Spot	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Big Sur areaLos Burros Road	Jade Nephrite Serpentine	35.8938, -121.4523	Public
Limekiln Creek Beaches AreaCabrillo Highway	Rhodonite Axinite Nephrite Jade	36.0087, -121.5196	Public
Willow Creek areaCabrillo Highway	Nephrite Jade Serpentine	35.8922, -121.4613	Public

Neighboring counties in California

Adjacent rockhounding counties, ranked by how close their centroids sit to Monterey County. A natural extension if Monterey County is already on your trip plan.

Monterey County FAQ

Where can I rockhound in Monterey County, California?+

RockHoundR tracks 3 rockhounding spots in Monterey County. Each entry below has coordinates, mineral notes, and access type. Always confirm local rules before collecting.

What rocks and minerals are common in Monterey County?+

Spots in Monterey County most often produce Nephrite Jade, Serpentine, Axinite, Jade, Nephrite. Individual spots can vary widely.

Are these Monterey County rockhounding spots on public land?+

Most spots in this list are tagged public, but access can change with seasons, claims, and local closures. Always verify before driving out — links in the app open the right BLM, USFS, or county pages.

Plan a Monterey County rockhounding trip

Open RockHoundR to see these spots on the map alongside land overlays, weather, geology, and your saved finds.