Trinity River — Rockhounding in Trinity County, California
The Trinity River is a north-state benchmark because it combines historic placer-gold country with Klamath Mountains metamorphic and ultramafic source rocks. USGS mapping documents the basin's complex bedrock setting, while the RockHoundR candidate minerals add chalcedony, jasper, jade, and petrified wood to the river's placer-gold identity. Reported finds include chalcedony, gold, jasper, jade, petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Trinity River photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material, with source and license attribution.
Map showing Trinity River in Trinity County, California
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Trinity County
- State
- California
- Nearest road
- Browns Mountain Road
- Postcode
- 96093
- Coordinates
- 40.69375, -122.86347
Land & collecting status
Generally open to casual rockhounding
Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.
Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.
Sources & verification
Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.
State guidance last verified:
- BLM California — Recreational mineral collecting
- California Geological Survey
- CDFW — Suction Dredge Mining Permit Program
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Trinity River
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Trinity River.
- Trinity River GravelsTrinity County, California · 10 mi awayDiamond, Platinum Nuggets
- Area Stream Beds (Rhodonite nodules)Trinity County, California · 15 mi awayRhodonite Nodules
- Indian Creek gravelsTrinity County, California · 18 mi awayRhodonite
- Coffee CreekTrinity County, California · 28 mi awayAnthophyllite, Serpentine
- Golden Jubilee MineTrinity County, California · 28 mi awayLimonite, Quartz, Pyrite
- Trinity River / Willow CreekTrinity County, California · 37 mi awayJade
- Horse Mt (Chromite)Humboldt County, California · 47 mi awayChromite
- Horse Mt (West Side)Humboldt County, California · 48 mi awayEpidote
Trinity River FAQ
Why is Trinity River one of the best rockhounding spots in California?+
Where is Trinity River?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Trinity River?+
Is collecting allowed at Trinity River?+
How do I get to Trinity River?+
More rockhounding in California
See all 97 California spots →Open Trinity River on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.
