Rockhounding in Colorado: 28 Spots & Minerals

Rockhounding near major Colorado cities

Day-trip range. Each section lists the closest mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of the city — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive.

Rockhounding near Denver

See all →

6 closest spots to Denver, CO.

Rockhounding near Colorado Springs

See all →

6 closest spots to Colorado Springs, CO.

Neighboring states with rockhounding

Geology rarely respects state borders. These states share mapped rockhounding country with Colorado — useful when Colorado is the start, not the whole trip. Each card links to the closest county across the line.

Rockhounding by county in Colorado

County pages are linked once we have at least 3 mapped spots for a focused guide with coordinates, mineral notes, and nearby spots.

Every rockhounding spot in Colorado

Sorted by county. Tap coordinates to open in Google Maps, or open RockHoundR for the full map view with land overlays and weather.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Calumet Iron MineAustin Trail	Chaffee County	Amphibole Chalcopyrite Corundum Epidote Pyrite	38.6333, -106.0003	Public
Chalk Creek gravelsChalk Creek Drive	Chaffee County	Sapphire	38.7138, -106.2278	Public
Sedalia Copper MineHappy Jack Lane	Chaffee County	Actinolite Almandine Azurite Beryl Chrysocolla	38.6036, -106.0306	Public
Sugarloaf & Ruby MountainsCR 300	Chaffee County	Rhyolite Perlite Apache Tears Spessartine Topaz	38.7602, -106.0722	Public
Summit of Mount AnteroMount Antero Trail	Chaffee County	Apatite Aquamarine Beryl Bismutite Calcite	38.6738, -106.2467	Public
Austin BluffsWittenberg Court	El Paso County	Agate Carnelian Chalcedony Jasper	38.9072, -104.7973	Public
Cook Mountain (southern side)Gold Camp Road	El Paso County	Amazonite Smoky Quartz Topaz	38.7607, -104.9176	Public
Sentinel Rock and Specimen Rock	El Paso County	Amazonite Fluorite Goethite Hematite Quartz	38.8046, -104.9178	Public
Unnamed Area (Zircon/Fluorite)Gold Camp Road	El Paso County	Zircon Fluorite	38.7527, -104.9052	Public
Unnamed Mine Dump (Zircon)High Drive	El Paso County	Zircon	38.8204, -104.8979	Public
Cement Creek Rd.Cement Creek Road 740	Gunnison County	Albite Ankerite Chlorite Diopside Epidote	38.9312, -106.7699	Public
Gunnison Gold Belt MinesOld Huntsman Mesa Road	Gunnison County	Gold Copper	38.3078, -107.0925	Public
Italian Mountain	Gunnison County	Lapis Lazuli Garnet	38.9442, -106.7624	Public
Quartz CreekCR 44	Gunnison County	Albite Beryl Lepidolite Mica Tourmaline	38.5174, -106.6679	Public
Centennial ConeElk Range Trail	Jefferson County	Aquamarine Bertrandite Beryl Smoky Quartz	39.7554, -105.3607	Public
Table Mountains (North and South)North Table Loop Trail	Jefferson County	Apophyllite Aragonite Calcite Halloysite Zeolite	39.7740, -105.2009	Public
Unnamed Area (Jefferson Co.)CH 73	Jefferson County	Fluorite Gold Silver Chalcocite Sphalerite	39.6171, -105.3207	Public
Wigwam CreekStoney Pass Road	Jefferson County	Amazonite Fluorite Smoky Quartz Clear Quartz	39.2487, -105.3387	Public
Crystal MountainNorth Crystal Mountain Road	Larimer County	Beryl Bismutite Fluorapatite Muscovite Autunite	40.5418, -105.4114	Public
Diamond Peak	Larimer County	Diamond	40.9802, -105.5594	Public
Howes Gulch MinesClear Ridge Road	Larimer County	Chalcopyrite Gold Pyrite Copper	40.5911, -105.2250	Public
Specimen Mountain	Larimer County	Allophane Calcite Agate Quartz Topaz	40.4428, -105.8084	Public
Wisdom RanchParadise Park Road	Larimer County	Beryl Chrysoberyl Garnet Graphic Granite	40.5978, -105.3644	Public
Willow Creek (permission required)West Willow Creek Road	Mineral County	Amethyst Chalcedony Sphalerite Silver Agate	37.8700, -106.9292	Permission
Willow Creek West Fork stream bedWest Willow Creek Road	Mineral County	Turquoise	37.8684, -106.9275	Public
Wolf Creek PassUS 160	Mineral County	Agate Jasper Chalcedony Moonstone	37.4514, -106.8895	Public
Wolf Creek Stream BedUS 160	Mineral County	Amethyst Geode Agate Chalcedony Jasper Moonstone	37.4873, -106.8203	Public
Unnamed Area (Yule Marble)CO 133	Pitkin County	Colorado Yule Marble	39.1227, -107.2699	Public

Colorado rockhounding FAQ

Is rockhounding legal in Colorado?+

Casual hand collecting is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Colorado, with daily and annual limits set by the managing field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal lands are off-limits. Always confirm rules with the local agency before a trip.

What rocks and minerals can you find in Colorado?+

Colorado spots in this list most commonly produce Beryl, Agate, Chalcedony, Fluorite, Amazonite. The full list across all spots is broader.

How many rockhounding sites are in Colorado?+

RockHoundR currently lists 28 rockhounding spots in Colorado across 7 counties. Many more exist; the app keeps your private finds saved alongside the public ones.

Can I take rocks home from Colorado public land?+

On most BLM and Forest Service land, recreational hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed in reasonable amounts. Vertebrate fossils, archaeological items, and posted mining-claim minerals are not. Check the field office for current limits.

Map every Colorado spot in the app

Open the RockHoundR app to see Colorado on a real map with public land overlays, weather, geology, and your saved finds.