Upper Priest Lake — Rockhounding in Bonner County, Idaho
Upper Priest Lake is a mapped rockhounding spot in Bonner County, Idaho. Reported finds include gold, feldspar, quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing Upper Priest Lake in Bonner County, Idaho
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Bonner County
- State
- Idaho
- Nearest road
- Navigation Trail
- Coordinates
- 48.79915, -116.91555
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:
- Idaho Panhandle National Forests — Emerald Creek
- Idaho Geological Survey
- Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Upper Priest Lake
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 Upper Priest Lake.
- Priest LakeBonner County, Idaho · 12 mi awayQuartz, Feldspar
- Pack RiverBoundary County, Idaho · 25 mi awayGarnet, Feldspar, Mica
- Tungsten Hill MineBoundary County, Idaho · 30 mi awayGold, Silver, Lead
- Goat Mountain & Blackdome PeakBonner County, Idaho · 56 mi awayKyanite
- BayviewBonner County, Idaho · 64 mi awayGalena
- Conjecture MineBonner County, Idaho · 65 mi awayRhodochrosite
- Hayden LakeKootenai County, Idaho · 68 mi awayLead, Silver
- PrichardShoshone County, Idaho · 90 mi awayGold
Across the state line from Upper Priest Lake
Upper Priest Lake is close enough to the Idaho border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Metaline FallsPend Oreille County, Washington · 21 mi awaySmithsonite
- Copper King MineStevens County, Washington · 34 mi awayChalcopyrite
- NewportPend Oreille County, Washington · 42 mi awayAmethyst
- SylvaniteLincoln County, Montana · 48 mi awayGold, Pyrite
- Sacheen LakePend Oreille County, Washington · 49 mi awayGarnet
- MarcusStevens County, Washington · 53 mi awayGold
Upper Priest Lake FAQ
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Is collecting allowed at Upper Priest Lake?+
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More rockhounding in Idaho
See all 114 Idaho spots →Open Upper Priest Lake on the map
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