Pryor Mountains — Rockhounding in Big Horn County, Montana
The Pryor Mountains stand out for Dryhead-style agate, with Mindat listing agate and chalcedony from the range and a named Dryhead Agate Mine in the Bighorn River area. The same Big Horn County country also carries fossil-bearing sedimentary units, so the locality needs careful land-status and fossil-rule checks rather than casual blanket collecting. Reported finds include fossils, agate, chalcedony, jasper, petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing Pryor Mountains in Big Horn County, Montana
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Big Horn County
- State
- Montana
- Nearest road
- Bad Pass Road
- Coordinates
- 45.23857, -108.26747
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 Montana — Recreational mineral collecting
- Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
- Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Pryor Mountains
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 Pryor Mountains.
- Big Horn CanyonBig Horn County, Montana · 16 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Bear CanyonCarbon County, Montana · 17 mi awayGeode, Agate
- FrombergCarbon County, Montana · 34 mi awayCoal, Pyrite
- Yellowstone River (Billings area)Top pick in MontanaYellowstone County, Montana · 46 mi awayMontana Agate, Chalcedony, Chert
- Old Nye Picnic AreaStillwater County, Montana · 80 mi awaySilver
- HyshamTreasure County, Montana · 83 mi awayMoss Agate
- JardinePark County, Montana · 114 mi awayArsenic, Gold, Tungsten
- Yellowstone RiverPark County, Montana · 115 mi awayAgate, Montana Agate, Moss Agate
Across the state line from Pryor Mountains
Pryor Mountains is close enough to the Montana border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Big Horn RiverBig Horn County, Wyoming · 19 mi awayDry Head Agate
- LovellBig Horn County, Wyoming · 32 mi awayFossils, Ammonites, Dinosaur Bones
- LovellBig Horn County, Wyoming · 33 mi awayGypsum, Fossils
- GreybullBig Horn County, Wyoming · 47 mi awayGastroliths, Petrified Dinosaur Bone, Fossils
- Red GulchBig Horn County, Wyoming · 54 mi awayGypsum
- Cedar MountainPark County, Wyoming · 67 mi awayTravertine
Pryor Mountains FAQ
Why is Pryor Mountains one of the best rockhounding spots in Montana?+
Where is Pryor Mountains?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Pryor Mountains?+
Is collecting allowed at Pryor Mountains?+
How do I get to Pryor Mountains?+
More rockhounding in Montana
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