Dry Cottonwood Creek — Rockhounding in Deer Lodge County, Montana
Dry Cottonwood Creek is one of the historic Montana sapphire fields named by USGS and GIA, discovered after the Missouri River bars and before Rock Creek and Yogo Gulch. It is less accessible and less active than some better-known sapphire districts, but that documented place in the state's corundum history makes it too important to omit. Reported finds include sapphire. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing Dry Cottonwood Creek in Deer Lodge County, Montana
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Deer Lodge County
- State
- Montana
- Nearest road
- cdt-alt Ley
- Coordinates
- 46.22060, -112.68514
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 Dry Cottonwood Creek
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 Dry Cottonwood Creek.
- Brown’s GulchSilver Bow County, Montana · 14 mi awaySapphire
- Lost CreekDeer Lodge County, Montana · 15 mi awayAmazonite
- ButteTop pick in MontanaSilver Bow County, Montana · 15 mi awayBornite, Pisanite, Rhodochrosite
- Jack CreekJefferson County, Montana · 22 mi awayDumortierite
- BasinJefferson County, Montana · 22 mi awaySilver, Gold
- PipestoneJefferson County, Montana · 23 mi awayAmethyst, Quartz
- PioneerPowell County, Montana · 24 mi awayGold, Calcite, Chalcopyrite
- GeorgetownDeer Lodge County, Montana · 25 mi awayGold, Chrysocolla
Dry Cottonwood Creek FAQ
Why is Dry Cottonwood Creek one of the best rockhounding spots in Montana?+
Where is Dry Cottonwood Creek?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Dry Cottonwood Creek?+
Is collecting allowed at Dry Cottonwood Creek?+
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More rockhounding in Montana
See all 87 Montana spots →Open Dry Cottonwood Creek on the map
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