French Creek — Rockhounding in Deer Lodge County, Montana
French Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Deer Lodge County, Montana. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing French Creek in Deer Lodge County, Montana
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Deer Lodge County
- State
- Montana
- Nearest road
- Deep Creek Road
- Coordinates
- 45.94737, -113.06053
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 French 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 French Creek.
- Calvert Hill MineTop pick in MontanaBeaverhead County, Montana · 8 mi awayScheelite, Garnet, Aquamarine
- Lost CreekDeer Lodge County, Montana · 18 mi awayAmazonite
- Brown’s GulchSilver Bow County, Montana · 19 mi awaySapphire
- GeorgetownDeer Lodge County, Montana · 19 mi awayGold, Chrysocolla
- ButteTop pick in MontanaSilver Bow County, Montana · 25 mi awayBornite, Pisanite, Rhodochrosite
- Dry Cottonwood CreekTop pick in MontanaDeer Lodge County, Montana · 26 mi awaySapphire
- PhillipsburgGranite County, Montana · 28 mi awayChrysocolla, Rhodochrosite, Ore
- Crystal ParkBeaverhead County, Montana · 32 mi awayAmethyst, Smoky Quartz
Across the state line from French Creek
French Creek 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.
French Creek FAQ
Where is French Creek?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at French Creek?+
Is collecting allowed at French Creek?+
How do I get to French Creek?+
More rockhounding in Montana
See all 87 Montana spots →Open French Creek on the map
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