Best spot

Rock Creek — Rockhounding in Granite County, Montana

Rock Creek is one of Montana's four classic sapphire districts, documented by USGS and GIA alongside the Missouri River, Dry Cottonwood Creek, and Yogo Gulch. Mindat records corundum, sapphire, ruby, garnet, hematite, kyanite, magnetite, and rutile from the district, giving the locality more mineral context than a simple gem-gravel stop. Reported finds include quartz, sapphire. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Granite County
State: Montana
Nearest road: Rock Creek Road
Coordinates: 46.39119, -113.68303

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: April 1, 2026

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 Rock 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 Rock Creek.

Across the state line from Rock Creek

Rock 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.

Rock Creek FAQ

Why is Rock Creek one of the best rockhounding spots in Montana?+

Where is Rock Creek?+

Rock Creek is in Granite County, Montana, at 46.39119, -113.68303. Nearest road: Rock Creek Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Rock Creek?+

Rock Creek is reported to produce Quartz, Sapphire.

Is collecting allowed at Rock Creek?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

How do I get to Rock Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 46.39119, -113.68303 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Rock Creek Road.

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Open Rock Creek on the map

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