Bear Paw Mountains — Rockhounding in Hill County, Montana

Bear Paw Mountains is a mapped rockhounding spot in Hill County, Montana. Reported finds include columbite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Hill County
State: Montana
Coordinates: 48.23712, -109.58201

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 Bear Paw Mountains

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Columbite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Bear Paw Mountains.

Bear Paw Mountains FAQ

Where is Bear Paw Mountains?+

Bear Paw Mountains is in Hill County, Montana, at 48.23712, -109.58201.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Bear Paw Mountains?+

Bear Paw Mountains is reported to produce Columbite.

Is collecting allowed at Bear Paw Mountains?+

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 Bear Paw Mountains?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 48.23712, -109.58201 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote — check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Montana

See all 87 Montana spots →

Open Bear Paw Mountains on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.