Best spot

Fish Lake Valley — Rockhounding in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Fish Lake Valley is notable for hot-spring mercury mineralization rather than ordinary desert float, with Mindat records describing opalized and silicified rhyolite-hosted rock carrying cinnabar and opal. The locality is a good Nevada example of silica-rich alteration, but mercury minerals and old workings make conservative collecting and hand-sample handling important. Reported finds include cinnabar, opalite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Fish Lake Valley photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material, with source and license attribution.

4 photos

Map showing Fish Lake Valley in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Quick details

Access
Public area
State
Nevada
Nearest road
Cemetery Road

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:

Found at Fish Lake Valley

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 Fish Lake Valley.

Fish Lake Valley FAQ

Why is Fish Lake Valley one of the best rockhounding spots in Nevada?+
Fish Lake Valley is notable for hot-spring mercury mineralization rather than ordinary desert float, with Mindat records describing opalized and silicified rhyolite-hosted rock carrying cinnabar and opal. The locality is a good Nevada example of silica-rich alteration, but mercury minerals and old workings make conservative collecting and hand-sample handling important.
Where is Fish Lake Valley?+
Fish Lake Valley is in Esmeralda County, Nevada, at 37.79619, -118.00903. Nearest road: Cemetery Road.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Fish Lake Valley?+
Fish Lake Valley is reported to produce Cinnabar, Opalite.
Is collecting allowed at Fish Lake Valley?+
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 Fish Lake Valley?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 37.79619, -118.00903 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Cemetery Road.

More rockhounding in Nevada

See all 118 Nevada spots →

Open Fish Lake Valley on the map

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

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play