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.
Map showing Fish Lake Valley in Esmeralda County, Nevada
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Esmeralda County
- State
- Nevada
- Nearest road
- Cemetery Road
- Coordinates
- 37.79619, -118.00903
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 Nevada — Recreation
- Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
- Royal Peacock Opal Mine (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Fish Lake Valley
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
- CinnabarEncyclopedia →
- OpaliteEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Fish Lake Valley.
- Fish LakeEsmeralda County, Nevada · 4 mi awayApache Tears
- CoaldaleTop pick in NevadaEsmeralda County, Nevada · 18 mi awayAgate, Chert, Hyalite Opal
- BasaltEsmeralda County, Nevada · 18 mi awayCopper, Gold, Lead
- Veterans Memorial HighwayEsmeralda County, Nevada · 20 mi awayAgate, Petrified Wood, Chalcedony
- Rock HillEsmeralda County, Nevada · 25 mi awayVariscite
- Esmerelda CountyEsmeralda County, Nevada · 27 mi awayGold, Lead, Platinum
- Monte Cristo RangeEsmeralda County, Nevada · 32 mi awayVariscite
- Lone MountainEsmeralda County, Nevada · 34 mi awayCopper, Gold, Lead
Fish Lake Valley FAQ
Why is Fish Lake Valley one of the best rockhounding spots in Nevada?+
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More rockhounding in Nevada
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