Mitchell River — Rockhounding in Surry County, North Carolina
Mitchell River is a mapped rockhounding spot in Surry County, North Carolina. Reported finds include yellow chalcedony, hornblende, steatite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing Mitchell River in Surry County, North Carolina
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Surry County
- State
- North Carolina
- Nearest road
- Douglas Road
- Postcode
- 28621
- Coordinates
- 36.33106, -80.81515
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:
- North Carolina Geological Survey
- Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests
- Emerald Hollow Mine (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Mitchell River
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
- Yellow ChalcedonyEncyclopedia →
- HornblendeEncyclopedia →
- SteatiteEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Mitchell River.
- Poplar SpringsSurry County, North Carolina · 1 mi awayRutile, Limonite, Quartz
- BurchSurry County, North Carolina · 5 mi awayJasper, Quartz
- TraphillWilkes County, North Carolina · 12 mi awayMoss Agate, Jasper, Chalcedony
- Yadkin CountyYadkin County, North Carolina · 14 mi awayCarnelian
- White PlainsSurry County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayBeryl, Columbite, Quartz
- Bullhead MountainAlleghany County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayGarnet, Kyanite, Magnetite
- Mount AirySurry County, North Carolina · 18 mi awayFeldspar, Quartz, Jasper
- Pilot MountainSurry County, North Carolina · 19 mi awayQuartz
Across the state line from Mitchell River
Mitchell River is close enough to the North Carolina border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Hanks KnobCarroll County, Virginia · 21 mi awayGarnet, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite
- GalaxGrayson County, Virginia · 21 mi awaySpessartine Garnet
- Pipers GapCarroll County, Virginia · 22 mi awayHornblende, Serpentine, Talc
- New RiverGrayson County, Virginia · 24 mi awayMagnetite
- GalaxCarroll County, Virginia · 27 mi awayGreen Apatite, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite
- Laurel ForkCarroll County, Virginia · 32 mi awayQuartz
Mitchell River FAQ
Where is Mitchell River?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Mitchell River?+
Is collecting allowed at Mitchell River?+
How do I get to Mitchell River?+
More rockhounding in North Carolina
See all 198 North Carolina spots →Open Mitchell River on the map
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