Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area — Rockhounding in Lake County, Oregon
Glass Buttes is a rhyolite and obsidian complex with an unusually broad suite of gem-quality obsidian, including mahogany, rainbow, gold sheen, silver sheen, midnight lace, and other varieties documented by Oregon State University. The BLM-managed setting makes it one of Oregon's strongest public-land examples of volcanic glass collecting, with ordinary rockhounding rules still requiring attention to claims and local restrictions. Reported finds include obsidian. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material, with source and license attribution.
Map showing Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area in Lake County, Oregon
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Lake County
- State
- Oregon
- Coordinates
- 43.55732, -120.07451
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 Oregon/Washington — Rockhounding & mineral material
- Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department — beach collecting rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area
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 Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area.
- S Fork Crooked RiverCrook County, Oregon · 36 mi awayAgatized Limb Casts
- Carey Agate BedsCrook County, Oregon · 37 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Bear CreekCrook County, Oregon · 49 mi awayMoss Agate, Chalcedony, Drusy Quartz
- Sylvies CanyonHarney County, Oregon · 52 mi awayWood Opal
- Sheep creekCrook County, Oregon · 55 mi awayMoss Agate
- Spectrum Sunstone MineLake County, Oregon · 58 mi away
- Shores of Ochoco ReservoirCrook County, Oregon · 60 mi awayOchoco Jasper
- White Fir SpringTop pick in OregonCrook County, Oregon · 63 mi awayThundereggs
Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area FAQ
Why is Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area one of the best rockhounding spots in Oregon?+
Where is Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area?+
Is collecting allowed at Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area?+
How do I get to Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area?+
More rockhounding in Oregon
See all 72 Oregon spots →Open Glass Butte Recreational Rockhound Area on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.
