Where to Find Carnelian
64 mapped carnelian spots across 24 regions in 4 countries. Pick a region for its local guide, or browse every spot below. Carnelian is reddish-orange chalcedony, traditionally a rounded, water-worn piece in beach gravels and dry washes. Lake Michigan, Oregon, and California beaches all produce hobby-grade carnelian.
Every mapped carnelian spot
Best spotFlint RidgeLicking County, OhioPublic access · Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian +7
Best spotOrellaDawes County, NebraskaPublic access · Fairburn Agate, Jasper, Carnelian +4
Best spotBellevueJackson County, IowaPublic access · Lake Superior Agate, Moss Agate, Carnelian +3
Best spotMt. Hope BayBristol County, Rhode IslandPublic access · Red Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian +3
Best spotPawtuxetProvidence County, Rhode IslandPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Amethyst +1
Best spotWarwickKent County, Rhode IslandPublic access · Carnelian
Best spotTopaz Dome QuarryJuab County, UtahPermission required · Beryl, Calcite, Bixbyite +10
Best spotDanburyStokes County, North CarolinaPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +4- Best spotPe EllLewis County, WashingtonPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +3
- Best spotSam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)San Jacinto County, TexasPublic access · Petrified Palm Wood, Petrified Wood, Agate +2
- Best spotYork AreaGreenlee County, ArizonaPublic access · Fire Agate, Banded Agate, Carnelian +1
- Best spotWilson RiverTillamook County, OregonPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Jasper
Muskingum CountyMuskingum County, OhioPublic access · Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian +7- Bergen CountyBergen County, New JerseyPublic access · Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian +5
Mine d'agates du Mont LyallLa Haute-Gaspésie, QuébecFee dig · Agate, Jasper, Carnelian +4- ScenicPennington County, South DakotaPermission required · Blue Chalcedony, Carnelian, Aquamarine +4
- Birdlings FlatSelwyn District, CanterburyPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Jasper +3
- CentraliaLewis County, WashingtonPermission required · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +3
- DotyLewis County, WashingtonPermission required · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +3
- Lucas CreekLewis County, WashingtonPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +3
- N Umpqua RiverDouglas County, OregonPublic access · Agate, Chalcedony, Carnelian +3
- Quitman Mountains (South)Hudspeth County, TexasPublic access · Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian +3
- S Umpqua RiverDouglas County, OregonPublic access · Agate, Chalcedony, Carnelian +3
- South Umpqua River - Rest AreaDouglas County, OregonCheck locally · Agate, Jasper, Carnelian +3
- South Umpqua River Gravel BarsDouglas County, OregonCheck locally · Agate, Jasper, Carnelian +3
- Cookes Peak areaLuna County, New MexicoPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +2
- DunureSouth AyrshirePublic access · Agate, Jasper, Chalcedony +2
- Mt. AdamsSkamania County, WashingtonPermission required · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +2
- Pinellas & Hillsborough BeachesPinellas County, FloridaPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +2
- South Fork Umpqua River - Myrtle CreekDouglas County, OregonCheck locally · Agate, Jasper, Quartz +2
- Swiftwater ParkDouglas County, OregonCheck locally · Agate, Jasper, Quartz +2
- UsanAngusPublic access · Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper +2
- Austin BluffsEl Paso County, ColoradoPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +1
- BickletonKlickitat County, WashingtonPermission required · Agate, Carnelian, Jasper +1
- Clear CreekColumbia County, OregonPermission required · Plume Agate, Carnelian, Jasper +1
- Colville Bay (Cabbage Bay)Thames-Coromandel District, WaikatoPublic access · Carnelian, Agate, Chalcedony +1
- ConcordCabarrus County, North CarolinaPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +1
- Granville CountyGranville County, North CarolinaPublic access · Topaz, Andalusite, Carnelian +1
- Green CreekPacific County, WashingtonPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony +1
- Green Springs Mt.Jackson County, OregonPermission required · Agate Nodule, Carnelian, Chalcedony +1
- Jenny CreekSiskiyou County, CaliforniaPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Petrified Wood +1
- Poison StripGrand County, UtahCheck locally · Carnotite, Agate, Petrified Wood +1
- Amodeo BayThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoPublic access · Petrified Wood, Chalcedony, Carnelian
- CaldwellMecklenburg County, North CarolinaPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony
- Carnelian beachKeweenaw County, MichiganPermission required · Agate Nodule, Carnelian, Quartz
- Chandler Mt.Linn County, OregonPublic access · Purple Agate, Carnelian, Blue Agate
- Kauaeranga ValleyThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoPermission required · Quartz, Carnelian, Agate
- Nehalem River gravelsClatsop County, OregonPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Jasper
- Onemana BeachThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoPublic access · Agate, Carnelian, Jasper
- Otama BeachThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoPublic access · Jasper, Carnelian, Petrified Wood
- SpartaHancock County, GeorgiaPublic access · Carnelian, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Tobin Harbor AreaKeweenaw County, MichiganPermission required · Agate, Carnelian, Quartz
- Waitete BayThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoPublic access · Carnelian, Agate, Petrified Wood
- Whangamata Ocean BeachThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoPublic access · Carnelian, Agate, Jasper
- Alum MountainGrant County, New MexicoPermission required · Geode, Carnelian
- Canyon to N of road 1 mi. S of Apache Nat. ForestGreenlee County, ArizonaPublic access · Blue Agate, Carnelian
- Lake Merwin Area CarneliansCowlitz County, WashingtonPublic access · Agate, Carnelian
- Massacre MountainLuna County, New MexicoPublic access · Carnelian, Red Jasper
- McCoy Farm near AdnaLewis County, WashingtonPublic access · Carnelian, Petrified Wood
- Sapillo CreekGrant County, New MexicoPublic access · Geode, Carnelian
- Livingston ParishLivingston Parish, LouisianaPublic access · Carnelian
- StirlingMorris County, New JerseyPermission required · Carnelian
- Tangipahoa ParishTangipahoa Parish, LouisianaPublic access · Carnelian
- Yadkin CountyYadkin County, North CarolinaPublic access · Carnelian
Top regions for carnelian
United States
53 spots · 19 regionsCanada
1 spots · 1 regionsUnited Kingdom
2 spots · 2 regionsNew Zealand
8 spots · 2 regionsCarnelian rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find carnelian?+
Oregon, Washington, North Carolina have the highest concentrations of carnelian in this list. Quality and access vary by area, so open the linked region pages for a detailed view.
How many carnelian rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
64 mapped spots across 24 regions in 4 countries. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect carnelian on public land?+
In the U.S., casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like carnelian is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Rules differ by country and region, so always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify carnelian in the field?+
Field identification of carnelian comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt carnelian on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
