Grouse Creek: Corundum & Quartz Rockhounding in Idaho County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

Grouse Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Idaho County, Idaho. Reported finds include corundum, quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Idaho County
State: Idaho
Nearest road: Salmon River Trail East
Coordinates: 45.48533, -115.34083

Geology at Grouse Creek

This spot sits on Surficial deposits, mapped as sand and gravel that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Surficial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: sand and gravel
Elevation: 2,370 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Grouse Creek

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 92°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, YELLOWPINE BAR station (6 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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: April 1, 2026

Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Emerald Creek
Idaho Geological Survey
Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Grouse Creek

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 Grouse Creek.

Across the state line from Grouse Creek

Grouse Creek is close enough to the Idaho border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Grouse Creek FAQ

Where is Grouse Creek?+

Grouse Creek is in Idaho County, Idaho, at 45.48533, -115.34083. Nearest road: Salmon River Trail East.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Grouse Creek?+

Grouse Creek is reported to produce Corundum, Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Grouse Creek?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Grouse Creek?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Grouse Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Grouse Creek are February to June.

How do I get to Grouse Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.48533, -115.34083 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Salmon River Trail East.

More rockhounding in Idaho

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Open Grouse Creek on the map

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