Peterson Park: Petoskey Stone & Chert Rockhounding in Leelanau County, Michigan
- Minerals reported
- 4
- Elevation
- 640 ft
- Best months
- April to October
Peterson Park is a mapped rockhounding spot in Leelanau County, Michigan. Reported finds include petoskey stone, chert, unakite, charlevoix stone. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Leelanau County
- State
- Michigan
- Postcode
- 49674
- Coordinates
- 45.15390, -85.64671
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
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.
Best time to visit Peterson Park
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 76°F in midsummer and 29°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, NORTHPORT 2W station (1 mi away).
Geology at Peterson Park
This spot sits on Traverse Group, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 395 to 385 million years ago. Chert and agate nodules typically form inside carbonate rock like this and weather out as tough, waxy lumps in soils and creek beds.
- Mapped unit
- Traverse Group
- Age
- 395–385 Ma (Middle Devonian)
- Rock types
- limestone
- Elevation
- 640 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.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Peterson Park.
Get the appSources & 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:
- Michigan DNR, Rockhounding rules
- Michigan Geological Survey
- Isle Royale National Park, Rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Peterson Park
Each name 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 Peterson Park.
- Christmas Cove BeachLeelanau County, Michigan · 1 mi awayPetoskey Stone, Charlevoix Stone, Stromatoporoid
- Onomonee Road BeachLeelanau County, Michigan · 3 mi awayCharlevoix Stone, Stromatolite, Stromatoporoid
- Grand Traverse LighthouseLeelanau County, Michigan · 6 mi away
- North BeachLeelanau County, Michigan · 10 mi awayPetoskey Stone, Unakite, Stromatoporoid
- Van's BeachLeelanau County, Michigan · 11 mi awayLeland Blue, Petoskey Stone, Unakite
- Hidden BeachLeelanau County, Michigan · 11 mi awayLeland Blue, Petoskey Stone, Unakite
- Suttons Bay BeachLeelanau County, Michigan · 12 mi away
- Antrim Creek Natural AreaAntrim County, Michigan · 13 mi awayPetoskey Stone, Charlevoix Stone, Horn Coral
Peterson Park FAQ
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More rockhounding in Michigan
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