Pole Creek: Gold Prospecting in Madison County, Montana

Updated July 2026

Pole Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Madison County, Montana. Reported finds include garnet, gold, quartz, ruby, sapphire. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Madison County
State: Montana
Coordinates: 45.57691, -111.52473

Geology at Pole Creek

This spot sits on Quartzofeldspathic gneiss, mapped as gneiss that formed roughly 4030 to 2500 million years ago. Gold in metamorphic belts like this is typically tied to quartz veins and shear zones, with placer color in the creeks that cut them.

Mapped unit: Quartzofeldspathic gneiss
Age: 4030–2500 Ma (Archean)
Rock types: gneiss
Elevation: 4,850 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 Pole Creek

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, NORRIS MADISON PWR HOUSE station (8 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

BLM Montana, Recreational mineral collecting
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Pole 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 Pole Creek.

Pole Creek FAQ

Where is Pole Creek?+

Pole Creek is in Madison County, Montana, at 45.57691, -111.52473.

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

Pole Creek is reported to produce Garnet, Gold, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire.

Is collecting allowed at Pole 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 Pole Creek?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Pole Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Pole Creek are March to November.

How do I get to Pole Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.57691, -111.52473 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Montana

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Open Pole Creek on the map

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