Rockhounding near Montrose, CO

66 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Montrose — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive. Below: a map, the closest spots, what they produce, and full coordinates with access notes.

Covering parts of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico.

Closest rockhounding spots to Montrose

The 6 nearest mapped spots, with straight-line distance and an approximate drive time.

Gunnison Gold Belt MinesGunnison County, Colorado44 mi · 55 min driveGold, Copper
Unnamed Area (Yule Marble)Pitkin County, Colorado55 mi · 1 hr 9 min driveColorado Yule Marble
La Sal mining districtSan Juan County, Utah65 mi · 1 hr 21 min driveAzurite, Malachite, Carnotite
Quartz Creek (Brown Derby)Gunnison County, Colorado65 mi · 1 hr 22 min driveBeryl, Tourmaline, Lepidolite
Willow Creek (permission required)Mineral County, Colorado66 mi · 1 hr 23 min driveAmethyst, Chalcedony, Sphalerite
Willow Creek West Fork stream bedMineral County, Colorado67 mi · 1 hr 23 min driveTurquoise

Most-reported finds near Montrose

Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each material.

Hunting something specific near Montrose?

These materials have enough dedicated spots around Montrose to earn their own page, with distances and a separate map.

Every spot within 150 miles of Montrose

Sorted by distance from Montrose. Tap a row to open the spot detail page with full directions, access status, and nearby trips.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Gunnison Gold Belt MinesOld Huntsman Mesa Road	Gunnison County	Gold Copper	38.3078, -107.0925	Public
Unnamed Area (Yule Marble)CO 133	Pitkin County	Colorado Yule Marble	39.1227, -107.2699	Public
La Sal mining districtV2 Road	San Juan County	Azurite Malachite Carnotite Coffinite Pyrite Uraninite	38.3414, -109.0638	Public
Quartz Creek (Brown Derby)CR 44	Gunnison County	Beryl Tourmaline Lepidolite Albite Muscovite	38.5174, -106.6679	Public
Willow Creek (permission required)West Willow Creek Road	Mineral County	Amethyst Chalcedony Sphalerite Silver Agate	37.8700, -106.9292	Permission
Willow Creek West Fork stream bedWest Willow Creek Road	Mineral County	Turquoise	37.8684, -106.9275	Public
Cement Creek Rd.Cement Creek Road 740	Gunnison County	Albite Ankerite Chlorite Diopside Epidote	38.9312, -106.7699	Public
Italian Mountain	Gunnison County	Lapis Lazuli Grossular Garnet Diopside Pyrite Calcite	38.9442, -106.7624	Public
Lisbon ValleyLisbon Valley Road	San Juan County	Azurite Cuprite Malachite	38.1578, -109.1483	Public
La Sal MountainsLa Sal Pass Road	San Juan County	Amethyst Azurite Bornite Carnotite Chalcocite Chrysocolla Limonite Malachite +1 more	38.4282, -109.2585	Public
Miner's BasinMiners Basin Road	Grand County	Actinolite Calcite Chalcedony Chrysocolla Chalcopyrite Fluorite Hematite Malachite +3 more	38.5456, -109.2816	Public
Big Indian WashHomestake Spur	San Juan County	Coffinite Doloresite Uraninite Azurite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Cuprite Malachite +6 more	38.2308, -109.2810	Public
Chess RidgeBrumley Loop Trail	San Juan County	Carnotite	38.4744, -109.3235	Public
Bald MesaBald Mesa Electric Users Road	Grand County	Gold Pyrolusite	38.5223, -109.3252	Public
Brumley RidgeBrumley Ridge Trail	San Juan County	Apatite Augite Magnetite Orthoclase Sodalite Sphene	38.4784, -109.3323	Public
Colorado RiverBeards Road	Grand County	Chromite Gold	38.9598, -109.2406	Public
Browns HoleBrowns Hole Road	San Juan County	Carnotite	38.3499, -109.3627	Public
Hills by Colorado RiverCR 176	Grand County	Agatized Clams Agatized Dinosaur Bone Jasperized Dinosaur Bone Jasper	38.9688, -109.2623	Public
AgateCR 179	Grand County	Agate Chalcedony Chert Jasper Opal Opalized Wood Quartz	39.0176, -109.2472	Public
Moab ValleyLa Sal Loop Road	San Juan County	Anhydrite Carnallite Gypsum Halite Polyhalite Sylvite	38.4771, -109.4386	Public
Wolf Creek PassUS 160	Mineral County	Amethyst Mordenite Heulandite Chabazite Calcite	37.4514, -106.8895	Public
Mount AnteroMount Antero Trail	Chaffee County	Aquamarine Beryl Phenakite Smoky Quartz Fluorite	38.6738, -106.2467	Public
Wolf Creek Stream BedUS 160	Mineral County	Amethyst Geode Agate Chalcedony Jasper Moonstone	37.4873, -106.8203	Public
Chalk Creek gravelsChalk Creek Drive	Chaffee County	Sapphire	38.7138, -106.2278	Public
Salt ValleyDelicate Arch Road	Grand County	Azurite Carnallite Gold Gypsum Halite Limonite Malachite Pyrolusite +1 more	38.7305, -109.5251	Permission

Montrose rockhounding FAQ

Where can I go rockhounding near Montrose?+

There are 66 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of Montrose, Colorado. The closest is Gunnison Gold Belt Mines in Gunnison County, roughly 44 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.

What rocks and minerals can you find near Montrose?+

Spots within driving distance of Montrose most commonly produce carnotite, chalcedony, agate, jasper, gold, azurite.

Is rockhounding legal near Montrose?+

Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Each spot page on this site lists access status; always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

How far do most rockhounders drive from Montrose?+

Most weekend trips from Montrose fall inside a 2 to 3 hour drive, which is roughly the 150-mile radius shown on this page. Closer spots are good for half-day outings; the outer ones are better as overnight trips.

More state coverage

The spots above span 3 states. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.

Pack Montrose's rockhounding map in your pocket

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