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Rockhounding near Santa Barbara, CA

26 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Santa Barbara — 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 California.

Map of rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Santa Barbara, California

Closest rockhounding spots to Santa Barbara

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

Most-reported finds near Santa Barbara

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

Hunting something specific near Santa Barbara?

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

Every spot within 150 miles of Santa Barbara

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

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Malibu Lake AreaLake Vista TrailLos Angeles County
  • Analcite
34.1083, -118.7495Permission
Nipomo AreaSouth Dana Foothill RoadSan Luis Obispo County35.0351, -120.4530Public
Portal Ridge AreaPine Canyon RoadLos Angeles County34.7054, -118.5200Public
Tick CanyonLost Canyon RoadLos Angeles County34.4267, -118.3916Public
Escondido CanyonAntelope Valley FreewayLos Angeles County34.4990, -118.2582Public
Area Near Redondo BeachSouth Bay Bike PathLos Angeles County33.8828, -118.4125Public
Unnamed Location (LA County)Heffner RoadLos Angeles County34.4367, -118.2229Public
Gem HillKern County34.9249, -118.2218Public
Ocean Beaches (Central Coast)Atascadero RoadSan Luis Obispo County
  • California Jade
35.3833, -120.8650Public
Howlands Landing (Catalina Island)West End RoadLos Angeles County33.4576, -118.5167Public
Horse Canyon Agate BedsPine Canyon RoadKern County
  • Agate
  • Fossilized Horse Bones
35.1943, -118.2891Public
Paso Robles AreaUnion RoadSan Luis Obispo County
  • Jadeite
35.6379, -120.6274Public
Pine Tree CanyonPine Tree Canyon Road (MK55)Kern County35.2309, -118.0866Public
Little Acorn MineChaparral CourtKern County35.7167, -118.5000Public
Ocean beach area (Big Sur coast)Cabrillo HighwaySan Luis Obispo County35.5952, -121.1272Permission
Castle Butte FoothillsDenise AvenueKern County35.0493, -117.8247Public
San Simeon BeachesCabrillo HighwaySan Luis Obispo County35.6421, -121.1833Public
Jacolitos CanyonJacalitos Creek RoadFresno County36.0962, -120.3204Public
El Paso MountainsEP170Kern County35.4376, -117.8159Public
Area Near Jenson QuarrySierra AvenueRiverside County34.0257, -117.4332Public
Old Quarry (Riverside)Sierra AvenueRiverside County
  • Axinite
34.0167, -117.4159Public
Benitoite Mining CompanyLos Gatos RoadFresno County
    		36.2424, -120.5973Paid / fee
    Benitoite Gem MineSawmill Creek RoadSan Benito County
      		36.3368, -120.6064Paid / fee
      Big Sur areaLos Burros RoadMonterey County35.8938, -121.4523Permission
      Willow Creek areaCabrillo HighwayMonterey County35.8922, -121.4613Public

      Santa Barbara rockhounding FAQ

      Where can I go rockhounding near Santa Barbara?+
      There are 26 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of Santa Barbara, California. The closest is Malibu Lake Area in Los Angeles County, roughly 58 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.
      What rocks and minerals can you find near Santa Barbara?+
      Spots within driving distance of Santa Barbara most commonly produce jasper, agate, chalcedony, petrified wood, serpentine, banded agate.
      Is rockhounding legal near Santa Barbara?+
      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 Santa Barbara?+
      Most weekend trips from Santa Barbara 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 1 state. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.

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