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Rockhounding near Traverse City, MI

13 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Traverse City — 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 Michigan, Wisconsin.

Map of rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Traverse City, Michigan

Closest rockhounding spots to Traverse City

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

Most-reported finds near Traverse City

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

Every spot within 150 miles of Traverse City

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

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Beach (Petoskey area 2)Lake Shore DriveCharlevoix County45.2296, -85.3862Permission
Petoskey Beaches (Little Traverse Bay)Little Traverse WheelwayEmmet County
  • Petoskey Stones
45.3700, -85.0016Public
Burt Lake BeachWest Burt Lake RoadCheboygan County45.5368, -84.6894Public
Charles Mears State Park BeachNorth Lakeshore DriveOceana County43.7343, -86.4729Public
Presque Isle ShorelinePresque Isle County
  • Agate
  • Chalcedony Geode
  • Sandstone With Calcite Veins
45.3504, -83.5516Public
Howard City Gem MineStacey RoadKent County
    		43.1824, -85.3195Paid / fee
    Rockport Recreation AreaOld Grade RoadAlpena County
    • Petoskey Stones
    • Fossilized Coral
    • Brachiopods
    • Crinoid Stems
    • Pyrite
    		45.2013, -83.3949Public
    Drummond Island (Pudding Stone)Chippewa County
    • Pudding Stone
    • Jasper Conglomerate
    • Petoskey Stones
    		45.9986, -83.7880Public
    Outgamie CountyEiler RoadBrown County44.3711, -88.0920Public
    Woodland Park Beach, Grand MaraisAlger County46.6733, -85.9911Public
    Farr Lake S.E. AreaBachman RoadOconto County45.1570, -88.3621Public
    Pine River ReservoirFlorence County45.8328, -88.2640Public
    General Area (marcasite)Lighthouse RoadHuron County44.0233, -82.7940Public

    Traverse City rockhounding FAQ

    Where can I go rockhounding near Traverse City?+
    There are 13 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of Traverse City, Michigan. The closest is Beach (Petoskey area 2) in Charlevoix County, roughly 34 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.
    What rocks and minerals can you find near Traverse City?+
    Spots within driving distance of Traverse City most commonly produce petoskey stones, fossils, agate, quartz, beryl, brachiopods.
    Is rockhounding legal near Traverse City?+
    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 Traverse City?+
    Most weekend trips from Traverse City 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 2 states. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.

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