Clear Creek: Plume Agate & Carnelian Rockhounding in Columbia County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Clear Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Columbia County, Oregon. Reported finds include plume agate, carnelian, jasper, chalcedony. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Columbia County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Clear Creek Road
Coordinates: 45.80056, -123.28887

Geology at Clear Creek

This spot sits on Keasey-Alsea Group; Keasey Formation, mapped as siltstone, mudstone, dark gray; cementation: calcareous cemented nodules; mineralogy: glauconitic; lithology: tuffaceous, conglomerate, alteration: altered to white clays and zeolites; lithology: basaltic, tuffaceous siltstone, fossils: fossiliferous fossils, water-laid tuff, buff, white, sandstone, and volcanic sandstone that formed roughly 56 to 34 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit: Keasey-Alsea Group; Keasey Formation
Age: 56–34 Ma (Eocene)
Rock types: siltstone, mudstone, dark gray; cementation: calcareous cemented nodules; mineralogy: glauconitic; lithology: tuffaceous, conglomerate, alteration: altered to white clays and zeolites; lithology: basaltic, tuffaceous siltstone, fossils: fossiliferous fossils, water-laid tuff, buff, white, sandstone, and volcanic sandstone
Elevation: 720 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 Clear Creek

Best months: January to November. Typical highs run 77°F in midsummer and 45°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 31°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, VERNONIA #2 station (7 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 Oregon/Washington, Rockhounding & mineral material
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, beach collecting rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Clear 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 Clear Creek.

Across the state line from Clear Creek

Clear Creek is close enough to the Oregon border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Clear Creek FAQ

Where is Clear Creek?+

Clear Creek is in Columbia County, Oregon, at 45.80056, -123.28887. Nearest road: Clear Creek Road.

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

Clear Creek is reported to produce Plume Agate, Carnelian, Jasper, Chalcedony.

Is collecting allowed at Clear 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 Clear Creek?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Clear Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Clear Creek are January to November.

How do I get to Clear Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.80056, -123.28887 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Clear Creek Road.

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