![]() They are beautiful and really look beautiful if you polish them in a rock tumbler. Orbicular jasper, also commonly called Poppy jasper is also quite common to find. The shorelines of the Pacific Ocean will turn up lots of agates and jaspers. Sightings of jasper have been located in areas like Clallam County, Grays harbor County, Jefferson County, Klickitat County, Lewis County, Pacific County and Skamania County. Washington is also ranked among the places in the United States of America where the stone can be found. Quite a few locations will produce fine quality specimens if you look hard enough.Īdditional collecting sites are found in Kittitas County, Lewis County, and Pend Orielle County, among others. Over the mountains in Okanogan County is another excellent area to explore and search for crystals. Caution is needed in such instances to ensure a stable footing. The ground is very steep in some areas and can be unstable where it’s been heavily dug. It’s easy to miss the amethysts (they tend to be light in color) and the quartz crystals if they are covered in clay, until you wash them off. The basic tools for this adventure include a rock hammer, shovel, gloves and a headlamp. Walking the trails may be surprisingly productive whenever the rain has exposed the gems, however, exploring the steep slope and beneath tree stumps may be more rewarding. Follow NF-5510 to Hansen Creek on the Humpback Mountain Trailhead. ![]() From I 90 East towards Snoqualmie Pass, take exit 47 and turn into NF-55. Less than an hour’s drive from Seattle, Hansen Creek is one of the best locations for beautiful purple amethyst and quartz crystals. Denny Canyon is one of the good areas to look, as well as Bessemer Ridge. Quartz varieties found are generally clear or smoky, but occasionally nice purple amethysts are also found. Several locations around North Bend are popular for exploring. There are quite a few places in King County where quartz can be found. Hiking and getting away from the crowds will often help you find them better specimens. Some locations where the crystals are found are very remote and require extensive hiking to find them. Most of the crystals here are clear, but occasionally amethysts are also found. In Snohomish County, you can find quartz crystals at Cedar Ponds near Sultan. Get the new book: Agate Hunting on the Washington Coast You can find specimens searching along riverbeds in much of the state. There are many sites where petrified wood is found that have received very little attention. Turn left at the junction and follow the trail. After about eight miles, park at Umtanum Creek Recreation Site (BLM charges a fee for using the parking lot) and use the swinging bridge to cross the Yakima River. Use Exit 3 for Thrall Road and turn right onto SR 821, then left (southeast) onto 821 towards Yakima Canyon. You will notice rockhound trails in some areas in the scenic winding canyon.įrom Ellensberg, take I-90 southeast onto exit 110 and continue on I-82. Actually, all the ridges on both sides of the river can be productive for the keen eyed (look out for pits and tailings left behind by rockhounders). Umtanum Creek in the winding canyon between Ellensberg and Yakima, this area has basalt cliffs that contain petrified wood in varying tones of browns, tans, and even creams. The best time to access the area is during spring and fall to avoid snow or rain that may occasionally make navigation on the dirt roads impossible. The west end of the Saddle Mountains provides larger tracts of BLM-managed lands compared to the east end where there are more private claims. Since some of the land is privately owned, it’s important to pay attention to any notices in the area. There are chances of coming across opalized wood too. It’s a well-known rock hounding area located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, a few miles east of Mattawa on Hwy 24. Some of the specimens found here have opalized wood. Saddle Mountain is Grant County is a popular area for collectors to search for petrified wood. Unlike many petrified forests which were believed to have been covered by lava flows, the now petrified trees found in the Gingko Forest are thought to have been submerged underwater, which preserved them in wonderful condition. This is a very rare petrified forest where the wood is found imbedded in basalts. The most well-known site for petrified wood in the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park is in Vantage, Washington. ![]() It can be found all throughout the state. Petrified wood is the state gem of Washington. There are many remote locations that require hiking to access but will still produce some nice quality specimens of a variety of types. There are many different gems and minerals that can be found here. Washington is a rock collectors paradise. ![]()
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