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Rockhounding in America’s “Last Frontier” can be a very enjoyable activity due to the incredibly diverse and rich geologic history of the state, which gives the collector a large variety of rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils to hunt for. Alaska, the largest state in the United States, covers a huge range of widely varied geologic terrain and includes a multitude of rock and fossil collecting sites. Alaska is famous for gold production and is the second most productive of U.S. states, with only Nevada mining and refining more gold.
The Best Rockhounding Spots in Alaska are:
| Site | Public or Private | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Garnet Ledge | Public | 56.57194, -132.36305 |
| Healy | Public | 63.889798, -148.979212 |
| Lake Iliamna | Public | 59.644731, -155.545173 |
| Port Heiden | Public | 56.840201 -158.973205 |
| Adak Island | Public | 51.951410, -176.663071 |
| Jade Mountains | Public | 67.199007, -158.047462 |
| Chicken Gold Camp | Private | 64.073040, -141.938740 |
| Crow Creek Gold Mine | Private | 60.995651, -149.087480 |
| Cook Inlet Agate Beaches | Public | 60.801040, -151.022324 |
| Akau Alaska Gold Resort | Private | 64.578358, -165.376526 |
| Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area | Public | 61.791808, -147.666929 |
| Bearhole Creek | Public | 60.983055 , -142.497777 |
| Bristol Bay | Public | 59.114273, -158.512999 |
In Alaska, you can find specimens of agate, jade, fossils, rhodonite, fluorite, garnet, jasper, cinnabar, quartz, pyrite, and petrified wood, among many others. Due to the harsh climate, rockhounding in Alaska is mostly limited to the warmer months.
If you are interested in checking out the best book about rockhounding in Alaska, you can find it by clicking here (Amazon link).
Rockhounding Regulations and Laws in Alaska
Rockhounding on federal tracts of land (national parks and the Bureau of Land Management) is allowed. Some state parks permit the collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils from their lands. Some national parks in Alaska do permit rockhounding, provided no tools are used.
As the rules regarding rockhounding on public and private lands are always changing, be sure to check with the state parks or landowners before you head out to new sites on your rockhounding adventures. The rules around fossil collecting in Alaska can be found here.
The Best Public Rockhounding Sites in Alaska
And now let’s take a look at the best rockhounding spots in Alaska, along with the rocks and minerals you can find in these places. In case you need it, the map below shows you the exact locations for all of the best public sites mentioned below:
Garnet Ledge
The Garnet Ledge site is situated on the Stikine River. There is no road access to the site, and it is only reachable by boat. An unusual requirement to visit the Garnet Ledge site is that you must have a child from Wrangell with you while you search; the old mine site was willed to the young people of Wrangell, and they are the only ones allowed to mine and sell what they find at Garnet Ledge. Children can dig here for free while adults need to buy a permit.
Permission to collect garnets can be obtained by calling 907-874-3534 or 907-874-2203.
Here are some of the commonly and less commonly found rocks and minerals you can find at Garnet Ledge
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Garnet | Common |
Healy
The area around Healy is a good place to look for a variety of minerals and fossils. The best places to hunt for rocks are areas of exposed gravel and rocks. Some of the rocks and minerals that can be found at Healy are listed in the table below.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Fossils | Common |
| Amethyst | Occasional |
| Agate | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
Lake Iliamna
Lake Iliamna is the largest lake in Alaska and covers over 1000 square miles. The beaches of this lake are splendid places to rockhound; agate and bloodstone are commonly found here. Gold can be found in the streams feeding Lake Iliamna.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Agate | Common |
| Bloodstone | Common |
| Gold | Rare |
Port Heiden
Southwest of Port Heiden is an area of gravel beaches where agates can be found. This site is quite remote, being about 425 miles to the southwest of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula. As there are no roads to Port Heiden, rockhounders must first fly to the town to reach the site.
A land use permit is required to visit the area, which costs $100 for daily usage or $200 for a season’s usage. The collection must be for personal, non-commercial use. Lodging and shopping are available in Port Heiden.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Agate | Common |
Adak Island
The north shore of Adak Island is a good place to find gem-quality jasper. Adakite is also found at this site, which got its name from this island.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Adakite | Common |
| Jasper | Common |
Jade Mountains
The Jade Mountains offer rockhounds the chance to find nephrite (gem quality) jade. This jade was once an important material to the native Iñupiaq, who crafted items such as tools, knives, weaponry, and beads from the jade found at this site.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Jade | Common |
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Cook Inlet Agate Beaches
Agates are often found on these beaches twenty-five miles north of the town of Kenai. In particular, the Salamatof, Nikiski, and Discovery beaches have the most to offer agate hunters.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Agate | Common |
Anchor River
The Area around the Anchor River is a good place to look for agate and petrified wood. The site is located on the west shore near the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Agate | Common |
| Petrified Wood | Common |
Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area
Established in 1991, the Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area is a good place to pan for gold. Recreational mining at this site is only permitted in the active floodplains around Caribou Creek. Be advised that most of the land east of Caribou Creek is privately owned. You can only gain access to the recreational mining area from the west bank of the creek.
In addition to gold-related activities, the site offers hiking, photography, and wildflower viewing, among other things. The site can be found at approximately mile 104 of the Glenn Highway. Look for the Lion’s Head rock formation; there is a sign there for the turnoff. There are places offering lodging, food, and gas within ten miles of the site.
The Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area’s website can be found here.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Gold | Rare |
| Bismuth | Occasional |
| Cassiterite | Occasional |
| Scheelite | Occasional |
Bearhole Creek
Bearhole Creek is located in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – This is one of the rare national parks to permit the collection of rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils. The site is located on the north side of the valley of Bearhole Creek. This is a good place to look for pyrite and chalcopyrite.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Chalcopyrite | Common |
| Graphite | Common |
| Pyrite | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
| Feldspar | Common |
Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay is a good place to look for cinnabar. The gravels along the Wood River are the best places to look for this mineral at this site.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Cinnabar | Common |
TIP: If you want to know more about gold prospecting in Alaska, check out the complete guide in the article below:
Gold Prospecting in Alaska: 6 Best Locations & Laws
Best Pay-To-Dig Sites for Rockhounding in Alaska
Chicken Gold Camp and Outpost
Situated in the middle of the remote town of Chicken, the Chicken Gold Camp offers rockhounders the chance to try their hand at gold panning at the camp’s stand-up troughs. The cost is $10 for two hours. The pay dirt is brought to the site from the Lost Chicken Mine. In addition to panning, the Chicken Gold Camp also offers visitors the chance to mine and to metal detect.
The camp has a couple of options for lodging on-site; there is a campground for RVs and there are also cabins available, some of which have kitchenettes.
Crow Creek Gold Mine
The Crow Creek Gold Mine offers visitors a few experiences: you can explore the mine with a self-guided tour, you can take a guided historical gold mining tour, or you can pan for gold. Tools are provided for those interested in panning, and instructors are available to help you learn the techniques and how to hone your panning skills.
Other Notable Rockhounding Spots in Alaska
Alaska is full of amazing rockhounding spots. So check them out, divided according to individual parts of Alaska, below:
Rockhounding Spots in Eastern Alaska
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Hayes | Public | 63.770354, -147.131216 | Stibnite |
| Eva Creek | Public | 64.048744, -148.840888 | Ferberite, gold, silver |
Rockhounding Spots in Western Alaska
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanektok River | Public | 59.785400, -161.794378 | Gold |
| Cape Newenham | Public | 58.664572, -161.863544 | Fossil Ivory |
| Sleetmute Mining District | Public | 61.701330, -157.166281 | Cinnabar |
| Bendelben Mountains | Public | 65.208023, -163.589577 | Muscovite Mica |
| South Shores of Kotzebue Sound | Public | 66.081249 -162.739961 | Fossil Ivory |
BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links):
- Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals
- Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home)
- Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids)
Rockhounding Spots in Northern Alaska
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Creek | Public | 66.956167, -156.923764 | Asbestos, Serpentine |
| Dahl Creek Outcrops | Public | 66.955440, -156.889278 | Chrysotile |
| Asbestos Mountain | Public | 66.999893, -156.759132 | Chrysotile, Asbestos, Serpentine, Magnesite, Nickel |
| Shungnak | Public | 66.883429, -157.101948 | Gold, Platinum, Nephrite Jade, Serpentine |
| Point Barrow Beach Deposits | Public | 71.384708, -156.488324 | Amber |
TIP: Whether you are new to rockhounding in Alaska or if you are a frequent visitor, it’s always useful to learn more about the different rocks and minerals you may find on your journeys. Check out the guide below:
10 Common Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in Alaska
Rockhounding Spots in Southern Alaska
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berners Bay | Public | 58.808669, -134.980101 | Lepidolite |
| Archangel Creek Headwaters | Public | 61.818244, -149.241861 | Gold |
| Fire Island | Public | 61.153089, -150.209139 | Agate |
| East Side of Chilkat Valley | Public | 59.317567, -135.724171 | Barite, Gold, Magnetite |
Rockhounding Clubs in Alaska
There are a couple of clubs in Alaska for rockhounders; information on them can be found below.
Chugach Gem and Mineral Society
This society offers monthly meetings, and there is a monthly potluck. Every potluck has a time for mineralogical show-and-tell where members each bring in one of their personal specimens to talk about. The club also offers field trips. The club’s website can be found here.
Mat-Su Rock and Mineral Club
The Mat-Su Rock and Mineral Club is based in Palmer, Alaska. They offer regular field trips and rock shows. While their website is currently down, they can be reached by phone at 907-745-2002.
Rockhounding Tours in Alaska
If you desire a more structured approach to mineral collecting, there are guided tours and gold panning opportunities through several commercial tour agencies, some of which are listed below.
Alaska Travel Adventures
Alaska Travel Adventures offers gold panning tours and lessons near Juneau. Tours are only available from late April through early October due to Alaska’s harsh climate. In addition to gold panning lessons, Alaska Travel Adventures gold tours provide you with a meal of Alaskan salmon.
AJ Mine Gastineau Mill Tour
The AJ Mine Gastineau Mill Tour offers tours of the gold mill, which was once the world’s largest. During the tour, you’ll be given a demonstration of hard rock mining techniques by an experienced miner. At the end of the tour, you will be given the opportunity to try panning for gold and garnets yourself. Tools will be provided for visitors. You can find their website here.
Akau Alaska Gold and Resort
Located in Nome, the Akau Alaska Gold and Resort offers guests various experience packages such as gold panning, metal detecting, high banking and sluicing, and gold dredging.
In addition to the Akau Alaska Gold and Resort’s gold-related activities, the resort also offers guests the chance to take guided tours focused on the local history, helicopter tours, and guided photography tours. There is also the opportunity to go kayaking, fishing in the local rivers, and riding ATVs. The on-site lodging offers the options of private cabins or rooms in the lodge. Meals are also available at the resort.
State Gem, Mineral & Fossil
While Alaska doesn’t have a state rock but it does have a state gemstone, mineral, and fossil. Check them out below:
Alaska’s state gemstone
Jade is Alaska’s state gemstone, and most of it is found on the Seward Peninsula; there is even a mountain range there named after the gemstone. This stone was used extensively by the native inhabitants of Alaska for generations and is harder than many metals, being a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Jade was designated Alaska’s state gem in 1968. Jade is most commonly found in the areas around the Dall, Shungnak, and Kobuk rivers. The Kobuk River, in particular, has been and still is one of the most important sites in Alaska for finding jade.
Alaska’s state mineral
Alaska’s state mineral is gold. Gold has been a prominent part of Alaska’s history since the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896. Gold was designated as the state mineral in 1968. This metal can be found throughout most of the state except for the swamps of the Yukon Flats and the North Slope, while the areas near Fairbanks, Nome, and Juneau have been the most productive gold sites and are currently the only areas producing gold in the state.
The state fossil of Alaska
The woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) is Alaska’s state fossil. These extinct pachyderms lived in Alaska until around 6,000 years ago, when it was covered with grassy meadows, which provided food to the mammoths. These gigantic mammals could weigh up to six tons and stand twelve feet tall. While ivory from modern animals is illegal, the rules regarding fossil ivory differ; ivory obtained from extinct mammals can be legally possessed.
Recommended Rockhounding Gear
While special gear is not required to find nice rocks and fossils, having the right tools will help you find more than what’s simply laying around on the open ground. Here are some of the more basic tools and safety gear for interested rockhounds.
Geological Hammer
This 22oz Pointed-Tip Rock Pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is recommended for its durability and shock-reducing grip.
A rock pick is essential when collecting mineral specimens from a hard substrate such as stone. The pick’s handle is shock-resistant, making it more comfortable for use for longer times in the field.
Geology Pick
The Geology pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is a good choice for those starting out in the hobby as well as seasoned professionals.
The hammer comes with a pointed tip on one side of the head and a chiseled end on the other. This pick is good for excavating interesting mineral and fossil specimens.
Mini Shovel
The Mini D-Handle Round Point Shovel by Stanley (Amazon link) pairs convenience with durability. Especially in areas of soft material such as sand or clay, it is nice to have a sturdy shovel that is easy to carry.
The D-shaped handle gives you more leverage when digging on your knees, which is something that similarly sized standard-handled shovels wouldn’t provide.
Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad
Working with your hands in rockhounding environments can be rough; it is easy to get cuts or abrasions when in the field. Protecting your hands is important, especially while working with sharp or abrasive rocks.
The Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad (Amazon link) protect your hands from sharp rocks and tools. They are machine washable, highly abrasion resistant, and durable.
Safety Glasses
Eye protection is a must when breaking up a rock or any sort of work where debris could cause injury to your eyes.
The 3M Safety Glasses (Amazon link) are anti-fog and have a corded earplug system, as well as a removable foam gasket. The clear, scratch-resistant lenses shield the eyes against harmful ultraviolet light as well as prevent eye injury from flying rock chips.
First Aid Kit
With its 299 pieces, the Only Emergency First Aid Kit (Amazon link) is a good one for rockhounds. Of course, it’s best to avoid injuring yourself but if things go wrong it’s good to be prepared.
Some of the items found in the kit include fabric and plastic bandages, painkillers, gauze and pads, cold packs, wound closers, and many more.
Conclusion
Alaska is a fantastic place to rockhound, given the diversity of its landscapes and geology. Because of this diverse and expansive terrain, there are a large number of good sites to collect rocks, minerals, and fossils. Many of these sites are very remote and quite hard to reach, but others can be found that are much easier to access.
If you’re new to rockhounding in Alaska, a good place to start is by contacting the local rockhounding club, as they are a good resource for where and where not to dig and to advise you on things like how to work in the harsh Alaskan climate.
With a state as large as Alaska that has a multitude of good sites, things can feel overwhelming for novice rockhounders, but the local clubs are a fantastic resource to check with before heading out on your first Alaskan rockhounding adventure.
TIP: Jade is the most valuable gemstone in Asian culture. The combination of jade’s history and magnificent appearance makes the stone so valuable and popular. Find out more about Jade’s value in the article below:
6 Factors Why Jade is Valuable (+ Prices for Colors & More)