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With world-famous attractions, such as Mount Rushmore and stunning national parks, it’s no wonder that South Dakota is a popular tourist destination. After you’ve seen these famous attractions, be sure to check out the rockhounding experiences that this state offers. For example, you can collect opals, gold, agatized wood, jaspers, geodes, and more from various locations in South Dakota, which we will cover in the following article.
The best rockhounding spots in South Dakota are:
| Site | Public or Private | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Fairburn | Public | 43.688948, -103.204693 |
| Scenic | Public | 43.777611, -102.554290 |
| Pleasant Valley Creek | Public | 44.303884, -103.305496 |
| Teepee Canyon | Public | 43.550371, -103.950781 |
| Hill City | Public | 43.929150, -103.573514 |
| Keystone | Public | 43.896444, -103.420034 |
| Whitewood Creek | Public | 44.500907, -103.603641 |
| Tin Mountain | Public | 43.745869, -103.721202 |
When you visit the Mount Rushmore State, keep an eye out for rose quartz, petrified or agatized wood, amethyst, geodes, jade, jasper, and beryl. Additionally, there’s a special type of agate in this state called the Fairburn Agate.
This agate comes in multiple colors, mainly browns and reds, and it displays a unique “holly-leaf” banding. But before you begin your search for Fairburn Agates or any other rocks from this state, be sure to go over the rockhounding rules and regulations listed below.
If you want to check out the best book about rockhounding in South Dakota, you can find it here (Amazon link).
Rockhounding Regulations & Laws in South Dakota
While some states have extensive rockhounding rules and regulations, South Dakota is not one of them. For private lands in this state, the only rule is to receive permission from the land’s owner or manager.
Even though rockhounding is legal on most public lands in the state, you might have to follow certain rules or receive a permit before collecting from protected public areas, such as national monuments or parks.
Best Rockhounding Sites in South Dakota
With the rules and regulations out of the way, it’s time to go over all the best rockhounding sites in the great state of South Dakota. At each of these locations, you’ll have the opportunity to collect different types of rocks, minerals, and gems for your collection.
Varying from common, semi-precious, to precious, all these stones hold value that is greater than money for rockhounds. If you’re ready to add some colorful and unique stones to your rockhounding collection, add these locations to your rockhounding itinerary!
In case you need it, the map below shows you the exact locations for all of the best public sites mentioned below:
Fairburn
The main reason why South Dakota is a well-known destination within the rockhounding community is due to its Fairburn Agates.
These unique agates are known for their vivid colors of brown, red, orange, yellow, black, blue, and white, and the bands form a fascinating “holly-leaf” pattern. Even though you can collect these stones in certain areas of Nebraska, they are more commonly found in Fairburn, South Dakota, and its surrounding areas.
While the Fairburn Agates tend to steal the spotlight, there are a few other collectible rocks you can find at this location, including jasper and agatized wood.
Fairburn is a small area in Custer County, located right next to French Creek. The main route in and out of this area is French Creek Road.
| Rocks & Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Fairburn Agate | Occasional |
| Agatized wood | Occasional |
| Jasper | Common |
Scenic
Any rockhound who wants to add a couple of gems to their collections should swing by Scenic, South Dakota. This area in Pennington County holds many treasures, including aquamarines, jaspers, tourmalines, carnelians, beryls, and agates. And, yes, you can pick up the coveted Fairburn Agate from this location as well.
There are multiple routes you can use to reach Scenic. You can take the SD-44, Bombing Range Rd, or Indian Creek Rd. Scenic itself is a rather small area, so many rockhounds search the surrounding areas in addition.
| Rocks & Mineral | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Aquamarine | Occasional |
| Jasper | Common |
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
| Carnelian | Rare |
| Beryl | Rare |
| Agate | Common |
Pleasant Valley Creek
If you want to collect rocks and enjoy some breathtaking scenery at the same time, Pleasant Valley Creek is the perfect place to go! Not only can you enjoy the rural and beautiful landscape, but you can also gather all kinds of rocks and minerals from this area, including geodes, rose quartz crystals, agates, jades, and fossils.
Since Pleasant Valley Creek is in a remote area of South Dakota, there are only two main routes to reach it unless you take an off-road vehicle. To reach Pleasant Valley Creek, you can take 214th Street or Pleasant Valley Road.
| Rocks & Mineral | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Geode | Occasional |
| Rose Quartz | Common |
| Agate | Occasional |
| Jade | Rare |
| Fossils | Rare |
Teepee Canyon
Did you know that some experts claim that the famous Fairburn Agates were not originally from Fairburn at all but instead from Teepee Canyon? Since Teepee Canyon is also known as Hell’s Canyon, sometimes Fairburn Agates are called Hell’s Canyon Agates.
Teepee Canyon has multiple rockhounding areas where you can collect colorful Fairburn agates, which are typically hidden in limestone and dolomite. In addition to agates, rockhounds also come across staurolite, tourmaline, almandine garnet, and beryl.
Teepee Canyon is close to the South Dakota/Wyoming border, and because it is in a remote area, the only road that leads right to this canyon is the Pilger Mountain Road. You can also take Dewey Road down to Pilger Mountain Road if you’re coming from up north.
| Rocks & Mineral | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Agate | Common |
| Staurolite | Occasional |
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
| Garnet | Common |
| Beryl | Rare |
Hill City
Located in the gorgeous Black Hills, Hill City is known for its abundance of area mines, which are usually open to the public. With easy access and a diverse array of rocks and minerals, these mines are great for rockhounds who are new to the area and want to collect some of South Dakota’s famous stones, including Fairburn Agates and rose quartz. In addition to these rocks, you’ll have the opportunity to collect zircon, beryl, cassiterite, columbite, and wolframite.
Another popular mineral that Hill City possesses is gold. There are multiple gold mines scattered throughout the area, such as Big Thunder Gold Mine and Union Hill Gold Mine. Some of these mines offer on-site gold panning for a small fee, which is a great option for rockhounds who prefer a more organized rockhounding experience.
If you travel southeast of the Black Hills National Forest, you’ll run right into Hill City. The US-385 travels through the center of Hill City, so it’s usually the quickest route in and out of the area. However, if your starting destination is north of the city, then Deerfield Road might be a better option for you.
| Rocks & Mineral | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Fairburn Agate | Occasional |
| Rose quartz | Common |
| Zircon | Common |
| Beryl | Occasional |
| Cassiterite | Occasional |
| Columbite | Occasional |
| Wolframite | Occasional |
| Gold | Rare |
TIP: Do you want to strike it rich and uncover gold? Look no further than South Dakota, a state with a strong gold mining heritage and several gold prospecting locations:
Gold Prospecting in South Dakota: 7 Best Locations & Laws
Keystone
After you’ve finished sightseeing at Mount Rushmore, take a quick drive to Keystone. Located almost right next to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone’s area mines are excellent spots to find tourmaline, beryl, zircon, aquamarine, spodumene, and quartz.
Because Keystone is right next to Mount Rushmore, it is a popular area of the state. But fortunately, there are two main routes you can take to reach this area easily. Both the US-16A and US-40 lead right into the heart of Keystone, where you’ll be able to reach all the best area mines and rockhounding spots.
| Rocks & Mineral | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
| Beryl | Occasional |
| Zircon | Common |
| Aquamarine | Rare |
| Spodumene | Occasional |
| Quartz | Common |
Whitewood Creek
Hidden in the trees and greenery, Whitewood Creek is one of the few places in the state where people have found silicified wood. Additionally, rockhounds have discovered geodes, amethyst, and chalcedony in the gravels of this creek.
Whitewood Creek runs parallel to Whitewood Valley Road, so it’s one of the easiest roads to take to reach this area. It’s also easy to access from the I-90, which is slightly south of the creek.
| Rocks & Mineral | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Silicified wood | Occasional |
| Geode | Occasional |
| Amethyst | Occasional |
| Chalcedony | Occasional |
Tin Mountain
Mineral collectors will be happy to hear that there are all kinds of minerals waiting for them at Tin Mountain. Even though this location doesn’t possess many collectible rocks, it does have tourmaline, zircon, fluorapatite, quartz, almandine garnets, and cassiterite.
From Mount Rushmore Road, take North Pole Road to FDR 265, which leads directly to Tin Mountain. There are a few more smaller, rural routes that you can use, such as Wabash Spring, but it’s typically easier to reach from Mount Rushmore Road.
| Rocks & Mineral | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Tourmaline | Rare |
| Zircon | Common |
| Fluorapatite | Occasional |
| Quartz | Common |
| Almandine garnets | Common |
| Cassiterite | Occasional |
TIP: Rockhounding in the mountains can be very rewarding. Find out the most common rocks and minerals you can find in mountains in the article below:
14 Most Common Rocks and Minerals You Can Find in Mountains
Other Notable Rockhounding Spots in South Dakota
Even though we’ve covered the best rockhounding spots in South Dakota, there are still more to see! If you have spare time during your travels, swing by these notable rockhounding sites:
| Site | Public or Private | GPS Coordinates | Common Rocks/Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oglala | Public | 43.186680, -102.727353 | Jasper, agate, chalcedony |
| Mission | Public | 43.303742, -100.656539 | Opalized and agatized wood, fossils |
| Cheyenne River | Public | 43.753713, -102.750296 | Fairburn Agate, jasper, chalcedony |
| Grand River | Public | 45.872263, -102.646964 | Petrified wood, opal |
| Broken Boot Gold Mine | Private (small fee) | 44.370914, -103.743176 | Gold, sphalerite, galena, pyrite |
| Interior | Public | 43.724845, -101.978984 | Jasper (eye), agate, chalcedony |
Rockhounding Clubs in South Dakota
For rockhounds who enjoy the company of other like-minded rockhounds, there are some great rockhounding clubs in South Dakota where you can meet individuals who all share the same passion for geology and the earth.
While most of these clubs are unofficial and don’t have a website, you can usually find them on social media platforms. For those who prefer a more official approach, there is the Western Dakota Gem & Mineral Society.
Western Dakota Gem & Mineral Society
The Western Dakota Gem & Mineral Society offers monthly meetings, gem and mineral shows, speaker events, and field trips for its members. They meet on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm in Rapid City, South Dakota.
If you’re looking to learn more about rockhounding and the world of geology while connecting with other passionate rockhounds, the Western Dakota Gem & Mineral Society is the place to go!
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)
State Rock, Mineral, Gem, and Fossil of South Dakota
Even though it doesn’t have a state rock, South Dakota does have a state fossil, state gem, and state mineral. Explore this state’s important geological symbols below.
State Fossil
The official state fossil of South Dakota is the Triceratops. This fossil was discovered in Harding County in 1927, but it wasn’t nominated as the official state fossil until 1988. You can see the original triceratops fossil from Harding County in the Museum of Geology in Rapid City, South Dakota.
State Gem
It makes sense that the most famous stone in South Dakota, the Fairburn Agate, was nominated as the state gem. Famous for their unique “holly-leaf” patterns and beautiful colors, these agates are only found in a few U.S. states, including South Dakota. Take a look at the Fairburn and Teepee Canyon sections above to learn more about these agates and their origins!
Photo by James St. John – Fairburn Agate (ultimately derived from the Minnelusa Formation, Pennsylvanian-Permian; collected east of the Black Hills, western South Dakota, USA) 32, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74174977
State Mineral
High-quality rose quartz is all over the place in South Dakota, so the state decided to designate it as the state mineral in 1966. While it’s true that this mineral exists all over the state, some of the best pieces have come from the Black Hills, mainly the southern areas. Take a look at some of the locations listed above to find South Dakota rose quartz for your rockhounding collection.
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
With Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and all these amazing rockhounding locations, South Dakota is a great travel destination for any rockhound!
Whether you are a local or visiting rockhound, be sure to check out the rockhounding sites listed above to add some high-quality specimens to your collection. Rose quartz, gold, Fairburn Agates, beryl, tourmaline, jasper, and so much more exist in this state, and they are yours to keep if you know where to find them!
So, after you’ve explored Mount Rushmore and the other sightseeing destinations in South Dakota, swing by some of these rockhounding sites to bring home some of the best rocks and minerals that the Mount Rushmore State has to offer!
TIP: The easiest way to find the rocks, minerals, and other natural treasures of South Dakota is to learn about the state and its rockhounding opportunities. Find out more in the article below:
12 Common Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in South Dakota