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Even if you know your way around Virginia, insight and additional information always come in handy during a rockhounding excursion. This guide is for rockhounds of all skill levels who want to collect the many treasures that lie waiting in Virginia.
Did you know that Washington State is one of the best places in the U.S. for rockhounding? There’s a wide variety of rocks, minerals, and gems in this state, as you’ll soon discover in this guide.
The common rocks and minerals of the Evergreen State include:
- geode,
- agate,
- opalized wood,
- jasper,
- fossils,
- jade,
- quartz,
- opal,
- gold,
- and carnelian.
Until you’ve been on multiple rockhounding excursions in a state, you never really know what rocks and minerals to expect. The information provided in this guide will help both new and experienced rockhounds find everything they are looking for and more in Washington State.
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding tools you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link).
What Rocks Are Found in Washington State
In Washington State, rockhounds can collect geodes, agates, petrified wood, and much more:
Geode
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Walker Valley | 48.404846, -122.212487 |
| Lucas Creek | 46.646540, -122.715498 |
| Toledo | 46.440148, -122.844992 |
| Newaukum River | 46.616995, -122.934694 |
| Chehalis River | 46.810611, -123.243802 |
| Kittitas County | 47.241660, -121.072314 |
| Cowlitz County | 46.186361, -123.199998 |
As you explore the Evergreen State, you’ll probably come across many different types of geodes and thundereggs.
Inside Washington geodes, you might find quartz, blue agate, blue chalcedony, and amethyst. Geodes from this state come in all shapes and sizes, and since they are so abundant, rockhounds typically return home with more than one.
Walker Valley is a famous area for Washington geodes, and you can also search Lucas Creek, Toledo, or the Newaukum River. The rivers and creeks of Kittitas County and Cowlitz County tend to have plenty of geodes as well.
Agate
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Long Beach | 46.342664, -124.065527 |
| Ocean Park | 46.483929, -124.058618 |
| Columbia River | 47.423278, -120.386821 |
| Damon Point | 46.945191, -124.117615 |
| Agate Beach | 48.420156, -122.860722 |
| Mount Adams | 46.201892, -121.491135 |
| Red Top Mountain | 47.300998, -120.760359 |
The agates from Washington State display all kinds of lovely colors, including amber, red, white, blue, gray, and black. Southwestern Washington is, without a doubt, the best area to go for agates, but these rocks do exist throughout the entire state.
Agates can be found all over Washington State, but some of the most amazing finds have washed up on the beaches in this state. Explore Long Beach, Ocean Park, and the Columbia River to collect these colorful stones.
Opalized wood
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Columbia River | 47.447998, -120.325315 |
| Horse Heaven Hills | 46.133068, -119.868114 |
| Saddle Mountain | 46.806597, -119.557636 |
| Grand Coulee | 47.940892, -119.017628 |
| Moses Coulee | 47.452297, -119.814664 |
| Petrified Forest State Park (surrounding areas) | 46.978484, -120.013860 |
Because Washington State has a decent amount of volcanic activity, it’s overflowing with petrified wood and opalized wood. Fortunately, opalized wood is just as common as petrified wood in this state, so rockhounds have a high chance of finding this popular stone.
Central and eastern Washington tend to have the most petrified wood and opalized wood specimens. Stop by the Columbia River, Horse Heaven Hills, or Saddle Mountain for this collectible rock.
Recommendation box: All tools and equipment you need for rockhounding and rock identification* (Amazon links):
1. Estwing Rock Hammer – Light, comfortable, and extremely durable hammer.
2. Estwing Geologist Pick – Classic and the most trusted paleo pick in the world.
3. Finder 12-inch Chisels – Heavy-duty chisels set with hand protection.
4. Mini Handle Shovel – This is a great tool for digging deep in the dirt.
5 Ironclad Utility Work Gloves – Breathable, but they also protect the areas requiring them most.
6. 3M Safety Glasses – Comfortable and efficient goggles for rockhounding.
7. Convoy 8+ UV Light – 365nm UV LED flashlight with a patented glass filter.
8. Wesley’s Jewelers Loupe – High magnification options (30X and 60X) with carrying case.
9. Mohs Hardness Kit – A specially designed kit for rockhounds
*All recommended products are personally tested and regularly used by experts from this website.
Jasper
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Dungeness | 48.146530, -123.123276 |
| La Push | 47.907890, -124.640692 |
| Sol Duc River | 47.935522, -123.774136 |
| Crescent Beach | 48.695557, -122.896730 |
| Aberdeen | 46.965688, -123.829457 |
| Kalaloch | 47.605509, -124.371363 |
| Lucas Creek | 46.648426, -122.719103 |
Washington State has many types of jaspers, but one of the most sought-after kinds is Orbicular Jasper, also called Poppy Jasper. While jaspers are spread throughout the state, the shores of the Pacific Ocean possess many of these colorful rocks.
For Washington jaspers, visit La Push, Sol Duc River, and Crescent Beach. Aberdeen and Kalaloch also have some quality specimens for rockhounds.
Fossils
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Murdock Beach | 48.154159, -123.861392 |
| Ginko Petrified Forest (surrounding areas) | 46.954599, -119.987339 |
| Willapa River | 46.654357, -123.731251 |
| Eocene Fossil Site | 48.647866, -118.738724 |
| Lebam | 46.562110, -123.548191 |
The state fossil of Washington is the mammoth, which lived over a million years ago. Mammoth tusks, skeletons, and teeth are scattered throughout the Olympic Peninsula, along with many other ancient fossils. Plant and marine fossils are what most rockhounds usually find in this state, and they are plentiful along the beaches.
The beaches of this state are treasure troves for fossils, especially Murdock Beach, which is known for its mammoth fossils.
Jade
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Whidby Island | 48.179380, -122.654279 |
| Bridgeport | 48.006168, -119.665300 |
| Deer Creek | 48.104980, -121.575457 |
| Clallam Bay | 48.256817, -124.256050 |
| Nooksack River | 48.928056, -122.312839 |
Washington State has produced some gorgeous nephrite jade stones, and it’s also one of the few places in the world where rockhounds can find botryoidal jade. Botryoidal jade occurs when the surface of the stone appears to have tiny bubbles, and the color ranges from blue to green.
There are many areas in Washington where rockhounds can pick up jade, but none are as famous as Whidby Island, which produces some of the most beautiful jade in the state.
TIP: Jade can occur in a surprisingly significant number of colors, not only green. Find out more in the article below:
All Jade Color Varieties (Description & Explanation)
What Minerals Are Found in Washington State
Now that we’ve gone over the rocks of Washington State, it’s time to go over the minerals:
Quartz
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Kittitas County | 47.110972, -120.833361 |
| Lewis County | 46.558727, -122.596645 |
| Okanogan County | 48.383168, -120.069998 |
| Clay City | 46.925159, -122.255604 |
| Newport | 48.187306, -117.042675 |
| Little Spokane River | 47.770638, -117.448597 |
| Tunk Creek | 48.529263, -119.371900 |
In Washington State, rockhounds collect amethyst, clear quartz, and smoky quartz. Of these three varieties, clear quartz is the most abundant, but even though amethysts and smoky quartz specimens are not as common as clear, they are frequently found throughout the state. All these types of quartz can be found on their own in Washington or inside geodes.
If you visit the mountains of Okanogan County or the banks of the Little Spokane River, you’re highly likely to find some quality smoky quartz, clear quartz, or amethyst crystals.
Opal
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Horse Heaven Hills | 46.132860, -119.868329 |
| Waterville | 47.645045, -120.070110 |
| Mondovi | 47.681008, -118.016227 |
| Pullman | 46.723360, -117.190259 |
| Moses Coulee | 47.452181, -119.814879 |
| Columbia River | 47.449742, -120.289807 |
Precious opals, fire opals, and opalized wood are popular finds in Washington State, and there was even a short-lived opal rush near Whelan.
Unfortunately, most of the opals from this area were all collected during the rush, but some collectors come across this gem every now and then in this area.
While this location may not have as many opals as it used to, there are plenty of areas in Washington that have more than enough opalized wood and precious opals for rockhounds.
Hunting for fire opals? Stop by Pullman or Mondovi. Precious opals can be found in Mondovi and Waterville, and petrified wood is collected from the Columbia River and Horse Heaven Hills.
Gold
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Shi Shi Beach | 48.259469, -124.682655 |
| Snake River | 46.115055, -116.961803 |
| Gold Creek | 47.555228, -122.819923 |
| Lyman Lake | 48.192470, -120.907387 |
| American River | 46.975714, -121.161837 |
| Columbia River | 47.445573, -120.328635 |
As you travel in Washington State, you might see other rockhounds and collectors panning for gold in the rivers and creeks.
Gold is plentiful in Washington, and you might find it in the rivers, creeks, and beaches. River mouths are popular spots for prospecting in this state since many precious metals gather in the gravels and sands.
Pan for Washington gold in the Snake River, American River, or Shi Shi Beach. As mentioned, river mouths often contain many metals and minerals, so be sure to check them out if you have time.
TIP: Gold prospecting is a beloved pastime for many outdoor enthusiasts, and Washington State offers many opportunities for those seeking to strike it rich. Find out more below:
Gold Prospecting in Washington: 6 Best Locations & Laws
Carnelian
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Lucas Creek | 46.646894, -122.715670 |
| Bickleton | 45.995394, -120.302394 |
| Mt. Adams | 46.202011, -121.491221 |
| Chehalis River | 46.819043, -123.265862 |
| Green Creek | 46.592608, -123.583342 |
Carnelian, a reddish-brown semi-precious stone, is regularly found by rockhounds in the Evergreen State. While you can collect carnelians from all over Washington, they are most abundant in the southwest regions of the state.
Keep an eye out for carnelians in Lucas Creek, Bickleton, and the Chehalis River. Mount Adams has also been known to have this mineral.
FAQ About Common Rocks & Minerals in Washington State
You’ll have the opportunity to collect all types of rare rocks and minerals in Washington State, including:
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in Washington
Washington State is not lacking in rare rocks, and in this state, you can find agates, jaspers, geodes, petrified wood, opalized wood, jade, and fossils.
Surprisingly, all these rare rocks are common throughout the state, so rockhounds of all skill levels are able to collect these with ease.
The only rock from this list that might require a bit more effort to find is jade since the high-quality pieces occur in specific areas, but as long as you visit a few of the locations listed under the jade section of this article, you’ll be able to add this rock to your collection.
The beaches and mountains of Washington hold some of the highest quality rare rocks. Check out the locations above for specific coordinates.
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in Washington
In the Evergreen State, rockhounds collect amethyst, smoky quartz, opal, carnelian, gold, garnet, and amber. While amber technically doesn’t come from the earth, it is a precious gem that you can find at Fifteen Mile Creek in Issaquah.
Of all the minerals that you can find in Washington, opals are one of the most popular stones. Fire opals, precious opals, common opals, and opalized wood all exist in this state, and they are found in many areas.
Minerals are spread all throughout Washington State, but if you want to visit areas where you can find more than one, the beaches and rivers are your best bet.
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)
What is the Most Famous Rock or Mineral Found in Washington
Washington has many gorgeous rocks and minerals, but its petrified wood is famous for its beautiful appearance and excellent condition. Even though it’s a fossil, petrified wood is the state gem of Washington, and you can collect cypress, gingko, elm, and oak pieces of petrified wood.
The Gingko Petrified State Forest is a must-see for rockhounds who are visiting this state, especially since the petrified wood located there is embedded in basalts, which is rare.
Conclusion
The Evergreen State is known for its surreal natural landscape, but it should also be known for its amazing collections of rocks, minerals, and gems.
The beaches, mountains, and rivers of this state hold opals, amethysts, geodes, agates, jades, and much more, all of which are praiseworthy finds for any rockhound.
Whether you find gold, amber, or one of the other treasures listed above, you’re sure to return home with some fantastic stones after you visit Washington State.
TIP: There are no places better than the Pacific Ocean beaches or the gravels of rivers and creeks when it comes to rockhounding in Washington. Find out more below:
Where to Go Rockhounding in Washington State & What to Find!