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| TREASURE HUNTING IN WASHINGTON Add what you know about this area to create a handy guide for other treasure hunters. Please download and read the Gold and Fish Pamphlet: rules for Mineral Prospecting and Placer Mining (PDF) published by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you start collecting on creeks and streams. Discuse the rules here Case study discussion: Adna |
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| What this area is known for:1.Petrified Wood - State gem stone 2.Fossils - Nationally known Eocene site. 3.Agates - commonly found in numerous areas of state. 4.Pyrite & quartz - huge pyrite crystals near North Bend,WA 5. Calcite and zeolites - from many lava flows in SW WA 6.Jade | Biggest finds in this area: 1.Kennewick Man - Kennewick,Wa 2.Ritchy-Clovis site - East Wenatchee,Wa 3.Stonerose Fossil site - Republic,Wa 4. Denny Mt. - best in US amethyst scepter quartz 5. Spruce Ridge - famous quartz & pyrite locality in Cascades |
| Local appraisers: 1. www.desertgemstudio.com 2. 3. 4. | Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs: 1. East KingCo Gem & Mineral club 2. Washington State Mineral Council http://www.mineralcouncil.org/ 3.http://www.NorthSeattleRockClub.org |
| The best time to collect in this area: Spring,Summer and Fall. | Other helpful resources: 1. http://www.stonerosefossil.org 2. http://www.geologyadventures.com 3. http://www.blueagates.com 4. http://www.dnr.wa.gov/geology/ 5. http://www.blm.gov/or/index.php 6. http://www.washingtonminerals.com |
| Have a question about treasure hunting or geocaching in this region? | |
| THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT Regions can have multiple good spots to go — add details to build a complete guide. |
| Location #1: Saddle Mountain Bureau of Land Management (General description: Great petrified wood. The Discussion Forum has a world of information about this site. Pictures can be found on the Photo Gallery. Rockhounders regularly come from as far away as British Columbia and the Oregon coast as well as other parts of the U.S. to converge on the Saddle Mountains in search of petrified wood that is abundant at several locations on the mountains. Elevation range from 486 feet to 2,700 feet. The fossil trees found at Saddle Mountain include: sycamore, sweet gum, live oak, alder, beech, elm, and Tetracentron types among other hardwoods and softwoods. | How to get there: Grant County in central Washington, 10 miles south of Interstate Highway 90. The southwestern portion of the Saddle Mountains can be accessed from Highway 24 via"R" Road, one mile east of the town of Mattawa and County right of way via O road, 4 miles east of Mattawa.The eastern portion can be accessed from Highway 24 via Corfu Road located at the entrance to the Wahluke Wildlife Recreation Area (about 20 miles east of Mattawa). This road crosses the mountain and eventually intersects Highway 26 at Corfu, Washington Contact "washatonian" on the Forum; or send me a message.  Welcome to the beauty of Washington. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A++ | GPS coordinates: Parking area on the Mountain N 46°48.42 W 119°53.25 Lep-re-com Harvest Foods Grocery Store (a check) At Mattawa WA. West side of town just at the top of the hill off the highway, less than a 1/2 mile, on the right. N 46°44.24 W 119°54.61 |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Shovel 2.Pick 3. Rock hammer 4. Buckets or hand truck (I'm not kidding) 5. Plenty of water 6. The Grandchildren  | Helpful notes to newcomers: I have added pictures of the petrified wood and the friendly folks on our site.   |
| Location #2: Ellensburg Blue Agates General description: The most prized Washington Agate. It is rare, hard and a spectacular gemstone. These agates are not laying all over the place for a rockhound to find. It takes hours of searching to find a genuine Blue. The hardness on the stone is a 7.5 on the Mohs scale. This is not a child friendly adventure, extreme heat, ticks, rattlesnakes and the fact that the local rodent population carries the Haunta Virus make it very unwelcoming. | How to get there: Found only in the northwest corner of the lower Kittitas Valley near Ellensburg. The city is located at the intersection of I 82 and I 90 southeast of Seattle. Kittitas valley is a few miles northwest of Ellensburg. The only remaining public access area is Red Top Mountain. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): F - found nothing, on the brink of heat exhaustion, dirt in every hole on my body but hey at least I only found 2 ticks on me. | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Hand tools 2. Collecting bag (you won't need a big one) 3. Map (know where you are, trespassing is not tolerated.  | Helpful notes to newcomers: A great day hunting the famous blues is to find one.  Yakama Nation - Ellensburg Washington "For the past 86 years, members of the Yakama Indian Nation have trekked down Craig’s Hill on horseback, officially opening the Ellensburg Rodeo and Fair." http://www.kittitascountyfair.com/default.asp |
| Location #3 Any recently burned areas in the forests. (Local beach, park, etc) This was up the Entiat River Valley General description: Find recent forest fire burned areas, last couple of year maxed, or any other area of recently disturbed areas and walk! | How to get there: |
| Grade this location: (A to F): B | GPS coordinates: It is always changing |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Good shoes 2. Mushroom bag 3. Lots of water  | Helpful notes to newcomers: Never pick or eat any mushroom unless you have gone to schooling about mushrooms or are collecting with someone with a lot of experience. Don't pick or eat any mushrooms unless you are absolutely certain it is safe to eat. Find out from the forest service of any recent controlled burns or forest fires during the past year or so. Once the snow is off start walking the areas. It is always a bit better after a warming trend. And if it has been warm and dry for an extended period of time, a day or so after a good rain may help. Be prepared to walk a lot and keep looking down. Always use a knife to cut the mushroom off above the ground to leave the root system intact. |
| Location #4: Hansen Creek General description: Quartz, Chrysocola ,Goethite and Amethyst can be found at this site.The geology of the area is an uplift and erosion of the Old Cascade Volcanic Arc exposed plutonic rock of the Snoqualmie Batholith near Snoqualmie Pass. For more information visit: http://www.washingtonminerals.com/hc.htm   Photos courtesy of Jeff Schwartz at Washington Minerals: http://www.washingtonminerals.com | How to get there:Hansen Creek is on the south side of the Interstate going east to the Pass. Get off at either Tinkham road access and circle back along the interstate until you reach Hansen Creek road. Go up, go under the trestle, up a little ways more, and there is a dirt road going off to the left. If you have a good rig and don't care about your paint job you can drive in, but the trees and brush are thick on both sides and they will scrape your car. I've parked here and walked in; it's about a mile and change. Take the road all the way until it becomes a trail, and follow it to the diggings. Bob Jackson's old guidebook showed more material way up top, but if I remember you had to etch the calcite away from the quartz Here is a link to 'Garret's World of Geology' on Hansen Creek put together by Garret Gromaine (Gomaine3), if you're planning a trip there watch this video first. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A | GPS coordinates: 47°23'29"N , 121°31'46"W |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Hand pick 2. Shovel 3. Rock hammer 4. Back pack | Helpful notes to newcomers: There are camps down along the river. Be sure to pack up any litter you can, as it all gets blamed on rockhounds Discussion Thread Hansen Creek, WA |
| Location #6: Stonerose Interpretive Center General description: Visit Stonerose and search for your own fossils in our Eocene fossil beds. The picture is an actual fossils found at the site. Truly amazing fossils.  | How to get there: Stonerose Interpretive Center is located at 15-1 N. Kean Street, on the corner of Kean Street and Highway 20 W., across from the city park in beautiful Republic, Washington. Visit this link for more information: http://www.stonerosefossil.org/index.html |
| Grade this location: (A to F):A++ | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Hand tools 2. Rock hammer 3. Bag for your fossils 4. Cold Chisel 5. Tools can be rented | Helpful notes to newcomers The Stonerose Interpretive Center is handicapped accessible. Only a limited number fossils can be taken home. The Interpretive center is an educational opportunity for the whole family. The fossils you find will be identified by the staff. Bring the kids and watch their eyes light up. |
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| Location #8: Jones Creek Quarry General description: The location seems to be a starting point for people who want to ride their dirt bikes around this area so when I got there I found a few families unpacking their ATVs and Bikes.. No one seemed to care about the mountain of rock behind them. I quietly got my gear and slipped behind the mountain of rocks. To my surprise I found some large supporting boulders on the back side holding up the pile. There is a dug wall at this site that yielded that large crystal chunk i have a picture of in the album. I also found when breaking some of the large rocks, a deposit of various minerals layered in the rock .. After a few trips to this location I've managed to get a nice collection pretty stones. The trick here is to go behind the large rock piles (and i mean large) and work the wall or the supporting rocks at the base. The crystals are in the wall, and the base boulders have some nice surprises as well. | How to get there: From either northbound or southbound I-5, take I-205 exit towards Vancouver, WA. Use Hwy 500 East (Exit 30-Orchards Exit). Go east on Hwy 500 to Fourth Plain (1st light) and turn right continuing on Hwy 500 East (Camas). Go 6.3 miles, turn left on 53rd St. Go 3.2 miles, turn left on Ireland Rd. Go .3 miles turn left on Lessard Rd. Continue on Lessard Road for 4 miles and follow signs to Jones Creek OR From parking lot, go straight ahead up the hill. got approx 1-1.1 miles to the top of the hill, when you come to a three way intersection take a LEFT. 100 feet or so you will have a HARD LEFT again that will go UP the hill a a good steep angle. this takes you to the quarry. |
Grade this location: (A to F) | GPS coordinates: W122-18'39.13" N45-40'0.39" |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer 2. Buckets 3. Sledge hammer (3lb and 8lb) 4. Safety glasses 5. Gloves | Helpful notes to newcomers
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| Location #9 : Red Top Mountain General description: This is a mountain of basalt which you can find Blue Agates, Geodes blue and clear (quartz), and various colored Jasper with red and blue/green being the most common. You can either use pick and shovel to dig into the ground or hammer and chisel to actually pick the goodies out of the basalt. This area has been picked over pretty heavily over the years. But there are areas unsearched to this day. A lot of the digging is getting farther and farther away from parking areas so do be prepared to walk a bit. It is a fun place to go and hunt for treasures.  | How to get there: There are several ways to get there. The best way is on highway 97. Take the Blue creek Exit which is located just north of Mineral Springs Restaurant on Blewett Pass. Not more than a 1/4 mile. Be careful exiting or entering the highway as the exit is on a sharp corner with not much visibility in both directions. This road is a gravel road in good shape. Passenger cars can make but it is easier if the upper portion of the road has been maintained a bit. Stay on the main road until you come across a Y in the road. The main road continues on to the Teanaway and the left fork to Red Top. This intersection is marked with good signs. This section of road is narrower than the main gravel road you first came up on. It is not graveled and is rough and rocky in several places. Passenger cars can male it, but they may have to be very careful in a few spots. It seems that people like to drive quite fast on this road so take it easy driving up and down. There are a few place to narrow for 2 cars to pass each other so be prepared to back up a little is need be. Be sure if you park at the main parking lot on top of the mountain that you have the Forest Service Parking Pass. There is a route from the west side of the mountain up the Teanaway River but I am not familiar with it. Check a local map for more info. NOTE: Forest Service Parking Pass no longer required here as of Summer 2008. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): B | GPS coordinates: There isn't one spot to go to. Most of the mountain is good, about 4000' or higher is probably a good place to start. |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Insect repellent 2. Extra water or fluids for drinking and washing off treasures. 3. Shovel 4. Pick 5. Rock Hammer and chisels 6. A bucket or bag to pack out treasures 7. Forest Service Parking Pass- no longer needed here as of Summer 2008 | Helpful notes to newcomers: Just keep digging! Find areas that are recently worked and find a place that looks like it hasn't been disturbed. Start digging looking at each and every rock closely. Sometimes it is just a little piece of agate or jasper lurking under the dirt that may catch you eye. A spray bottle is a must. Best of all have fun. |
| Location #10 : Cedar Ponds General description: This lake is one of the great places here in the Northern Cascade Range. Camping at Cedar Ponds Lake is magnificent fun. Colorless quartz, amethyst scepters (to several inches). Crystals are typically gemmy and exhibit hoppered faces. Link to minerals: http://www.washingtonminerals.com/cp.htm | |
Grade this location: (A to F): http://www.washingtonminerals.com Photo Copyright © 2007 Jeffrey M. Schwartz | GPS coordinates: Latitude: 47.80611 Longitude: -121.80417 |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Hand Tools 2. Bucket 3. Rock hammer | Helpful notes to newcomers: To clean quartz soak in hot oxalic acid. |
| Location #11 : Money Creek General description: Money Creek has plentiful amounts of picture jasper. The jasper came in many colors with brown or tan being the most prominent and some reds and blues. | How to get there: |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer 2. Rock bag 3. Small pick - maul | Helpful notes to newcomers: Money Creek Campground, located east of Skykomish, features 24 RV/Tent sites, picnic tables, grills, potable water, garbage, and toilets. |
| Location #12 : Salmon Creek General description: Copralites, Agate, Jasper and petrified wood. Link: home.comcast.net/~wams1939/trips/Salmon_Creek.htm | How to get there: |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1.Bucket 2. Hand Tools 3. | Helpful notes to newcomers: Search the gravel bars and banks for materials. Some digging and screening may produce better material. |
| Location #13 : Deer Creek General description: Jade and Travertine can be found wading in the stream.  | How to get there: 63.1 mi (about 1 hour 58 mins)
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| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: Latitude 48.084 and Longitude -121.5554 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handy to bring along: 1. Bucket 2. Rock hammer 3. Wading shoes | Helpful notes to newcomers Deer Creek Campground is positioned in an area with a number of great attractions.Wallace Falls State Park is too great to leave out of a trip to Deer Creek. Not to be confused with Deer Creek, Oso, the premier site for jade...but there are no camp grounds there or any other attractions for that matter. Even access is difficult at Oso. See 'More sites in Washington' |
| Location #14 : Denny Creek (Local beach, park, etc) General description: A very steep canyon with large boulders which can roll at any time. High walls from which rocks fall frequently. Not a good place for kids, or for anyone who is not familiar with rock climbing. | How to get there: |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer 2.Cheisel 3. Rock bag | Helpful notes to newcomers: Contact the Snoqualmie Ranger District at North Bend at 425-888-1421. Be sure to fill out a wilderness permit at the trailhead if you are heading to Denny Creek or Melakwa Lake. Collecting in the wilderness is limited to surface material. The prime quartz zone is on private land. |
Location #15 : Spruce Ridge   | How to get there: 1. Make reservation with Geology Adventures. Caretaker on property will not allow visitors without a guide. 2. Drive a high clearance vehicle to trip meeting place near North Bend, WA. |
| General description: some of the world's best specimens of crystallized quartz and pyrite have been found on this high mountain ridge. Privately owned, the property is open to guided collecting trips in August & Sept., run by GeologyAdventures.com | Helpful notes to newcomers: People with knee or back problems, or acrophobia will not enjoy this hike. The trail gains 1000 ft. in elevation in 1/2 mile. You will enjoy the spectacular view from the ridge, and the great minerals! |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A++ | |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Hiking boots 2. Big backpack carried by strong back. 3. Assorted cold chisels |
| VIDEO FROM THIS AREA Upload a YouTube or Google video of geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
 About this video: Video submitted by: |  About this video: Video submitted by: |
| About this video: Video submitted by: | About this video: Video submitted by: |
| PHOTOS FROM THIS AREA Upload pictures of your geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
 About this photo: One of all time best Spruce pieces, found in 20 ft. vug. Photo submitted by:rockcandyguy |  About this photo: Collecting a twin vug at Spruce. Not a good place for a snooze! Photo submitted by:rockcandyguy |
 About this photo: Photo submitted by: | About this photo: Photo submitted by: |
washatonian |
Latest page update: made by washatonian
, Oct 30 2009, 11:27 AM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
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More Info: links to this page
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| gamaliel114 | Washington Forest/ Weyerhaeuser UPDATE | 13 | Yesterday, 3:38 PM EST by limbwalker52 | ||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2009, 3:02 AM EDT
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CALL: 866-636-6531 (WA) FOR INFORMATION ON CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON WEYERHAEUSER MANAGED LANDS.
If you have additional information current or relevant please share here. Basic Information will be updated on this first post. Always go to the source...that is provide links or first hand knowledge only. Please report abuse of sites to moderators who will forward the information as they say fit. Concerns about your claims and property too should be so forward :-) -ed THIS THREAD WILL BE EDITTED AS WE SEE FIT, NO QUESTIONS ASK EXCEPT BY PM Weyerhaeuser Hunter and Recreational Use Hotline for Oregon: 888-741-5403 Washington: 866-636-6531 LATEST FROM BIG W.: http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Company/Media/NewsReleases/NewsRelease?dcrId=09-07-28_WeyerhaeuserClosesallTreeFarmstoPublicAccessinWAandOR http://nw-trail.org/node/1385 |
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| washatonian | Dry N Washington (page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... last page) | 311 | Oct 29 2009, 5:23 PM EDT by washatonian | ||
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Thread started: May 24 2008, 10:20 PM EDT
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Was a beautiful day uptop Sadlle Mtn today as we arrived around 11:30 am.Slight breze, not to hot just right but still managed to work up a sweat trying to keep up with the two youngNs (8& 16).There mother has just recently joined the local club and is quite enthusiastic when it comes to hunting for rocks,Anyrocks.Very light pressure as I only saw two others digging.Sure is pretty up there.We called it quits at 2pm with 3 buckets of nice, fist size tumbling material.Took them back to that hole where Jeff ,Paul and I dug a month ago.We enlarged that hole somewhat and took out 1/2 dozen nice size pieces.
Andy |
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| oldnavy72 | Wet in Washington (page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... last page) | 773 | Oct 20 2009, 10:52 PM EDT by pvjjh | ||
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Thread started: Jan 5 2008, 2:15 PM EST
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OK, we're hooked! But we want to approach this slowly and logically. First going out on weekends then on a week or two vacation, and then to be a rockhound into retirement. We're in Seattle and if anyone knows of anything in this state or more importantly, where to start, we would be most appreciative.
Doug.
8
out of
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Do you?
Keyword tags:
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| aubreyreynolds9@gmai | Ellensburg Blue Agates (page: 1 2 3) | 42 | Thursday, 10:47 PM EST by pvjjh | ||
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Thread started: Jul 4 2008, 11:29 PM EDT
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Has any Washington rockhound gone after the highly priced and very rare Ellensburg Blue Agates.
Since the site is western Washington, some of you hounds should have become filthy rich. Ha Ha lol Bill |
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| washatonian | Ice Age Floods of Washington | 0 | Oct 29 2009, 12:20 PM EDT by washatonian | ||
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Thread started: Oct 29 2009, 12:20 PM EDT
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A unique and fascinating site site explaining the huge geological changes that occurred as result of these cataclysmic events can be found here.
http://hugefloods.com/ |
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| 8pounder | Hansen creek private claim (page: 1 2) | 24 | Oct 28 2009, 8:56 PM EDT by syonix | ||
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Thread started: Oct 12 2009, 3:13 PM EDT
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I was up at Hansen creek this weekend and was told by three separate people that the active claim above the mineral council claim is now open to the public and owned by the mineral council due to non payment and complaints from collectors. Can anyone confirm this?
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