Just started tumbling rough agates that were purchased. Wife found beach glass that she wants to make into jewelry,so as I researched it I found rock tumbling sites.Anyway im finding it interesting,next step is to find my own agates ect. Any suggestions where to hunt them in the states,dig sites,desert ect. Seems like you could turn hiking into looking for gemstones.

Sun stones, pick them up for free in SE Oregon.Obsedion free collection areas in North eastern California.

We found a beach once in California that we stopped at.. Both of us went and found so many agates along the tide line.. can't quite remember where it was, but it sure was fun.

In Michigan's Upper Peninsula you'll find plenty of rock hunting, especially agates. We camped at Woodland Park in Grand Marais, MI and the beach had all the rocks you'd ever want. Plus the campground was on a short bluff right above the beach. It's water & electric only and they don't take reservations, but we were there in mid-July and had no problem with a campsite. Weekends can be a different matter though.You can get to the campground website through RV Park Reviews.com.http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/michigan/grand-maraisInfo on Grand Marais.http://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/beaches-and-swimming.phpInfo on Lake Superior Agate Festival.http://www.superiortrails.com/rock-agate-festival.htmlInfo on other agate beaches in the U.P.http://www.superiortrails.com/agate-beaches-upper-peninsula.htmlNow, that's a lot of info on places to hunt for agates and more. The U.P. is a wonderful place to visit, especially along the Lake Superior shoreline. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore isn't far west of Grand Marais in Munising. There's plenty of campgrounds throughout the U.P. The black flies can be bothersome, especially in the early summer. Even in the height of summer tourist season you'll find plenty of campsites available. Enjoy!

In the Black Hills area, Icebox, Teepee canyons,Fairburn agate are free to search. Gold nuggets might also be found to a keen eye. Look up icebox nugget . Its at Presidential pawn, Rapid City

Goggle the,state and rock hounding and you will find lots of information

Rock hound pastime | Good Sam Community

donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2015
Sun stones, pick them up for free in SE Oregon.
Obsedion free collection areas in North eastern California.
Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Dec 08, 2015
We found a beach once in California that we stopped at.. Both of us went and found so many agates along the tide line.. can't quite remember where it was, but it sure was fun.
Parrothead_Mike
Explorer
Dec 08, 2015
In Michigan's Upper Peninsula you'll find plenty of rock hunting, especially agates. We camped at Woodland Park in Grand Marais, MI and the beach had all the rocks you'd ever want. Plus the campground was on a short bluff right above the beach. It's water & electric only and they don't take reservations, but we were there in mid-July and had no problem with a campsite. Weekends can be a different matter though.

You can get to the campground website through RV Park Reviews.com.

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/michigan/grand-marais

Info on Grand Marais.

http://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/beaches-and-swimming.php

Info on Lake Superior Agate Festival.

http://www.superiortrails.com/rock-agate-festival.html

Info on other agate beaches in the U.P.

http://www.superiortrails.com/agate-beaches-upper-peninsula.html

Now, that's a lot of info on places to hunt for agates and more. The U.P. is a wonderful place to visit, especially along the Lake Superior shoreline. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore isn't far west of Grand Marais in Munising. There's plenty of campgrounds throughout the U.P. The black flies can be bothersome, especially in the early summer. Even in the height of summer tourist season you'll find plenty of campsites available. Enjoy!
SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Dec 08, 2015
In the Black Hills area, Icebox, Teepee canyons,Fairburn agate are free to search.
Gold nuggets might also be found to a keen eye.
Look up icebox nugget . Its at Presidential pawn, Rapid City
terry_thiessen
Explorer
Dec 08, 2015
Goggle the,state and rock hounding and you will find lots of information
PenMan
Explorer
Dec 08, 2015
Rockhound State Park in southwest New Mexico.
pa_traveler
Explorer
Dec 08, 2015
Thanks for suggestions,new to this,but liking it.Want to look as we travel,just tumbled a batch of rocks,looking forward to digging my own instead of buying the rough stones.Thanks Parrothead that is a lot of info.
MrWizard
Moderator
Dec 09, 2015
Goto Quartzite in Jan and you can find everything from world round, in the gemstone swap stalls,
Plus the desert is a great place to look for stones
Q started as a winter rock hound meeting
pa_traveler
Explorer
Dec 11, 2015
Thanks Wizard, good to know we do want to attend Quartzite.
bob_nestor
Explorer III
Dec 11, 2015
Well if you're into Geodes there's a place just S of Alpine, Tx on 118 called the Woodward Rock Ranch. He's got a small RV park and a great rock shop. You can roam his fields picking up rocks and he'll charge you by the pound for them, but only after he throws away any rock that's not worth anything. The Geodes found there are "volcano flame" geodes (very colorful and pretty) and if I recall correctly it's the only place in the world you can find them. There's also a great rock collection at the ranch and he has rock saws there so he can open up the geodes for you too.