After moving to Oregon, my family and I quickly became addicted to rockhounding. What is rockhounding, you may ask?
People who search for and collect rocks or other minerals are considered rockhounds. Geologically, Oregon is one of the best places in the entire United States to search for and discover beautiful natural treasures like sunstone, obsidian, agate, petrified wood and Oregon’s state rock – the infamous thunderegg!
My family doesn’t go all the time, nor are we geologists, but the more we go, the more we learn. Kids love to bring home rocks! Often, we go through the process and ask, “Is this rock worthy enough to earn a spot on our shelf? Will it add character to our yard?”
Quite possibly, we pass up the most valuable rocks but bring home buckets full of our favorites after a day’s worth of digging. Oregon is ideal for our newfound hobby, and many legally designated rockhounding sites are scattered throughout the state.
If you’re new to the activity, to begin, pick up a detailed rockhounding map at Visit Bend. The map describes the best places to search and gives information about the different types of rocks you’ll find.
Our very first adventure was a trip to Richardson’s Rock Ranch. Although rockhounding there is no longer an option since it’s off limits for digging, it was a great introduction for beginners like us. Thundereggs were easy to find, and for an extra fee, they professionally cut them to display the unique designs inside. Even though those days are over, it’s still worth a visit to see their extensive rock collection, including many that are for sale.
After our first guided adventure, we felt brave enough to explore on our own. Tales of Glass Buttes promised the dragon stone, obsidian, and we dreamed of filling our buckets. One nice day, we packed a lunch, brought the proper tools and drove the AWD down a few rough BLM roads. Glass Buttes is located east of Bend, halfway to Burns, on Highway 20.
As we approached the site, the blue sky and picturesque mountains were enough already to make the visit worthwhile, especially with the bright yellow rabbitbrush blooming. But wait, we came for the obsidian. Luckily, it seemed to be everywhere: mahogany, black, pumpkin and many other types of the intricate, shiny, glasslike rock. Score!
A more recent adventure took us to Eagle Rock, a site about an hour from Bend, southeast of Prineville. Sure enough, a large, imposing rock signaled our turn off, though I failed to see the form of an eagle.
Soon we happened upon an old school bus reminiscent of the book, “Into the Wild.” Our curiosity drove us to stop and check out the dilapidated vehicle that had been rotting for years. You never know what you might find when exploring the High Desert outback.
At the site, it was mostly my wife and I that dug, while our daughters relaxed in the shade. This often tends to be the case, though when we find something cool, they usually want to claim it! Our dog, Loki, kept wallowing in the cool, freshly dug holes and getting in the way of our shovels. Or was he trying to help?
We were excited to see bits of agate in some of the stones, and we filled our buckets to the brim. Formed mostly in the cavities of volcanic rocks, agate is common in Oregon and much of the Pacific Northwest. The mineral can have varying degrees of color, from orange to purple to black.
Probably all rockhounds hope to find the perfect rock but allow me to make a disclaimer. Rocks do not come from the ground looking like the pictures you find online. They are dirty, rough, unpolished and uncut. Unless you know what to look for, chances are you will be disappointed. Remember to have fun enjoying the scenery and the day!
We heard that the Prineville Reservoir area is a rockhounding location, and though we enjoyed great views of the reservoir, it was too exposed and seemed to be picked through by other rockhounds. No luck there.
We have yet to venture farther, but other sites including Polka Dot Agate Mine and Fossil, Oregon are on our bucket list. We always keep a look out for agate and jasper on the coast, and honestly, now we look for rocks wherever we go.
One more bonus tip:
If you haven’t been to Peterson’s Rock Garden in Redmond, make the trip. You won’t be digging there, but it’s a rockhound’s paradise!
For more information and tips, check out Central Oregon Rock Collectors on Facebook or visit rockhounding.org.
This article appears in BendNest Spring 2025.
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