The best collecting area is running between the north of Salem to the south of Corvallis. Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home), Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids). A clickable map for different rockhounding sites located across the United States. I have done extensive research on Holley Blue and have come to a dead end and would love to discuss this with someone. Beaches such as Depoe Bay the area south from Newport until the north of Lincoln city, or Beverly Beach (also in Lincoln County), situated between Beverly Beach State Park and Yaquina Head, are excellent for finding agates! Also, sunny, wintry days may be less crowded. Devil's Staircase Wilderness 2019. Rockhounding Locations in Northern California. A half-mile section of steep rapids on the Upper Soda Fork are super fun, a low-stress roller coaster ride down a series of non-stop slides and ledges up to 8 feet tall. The small town of Oceanside located in the county of Tillamook is home to several beaches that are great for rockhounding. amzn_assoc_asins = "0898153883,B008ELGS9Y,0762783702,1566919630"; Local rockhounds also frequent the public access areas of the Clackamas, Calapooia River, and the North as well as South Santiam River areas for agates, jasper, and petrified wood. Do Rocks Have DNA? The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. In 40 games with the Portland Trail. These are not ordinary collectible stones here, but the rare lavender-blue agate, the coveted Holly Bluestones. amzn_assoc_title = "Some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon:"; Have a fair idea of what youre looking for before you begin searching because it will make finding stones a lot easier. The picturesque Thomas Creek meanders for 35 miles through Santiam State Forest, eventually entering the South Santiam River. Came to this sweet store and fell in love. Here is a list of the most sought rocks in this state: These beautiful rocks are spread throughout Oregon, and they can easily be found if you know where to look for them, and thus, let us tell you about a couple of places to search. Oregon has some cool rocks and precious stones just waiting to be picked up by curious rockhounds! If you are interested in checking out the best book about rockhounding in Oregon you can find it by clickinghere(Amazon link). The amethyst specimens found in Oregon are noted to be paler in comparison to the standard amethyst. Like Northern Oregon, its beaches produce agates and other quartz family minerals, and its more mountainous terrain add some variety with the many local mines in the area. Now that this is out of the way, here are some of the best gems and minerals you can find in Oregon! The Calapooia River is an 80-mile tributary of the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Columbia River Gorge Cross the bridge at Rocky Top Road and look for a road cut at the top of the hill. Rocks & Minerals: Petrified Wood, Agate,Jasper, Geode The name Kalapuya (kl poo yu), also appearing in the modern geographic spellings Calapooia (for a river in Linn Country) and Calapooya (for a mountain range and creek in Douglas County), goes back to a term of uncertain origin and significance. Road Access: Maintained. Check these six simple steps on how to do it:How to Cut & Polish Thundereggs: Follow These 6 Simple Steps. Find out more about cool rocks in the article below:What are Cool Rocks & Where to Find Them? Anyone interested in fishing Calapooia River or waters within the wider area around Albany should consult with local resources before heading out to fish. Aquamarine, on the other hand, is typically found on high elevations, perhaps on Mount Hood in Oregon, but this is unconfirmed. Obsidian is incredibly sharp and you really need some good hiking boots that are up to the job. It is located in southern Oregon. Contact your local BLM office for land information or maps. TIP: Cutting and polishing jasper is not difficult and can be very rewarding. Then grin when flickers of gold catch your eye! This area is a popular recreation area, but there are some private property and No Trespassing signs. Road Access: Maintained. Home. So where to rockhound in Oregon, and what can you find? The best place to search for agates in Oregon is upon its shores. Clackamette Park, on the northern edge of the Clackamas River, is great for relaxing, swimming, and playing with your family also. Press J to jump to the feed. In its upper reaches, it passes through parts of the Willamette National Forest. On Wikipedia. Tips for finding the best rocks: Use geology picks on the gravel bars to discover the best rocks. Sedimentary rocks are pretty common everywhere, and this also stands true in the case of Oregon. The Calapooia River To put your hands in a river is to feel the chords that bind the earth together. Disclosure: These are links to Amazon, As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. On the other side of the Cascades, rockhounding in the western third of the state is highlighted by the fantastic agate hunting on local beaches. / Image via / Flickr / James St. John There is even a mineral named after the state, oregonite. Look for a sign directing you to Waterloo Park for a good starting point. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. I recall reading in a book about rockhounding in Oregon that much of the Calapooia river is owned by a lumber company, but granted the book was published a few years back. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; From Sweet Home, drive onto US-20 East/Main Street for about 19 miles to Quartzville Road, turn left onto Quartzville Road and continue roughly 13 miles. The state rock of Oregon is the famous thunderegg. In addition, anytime one can observe the beauty of the Willamette River and discover collectible rocks is always a great time. You can find a wide variety of fossils, petrified wood, jasper, agate, and serpentine. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Southwest Oregon is a fantastic place for rockhounding. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sometimes Google Map does not provide correct directions, especially in forest or mountain areas. Check out our content about rockhounding Oregon for more information about unique and off the beaten path places to visit. It is situated on the river Altmhl, 19 km northwest of Weienburg in Bayern, and 45 km southwest of Nuremberg. The Calapooia River subbasin is located in the upper Willamette Valley and has a total area . North Santiam River. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. From Salem, take Highway OR 22 and go east towards Detroit. South Central Oregon is home to many great rockhounding locations, especially for collectors looking for quartz family gemstones such as agate, jasper, and chalcedony. Calapooia River - Oregon Does anyone here have any information on the Calapooia River and the agates that are found in the surrounding mountains? This interest of mine has lasted until today, so I decided to create this website. ~Barry Lopez From remote beginnings deep in the forested folds of the old Cascades, the beautiful Calapooia River winds a meandering path through the landscape of Oregon's Linn county, and through the history of the region. However, I have compiled a list of resources here so that you may investigate and obtain permission for any locations (found here or elsewhere) for yourself. The waters of the 187-mile long Willamette River and its tributaries carry mineral materials from volcanic deposits of the Cascade Mountains. The Dust Devils Spectrum Sunstone and Double Eagle mines are also great places to collect sunstones, and it is quite near. North of Oregon's wildfire epicenter we are seeing firsthand the hazardous effects of ash and smoke. BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Oregon! From Lebanon, you can get onto Clackamas Highway OR-224 East to access the best spots. These agates are quite beautiful and they end up washing on the beaches from the creeks. Road Access: Maintained. Of all the months in a year December is the one with the most rain, and the driest of the months is July. There is no parking from the end of the pavement to the national forest boundary and law enforcement cites violators of parking restrictions. When to go: The creek banks are primarily privately owned, but some public entry points exist. Laws are updated. Although these areas are within an hour or so of driving time, most discovery sites are much shorter distances. Typical stones here are agate, carnelian, jasper, and petrified wood, but the best part of these locations are the Marine Fossils. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; The Moolack Beach and the Yachats town in Lincoln county are also abundant in agates. N of E end of Ochoco Reservoir, area, Area surrouding Crater Lake National Park. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. Rockhounds from all over the country make the trip to the Oregon coast to find their own agates, often in the winter in order to take advantage of the frequent winter storms which tend to churn up new material. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. Besides rockhounding, this place is perfect for whale-watching and photography also. Calapooia River This river is a good rockhounding location near Sweet Home. The best places to rockhound in Southwest Oregon are the ocean beaches and the gravels of area rivers and streams. From Portland, drive US26 west to TimberRoad. How to get there: Take Forest Road NF 2820, which runs parallel to the Calapooia River while heading to Willamette National Forest. Check out the complete guide in the article below:How To Cut & Polish Jasper: Follow These 8 Simple Steps. NOTE: All the locations listed in these tables are clickable, and will take you to the location on Google Maps. I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. The park is a fine, forested ocean flat with easy access for rockhounding agate, jasper, petrified wood, and fossilized agate. . Walk along the river banks and see what you can turn up. The Kalapuya people are believed to have entered their historical homeland in the Willamette Valley by . South Santiam River. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Calapooia River is a stream located just .3 miles from Albany, in Linn County, in the state of Oregon, United States. Laws are updated. The counties included in this area are Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, and Clackamas. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material. It is important to note that sunstones come in almost all colors, and it is the official gemstone of Oregon since 1987. Oregon hosts numerous unique locations for rockhounds such as Bear Creek, Eagle Rock, Fischer Canyon, Whistler, White Fir Springs, Hampton Butte, and the Malheur and Jefferson counties. Or what is the most expensive mineral? The Calapooia River is an 80-mile (130 km) tributary of the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. calapooia river rockhounding.