# Geology field trips in all 50 states

Canonical page: https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips
Last reviewed: September 18, 2026
Page purpose: Fifty-state directory of original LithoMap trip guides that clearly separates authorized collection from observation-only geology visits.

The directory excludes dinosaur collecting, sensitive paleontological localities, abandoned-mine directions, unclear ownership, unverified roadside stops, and places supported only by social posts. Open status, fees, reservations, roads, boundaries, tools, seasons, fire restrictions, and collecting rules must be rechecked before every trip.

## Vetted destinations

- Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area, Oregon — Mineral collecting; Oregon sunstone, Feldspar crystals — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/oregon-sunstone-public-collection-area
- Garnet Hill, Nevada — Mineral collecting; Garnet, Rhyolite matrix — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/garnet-hill-nevada
- Topaz Mountain Rockhound Recreation Area, Utah — Mineral collecting; Topaz, Quartz and other cavity crystals, Rhyolite — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/topaz-mountain-utah
- Dugway Geode Beds, Utah — Rock collecting; Quartz geodes, Amethyst, Rose quartz, Chalcedony — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/dugway-geode-beds-utah
- Emerald Creek Garnet Area, Idaho — Mineral collecting; Idaho star garnet, Garnet-bearing gravel — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/emerald-creek-garnet-area-idaho
- Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas — Mineral collecting; Diamond, Lamproite indicator minerals, Quartz and other park minerals — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/crater-of-diamonds-arkansas
- Oak Springs Trilobite Site, Nevada — Fossil collecting; Trilobite fragments and impressions, Fossil-bearing shale — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/oak-springs-trilobite-site-nevada
- Calvert Cliffs State Park fossil beach, Maryland — Fossil collecting; Miocene shell fossils, Shark and ray teeth, Beach-worn fossil fragments — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/calvert-cliffs-state-park-maryland
- Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve, New York — Fossil collecting; Devonian brachiopods, Trilobites, Corals, Crinoid remains — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/penn-dixie-fossil-park-new-york
- Sylvania Fossil Park, Ohio — Fossil collecting; Devonian brachiopods, Corals, Other common marine invertebrates — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/sylvania-fossil-park-ohio
- Rockhound State Park collecting area, New Mexico — Rock collecting; Jasper and chalcedony, Quartz-family material, Common volcanic-rock specimens — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/rockhound-state-park-new-mexico
- Black Hills Rockhound Area, Arizona — Mineral collecting; Fire agate, Chalcedony — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/black-hills-fire-agate-arizona
- Crystal Park, Montana — Mineral collecting; Quartz crystals, Smoky quartz, Amethyst — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/crystal-park-montana
- Salt Plains Selenite Dig Area, Oklahoma — Mineral collecting; Hourglass selenite, Gypsum crystal clusters — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/salt-plains-selenite-oklahoma
- Mount Apatite Park, Maine — Mineral collecting; Apatite, Tourmaline, Quartz, Feldspar — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/mount-apatite-park-maine
- Mineral Wells Fossil Park, Texas — Fossil collecting; Crinoid remains, Brachiopods, Corals, Bryozoans — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/mineral-wells-fossil-park-texas
- Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve, Iowa — Fossil collecting; Devonian brachiopods, Corals, Gastropods, Other marine invertebrates — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/fossil-prairie-park-iowa
- Mazonia-Braidwood Fossil Permit Area, Illinois — Fossil collecting; Mazon Creek concretions, Plant fossils, Common invertebrate fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/mazonia-braidwood-fossil-permit-illinois
- Herkimer Diamond Mines, New York — Mineral collecting; Doubly terminated quartz, Quartz clusters, Dolostone matrix — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/herkimer-diamond-mines-new-york
- Emerald Hollow Mine, North Carolina — Mineral collecting; Quartz, Feldspar, Mica, Tourmaline and other permitted finds — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/emerald-hollow-mine-north-carolina
- OceanView Mine, California — Mineral collecting; Tourmaline, Quartz, Feldspar, Pegmatite minerals — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/oceanview-mine-california
- Royal Peacock Opal Mine, Nevada — Mineral collecting; Precious opal, Common opal, Opalized wood — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/royal-peacock-opal-mine-nevada
- Diamond Hill Mine, South Carolina — Mineral collecting; Quartz crystals, Amethyst, Iron-stained quartz — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/diamond-hill-mine-south-carolina
- U-Dig Fossils Trilobite Quarry, Utah — Fossil collecting; Cambrian trilobites, Trilobite fragments and molts — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/u-dig-trilobite-quarry-utah
- Florissant Fossil Quarry, Colorado — Fossil collecting; Fossil leaves, Fossil insects, Other Eocene lake fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/florissant-fossil-quarry-colorado
- Fossil Lake Safari, Wyoming — Fossil collecting; Fossil fish, Plant impressions, Common invertebrate fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/fossil-lake-safari-wyoming
- American Fossil DigFish Quarry, Wyoming — Fossil collecting; Green River fossil fish, Plant and invertebrate fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/american-fossil-quarry-wyoming
- Wiley Well District Geode Beds, California — Rock collecting; Geodes, Quartz, Chalcedony — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/wiley-well-geode-beds-california
- Chambless Rock Collecting Area, California — Rock collecting; Hematite, Magnetite, Epidote, Marble and limestone — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/chambless-rock-area-california
- Savahia Peak Rock Collecting Area, California — Rock collecting; Chalcedony, Quartz-family material — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/savahia-peak-chalcedony-california
- Alabama Gold Camp Prospecting, Alabama — Program or paid access; Placer gold, Gold-bearing stream sediment — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/alabama-gold-camp-prospecting
- Wrangell–St. Elias Recreational Gold Panning, Alaska — Collecting allowed; Placer gold, Common surface rocks — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/wrangell-st-elias-gold-panning-alaska
- Hammonasset Garnet Sand Geology Walk, Connecticut — Observation only; Garnet-rich beach sand, Glacially transported sediment — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/hammonasset-garnet-trail-connecticut
- Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Fossil Search, Delaware — Collecting allowed; Cretaceous mollusks, Belemnite guards, Common marine invertebrate fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/chesapeake-delaware-canal-fossils
- Venice Beach Shark-Tooth Search, Florida — Collecting allowed; Shark teeth, Ray teeth, Common invertebrate fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/venice-beach-shark-teeth-florida
- Graves Mountain Public Rock Swap and Dig, Georgia — Program or paid access; Kyanite, Rutile, Pyrophyllite, Iridescent hematite — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/graves-mountain-georgia-public-dig
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Geology Drive and Walks, Hawaii — Observation only; Basaltic lava flows, Volcanic glass textures, Crater and rift-zone landforms — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/hawaii-volcanoes-geology-drive
- Falls of the Ohio Collecting Piles, Indiana — Collecting allowed; Devonian coral fragments, Brachiopods, Common quarry-supplied fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/falls-of-the-ohio-collecting-piles-indiana
- Little Jerusalem Badlands Geology Walk, Kansas — Observation only; Niobrara Chalk, Cretaceous marine fossils in place, Badlands landforms — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/little-jerusalem-geology-kansas
- Carter Caves Gemstone Flume, Kentucky — Program or paid access; Purchased gem-flume concentrate, Mixed gemstones and fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/carter-caves-gem-flume-kentucky
- Longleaf Vista Sandstone Geology Walk, Louisiana — Observation only; Sandstone bluffs, Erosional landforms, Coastal-plain sediment — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/longleaf-vista-sandstone-louisiana
- Natural Bridge Marble Geology Tour, Massachusetts — Observation only; White marble bedrock, Glacial erosion features, Historic quarry landscape — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/natural-bridge-marble-massachusetts
- Michigan Lake Superior Shore Rockhounding, Michigan — Collecting allowed; Lake Superior agate, Sodalite-bearing glacial cobbles, Common beach stones — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/lake-superior-shore-rockhounding-michigan
- Soudan Underground Mine Geology Tour, Minnesota — Observation only; Banded iron formation, Ely Greenstone, Historic mine workings — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/soudan-underground-mine-minnesota
- W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park, Mississippi — Collecting allowed; Shark teeth, Mollusks, Petrified wood, Common marine fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/browning-cretaceous-fossil-park-mississippi
- Sheffler Geode Mine, Missouri — Program or paid access; Quartz geodes, Calcite-lined geodes, Chalcedony nodules — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/sheffler-geode-mine-missouri
- Toadstool Geologic Park Fossil Walk, Nebraska — Observation only; Oligocene fossils in place, Trackways, Badlands sandstone and claystone — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/toadstool-geologic-park-nebraska
- Ruggles Mine Mineral Collecting, New Hampshire — Program or paid access; Mica, Feldspar, Quartz, Pegmatite minerals — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/ruggles-mine-new-hampshire
- Sterling Hill Mine Run Dump, New Jersey — Program or paid access; Fluorescent minerals, Zinc ore minerals, Franklinite and calcite assemblages — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/sterling-hill-mineral-collecting-new-jersey
- North Dakota Geological Survey Public Fossil Dig, North Dakota — Program or paid access; Scientifically documented fossils, Site-dependent fossil material — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/north-dakota-public-fossil-dig
- Montour Preserve Fossil Pit, Pennsylvania — Collecting allowed; Brachiopods, Mollusks, Corals, Trilobite fragments — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/montour-preserve-fossil-pit-pennsylvania
- Beavertail State Park Coastal Geology Walk, Rhode Island — Observation only; Coastal bedrock, Folding and fractures, Wave-cut shoreline features — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/beavertail-geology-rhode-island
- Buffalo Gap Grassland Agate Search, South Dakota — Collecting allowed; Fairburn agate, Prairie agate, Jasper and chalcedony — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/buffalo-gap-fairburn-agates-south-dakota
- Cooper’s Gem Mine Sluice, Tennessee — Program or paid access; Prepared Appalachian mineral concentrate, Mixed gemstones and minerals — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/coopers-gem-mine-tennessee
- Mount Ascutney Small-Stone Field Walk, Vermont — Collecting allowed; Small ordinary stones, Igneous and metamorphic field observations — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/mount-ascutney-small-stone-collecting-vermont
- Fairy Stone State Park Hunt Site, Virginia — Collecting allowed; Staurolite crystals, Cross-twinned “fairy stones” — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/fairy-stone-hunt-virginia
- Stonerose Eocene Fossil Site, Washington — Program or paid access; Eocene plant fossils, Insect impressions, Fish and other rare fossils — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/stonerose-fossil-site-washington
- Lost World Caverns Geology and Gem Sluice, West Virginia — Program or paid access; Calcite cave formations, Purchased gem-mining concentrate — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/lost-world-caverns-geology-west-virginia
- Interstate State Park Glacial Pothole Walk, Wisconsin — Observation only; Basalt bedrock, Glacial potholes, Meltwater gorge landforms — https://lithomap.app/resources/field-trips/interstate-state-park-geology-wisconsin