For rockhounds, there's one highly coveted destination here in Nevada that is considered prime territory for digging up beautiful gems. Garnet Hill Recreation Area is a popular destination for gem enthusiasts for its sheer abundance of dark red garnets. Located in White Pine County, a trip to this unique destination makes for a memorable adventure whether you consider yourself a rockhound or not. Spend the day digging for real-life treasure and try your hand at poking around for garnets yourself!
Garnet Hill is a free public recreation area located approximately six miles west of Ely, Nevada. Known for its abundance of garnet gems, this place is a rockhound's dream come true and it definitely makes for an interesting place to visit.
You'll find Garnet Hill tucked within the hillsides just outside of town. To get there, you'll drive west on Highway 50 from Ely. After 6.4 miles, you'll spot a BLM sign that points toward Garnet Hill. You'll then turn east and drive for a little over three miles until you reach the parking area.
Garnet Hill is a fascinating natural landmark that was once considered an active volcanic site. Experts believe the volcano erupted up to 40 million years ago, and it was this volcanic explosion that allowed these now world-famous garnets to form.
Garnets can be found in the rhyolitic volcanic rock that was formed by the volcanic explosion all those millions of years ago. That's because as the magma cooled, released gasses would form pockets where the garnets could form. Most of the garnets found at Garnet Hill today contain various "flaws", but they make for excellent keepsakes!
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own gear, including shovels, rock hammers, and gloves, for uncovering the garnets from the stones that contain them. However, gear isn't necessarily required as many garnets can be found already uncovered on the ground.
You could easily spend hours digging for gems in this beautiful backcountry destination. In fact, you could make a weekend of it by taking advantage of the recreation area's tent camping and RV sites. The area also boasts picnic tables and restrooms.
If you've ever been curious about rockhounding and uncovering your own precious gems, then consider Garnet Hill a great place to start. This recreation area is free to visit and easily accessible, so be sure to check it out for a unique adventure!
Have you visited this popular rockhounding destination before? If you enjoyed learning about this place, be sure to check out another popular treasure hunting spot in the Silver State: The One-Of-A-Kind Mine In Nevada Where You Can Dig For Opals.
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