Are you looking where to go rockhounding in Southern California? Then check out these 8 Southern California rockhounding locations. The best.

California is one of the best states in the U.S. for rockhounding due to its extraordinarily diverse geology and wide variety of minerals. The state contains many distinct geological provinces, each with its own complicated history and associated rocks and minerals. Even before the famed gold rush, California had become famous for its high-quality gem …

Santa Barbara County in California has a plethora of hotspots for rockhounding.

The vast desert of Southern California offers some top-notch rock collecting opportunities. Here are 22 of the known rockhounding sites. Keep in mind that land status changes. Always make sure you are in an area that you can legally collect. Make sure you have a good map before you venture out. I also recommend picking …

California's environment is ripe for rockhounding. Here's how to find gold, agate, and other rocks around mines, beaches, and mountains.

There aren’t many places where you can just walk around picking up “treasure” like gumdrops, but this is one of them. Here is just some of the chalcedony, agate fire agate and jas…

Looking for a fun staycation or day trip like no other? Perhaps you're just looking for things to do while on vacation in Southern California? Head to Oceanview mine where you can hunt for real, raw gemstones. Tourmaline, morganite, aquamarine, quartz, and more can be found. You can also take a tour of the Pala Gem District. | Best Day Trip Ideas | Unique Fun | Girls Trip | Bachelorette

Since before I knew there was a word for it I've been a rockhound. As a young child I would pick up pretty rocks anywhere I could and save them in small boxes labeled with various mineral names.

Every rockhound loves a good geode, and the best are those we’ve gathered ourselves. While it can be tempting to start busting every rock you find with a rock pick, you can usually tell before you attack. Geodes are a specific formation and can usually be identified by their round shape and bumpy texture. These reliable indicators don’t tell the whole story, however. So, let’s go a bit further and give you an overview of how to tell if a rock is a geode.

Hiding within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Crystal Mine can be found off of Long Valley Road and just before you reach Lookout Campground. The area is marked by a small brown sign.