Rockhounding in Creede • tim e to g et out a nd g et dirty ! • The State of Colorado ranks as one of the most strongly mineralized areas in the world. Mineral County is known for the rich variety of ornamental stones found abundantly in the area. Following the footsteps of early prospectors, modern rockhounds still seek silver ore, sowbelly agate (Creede amethyst), galena, opal, agate, jasper, fossils, geodes, calcite and barite in the Creede area. The Creede Chamber of Commerce offers the essential book on Creede rockhounding; A Rockhound’s Guide to Creede, Colorado; written by local geologist Mr. Charles Downing. After picking up your copy, stop by Rare Things Gallery’s rock shop to get some tips on the equipment you will need. A pick axe, a bucket, local knowledge and some patience is all it takes to be a rockhound in Mineral County. What better souvenir than a beautiful rock, pulled directly out of the San Juan Mountains? Check out some of these favorite locations for finding a variety of rocks and minerals. Good luck!
Pool Table Road Travel up Pool Table Road and park, to the right, at the 4.5 mile marker sign. You will see an open park, in which you can find agate and jasper. Both agate and jasper is predominantly brown, but may also be black, red and white. ••• Creede Airport Corner The most popular spot to find fossils, this site is not on the Rio Grande National Forest administered land, but is within the right-of-way of Colorado Highway 149. To get there, travel south, out of Creede, on Highway 149 towards Lake City for 1.75 miles. ••• Farmer’s Creek Around Farmer’s Creek, rockhounds can discover geodes filled with gray and blue agate crystals. To reach Farmer’s Creek, travel 1.5 miles out of Creede on Colorado Highway 149 towards South Fork. Turn left on the City Dump Road, then take a right at the fork. Take your first left and drive to the Farmer’s Creek trailhead. The geodes can be found eroding from the banks of Farmer’s Creek. ••• Whited Creek at Phoenix Park At Whited Creek, rockhounds can find geodes with opal crystals. To get there, take your four-wheel-drive vehicle and follow the Pheonix Park trail to where the 4x4 trail crosses the water. Hike one half mile upstream and geodes can be found along the creek bed.
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City Dump Road On this road, rockhounds can find green, red and translucent calcite. To reach City Dump Road, travel 1.5 miles out of Creede on Colorado Highway 149 towards South Fork. Turn left on the City Dump Road, then take a right at the fork. Walk about 200 yards into the ravine and start digging. ••• Ute Creek Ute Indians mined this area for materials to make arrowheads and jewelry. Geodes can be found, as well as other ornamental stones. Ute Creek can be reached by hiking the Ute Creek Trail (#819) at the upper end of the Rio Grande Reservoir. The geodes and other stones can be found 2 miles up the trail, from the Reservoir.