Minerals - Rocks

Rocks and Minerals

U.S Forest Service laws and regulation do not allow for recreational rockhounding and rock collecting. Rockhounding, rock/mineral collecting (including petrified wood), and fossil collecting on National Forest lands all require a permit. Permit fees will vary depending on the type and amount of material collected, the location of the collection site, and the potential use of the material. Materials collected cannot be re-sold commercially; collection is for personal use only.

Small quantities of lapidary minerals (agates, chalcedony, geodes, jaspers, and other common variety rocks), and petrified wood collected for personal use require a free use permit. Collection of larger quantities of materials like boulders and sand and gravel for landscaping or similar purposes may require a fee permit depending on the quantity of material collected. Some areas of the forest are not open to rock collection, including Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

View a rockhounding brochure outlining requirements, rules and etiquette.

Any person interested in rockhounding, or rock collecting must first acquire a permit from their local ranger district office.

Fossils

Fossil collecting on National Forest lands is limited to plant and invertebrate fossils and does not require a permit. Vertebrate fossil collecting is strictly prohibited, as is the collection of archaeological artifacts and meteorites.

Gold Panning & Metal Detecting

Activities like gold panning and metal detecting may be permitted in a limited capacity. Mining for minerals requires the location of a mining claim and a plan of operations. Gold panning and metal detecting are considered prospecting by the Forest Service, so any person interested in those activities must either receive permission from a mining claimant or pan/detect in areas not covered by mining claims. Any prospecting activity more intensive than panning or metal detecting may require a plan of operations.

Please contact your local ranger district office for more information.

These activities are also managed or restricted by state regulations. Please review the Washington Department of Natural Resources Gold and Fish Book for details.

Contact:

Joel Nowak, joel.nowak@usda.gov, (360) 819-3378.