Where to Find Agates in British Columbia: 54 Mapped Sites
British Columbia has 54 documented sites where agates have been reported, and the best-known are North Bend, Fraser Rockhound, and Lytton Gems. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Agates Map: British Columbia
All 54 agates sites in British Columbia. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Agates Are Found in British Columbia
Agates fill gas cavities in old lava flows, then outlast the host rock and concentrate in gravels. Hunt gravel bars, beaches, glacial till, and desert washes rather than solid outcrop.
The richest reported sites in British Columbia: North Bend, Fraser Rockhound, Lytton Gems, Picture Rock, Alpo.
All Agates Sites in British Columbia
- North Bend — Other
- Fraser Rockhound — Other
- Lytton Gems — Other
- Picture Rock — Other
- Alpo — Other
- Blizzard — Other
- Cheryl Opal — Other
- Clutch 1-4 — Other
- Eagle Creek — Other
- Empire Valley — Other
- Expo — Other
- Gram — Other
- Lillooet Tailings — Other
- Monte Lake — Other
- Mount Savona — Other
- Northern Lights — Other
- Rosseau — Other
- Scotty Creek — Other
- Spuzzum — Other
- Tchesinkut Lake — Other
- Wood — Other
- Adelphi — Other
- Agate Bluffs — Other
- Alexandra Bar — Other
- Allen Grove — Other
- Aspen Grove Agate — Other
- August Lake — Other
- Cape Ball — Other
- Carswell — Other
- Chapperon — Other
- Douglas Lake Road — Other
- Huxley — Other
- Ingram — Other
- Island View Beach — Other
- Joseph Creek — Other
- Kanaka Bar Gems — Other
- Mccormacks Flats — Other
- Mount Swite Agate — Other
- Oliver — Other
- Perry Ranch — Other
- Pinaus East — Other
- Pinaus West — Other
- Princeton Agate — Other
- Reef — Other
- Robbins Creek — Other
- Rubinca Mine — Other
- Shaw Springs Gems — Other
- Shorts Creek Agate — Other
- Sooke Beach — Other
- Squilax — Other
Showing 50 of 54 sites — every site appears on the map above.
How to Identify Agates
Agate is banded chalcedony: a waxy-luster stone, hardness about 7, that breaks with a smooth conchoidal (shell-like) fracture instead of splitting on flat planes. The reliable field test is backlighting — hold a wetted stone to the sun and an agate glows translucent at the edges, usually showing its bands. Jasper looks similar but stays opaque.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find agates in British Columbia?
British Columbia has 54 mapped sites where agates have been reported. The best-known are North Bend, Fraser Rockhound, and Lytton Gems. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many agates sites are mapped in British Columbia?
We have 54 documented agates sites in British Columbia, compiled from provincial geological survey records and community submissions, reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect agates in British Columbia?
Casual hand collecting is generally allowed on unclaimed Crown land in British Columbia. It is prohibited in parks, on active mineral claims, and on private land without permission. Always verify land status before you dig.
How do I identify agate?
Agate is banded chalcedony: a waxy-luster stone, hardness about 7, that breaks with a smooth conchoidal (shell-like) fracture instead of splitting on flat planes. The reliable field test is backlighting — hold a wetted stone to the sun and an agate glows translucent at the edges, usually showing its bands. Jasper looks similar but stays opaque.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
More to Find in British Columbia
Data: BC Geological Survey MINFILE — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.