Where to Find Garnets in British Columbia: 41 Mapped Sites
British Columbia has 41 documented sites where garnets have been reported, and the best-known are Upper Jackie, Crystal Peak Garnet, and Harp. 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
Garnets Map: British Columbia
All 41 garnets sites in British Columbia. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Garnets Are Found in British Columbia
Garnets grow in mica schist and gneiss and in contact-metamorphic zones, then concentrate in stream sands. Check decomposed schist outcrops and pan the dark sands below them.
The richest reported sites in British Columbia: Upper Jackie, Crystal Peak Garnet, Harp, North Bend, Kwoiek Needle.
All Garnets Sites in British Columbia
- Upper Jackie — Other
- Crystal Peak Garnet — Other
- Harp — Other
- North Bend — Other
- Kwoiek Needle — Other
- Lytton Gems — Other
- Emory Creek — Other
- Great Glacier — Other
- Harrison Lake Garnet — Other
- Iron Hill — Other
- Kinbasket Lake — Other
- Deserters Range — Other
- Fortynine Creek — Other
- Hawksbury Island Garnet — Other
- Jim May Garnet — Other
- Khtada Lake — Other
- Kirbyville Creek — Other
- Kootenay Lake — Other
- Krystal — Other
- Kwinamass Peak — Other
- Kwinitsa Sillimanite — Other
- Miledge River — Other
- Mineral Hill — Other
- Minute Creek Placer — Other
- Odin Creek — Other
- Passmore Dome — Other
- Tedesco Garnet — Other
- Thor Odin — Other
- Thunder River — Other
- Valhalla Dome — Other
- Western San Juan Ridge Placers — Other
- Zofka Ridge — Other
- Banks Island Garnet — Other
- Fraser River — Other
- Gertrude Point Garnet — Other
- Griffin Lake — Other
- Howard Creek Garnet — Other
- Kiltuish Inlet Garnet — Other
- Penticton Garnet — Other
- Stitt Creek — Other
- Tuck Inlet — Other
How to Identify Garnets
Garnets form 12-sided (dodecahedral) crystals — little faceted balls in red, brown-red, or orange — with a glassy luster, hardness 6.5–7.5, and no cleavage. They resist weathering, so intact crystals roll free of rotten rock. A streak of dark red sand in a creek bed is often garnet concentrate announcing a source upstream.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find garnets in British Columbia?
British Columbia has 41 mapped sites where garnets have been reported. The best-known are Upper Jackie, Crystal Peak Garnet, and Harp. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many garnets sites are mapped in British Columbia?
We have 41 documented garnets 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 garnets 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 garnet?
Garnets form 12-sided (dodecahedral) crystals — little faceted balls in red, brown-red, or orange — with a glassy luster, hardness 6.5–7.5, and no cleavage. They resist weathering, so intact crystals roll free of rotten rock. A streak of dark red sand in a creek bed is often garnet concentrate announcing a source upstream.
⚠️ 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, USGS Mineral Resources Data System — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.