Where to Find Garnets in Idaho: 16 Mapped Sites
Idaho has 16 documented sites where garnets have been reported, and the best-known are California Prospect, Emily Mine, and Seven Devils Mining District. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 14 of the 16 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Garnets Map: Idaho
All 16 garnets sites in Idaho. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Garnets Are Found in Idaho
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 Idaho: California Prospect, Emily Mine, Seven Devils Mining District, Lewiston, Pack River.
Local reporting distinguishes Red Garnet (3 sites), Almandine Garnet (2 sites), Yellow Garnet (1 site).
Of the 16 sites, 14 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Garnets Sites in Idaho
- California Prospect — Forest Service
- Emily Mine — Forest Service
- Seven Devils Mining District — Public Access
- Lewiston — Public Access
- Pack River — Public Access
- Silver City — Public Access
- Cuprum — Public Access
- Deadwood Gulch — Public Access
- Idaho City — Public Access
- Iron Mountain — Public Access
- Boulder Creek — Public Access
- Emerald and Ruby Creeks — Public Access
- Emerald Creek — Public Access
- General Area (Clearwater NF) — Public Access
- Purdue & Canyon Creeks — Public Access
- Riggins — Public Access
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 Idaho?
Idaho has 16 mapped sites where garnets have been reported. The best-known are California Prospect, Emily Mine, and Seven Devils Mining District. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many garnets sites are mapped in Idaho?
We have 16 documented garnets sites in Idaho, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect garnets in Idaho?
Casual collecting is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal, non-commercial use — the standard BLM limit is 25 lbs per day plus one specimen. National parks, monuments, and many state parks prohibit collecting, and private land always requires the owner's permission. Check the site report for each location and verify current 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.
What kinds of garnets are found in Idaho?
Reports from Idaho distinguish Red Garnet (3 sites), Almandine Garnet (2 sites), Yellow Garnet (1 site).
What should I bring to collect garnets?
The basics: a rock hammer, safety glasses, gloves, a bucket or padded bag for specimens, and a GPS app with the coordinates from this page. Add a spray bottle — wetting a stone makes color and banding far easier to judge in the field.
⚠️ 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.
Garnets in Nearby States
Data: USGS Mineral Resources Data System, community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.