Where to Find Garnets in Utah: 30 Mapped Sites
Utah has 30 documented sites where garnets have been reported, and the best-known are Henry mining district, Dugway mining district, and Lincoln Gulch. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 30 of the 30 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Garnets Map: Utah
All 30 garnets sites in Utah. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Garnets Are Found in Utah
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 Utah: Henry mining district, Dugway mining district, Lincoln Gulch, Park City mining district, San Francisco Mountains.
Local reporting distinguishes Arizona Ruby Garnet (2 sites), Andradite (1 site), Grossularite Garnet (1 site), Pyrope (1 site).
Of the 30 sites, 30 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Garnets Sites in Utah
- Henry mining district — Public Access
- Dugway mining district — Public Access
- Lincoln Gulch — Public Access
- Park City mining district — Public Access
- San Francisco Mountains — Public Access
- Clifton mining district — Public Access
- Star Range — Public Access
- Tintic Mountains — Public Access
- Topaz Dome Quarry — Public Access
- Amasa Valley — Public Access
- Antelope Island — Public Access
- Santaquin & Silver Lake mining districts — Public Access
- Bingham Canyon — Public Access
- Wah Wah Mountains — Public Access
- Rocky Range — Public Access
- Modena — Public Access
- Thomas Range — Public Access
- Painter Spring — Public Access
- Thomas Range — Public Access
- Dugway Range — Public Access
- Moses Rock — Public Access
- Gold Mountain — Public Access
- House Range — Public Access
- Sevier Lake — Public Access
- Copper Gulch — Public Access
- Bonanza Flat — Public Access
- Chinle Wash — Public Access
- Comb Ridge — Public Access
- Mule Ear — Public Access
- Strongs Canyon — 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 Utah?
Utah has 30 mapped sites where garnets have been reported. The best-known are Henry mining district, Dugway mining district, and Lincoln Gulch. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many garnets sites are mapped in Utah?
We have 30 documented garnets sites in Utah, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect garnets in Utah?
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 Utah?
Reports from Utah distinguish Arizona Ruby Garnet (2 sites), Andradite (1 site), Grossularite Garnet (1 site), Pyrope (1 site), Pyrope 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.
Data: community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.