Fandango Pass

Fandango Pass is a gap in the Warner Mountains at 6,135 ft elevation, inside Modoc National Forest, Modoc County, California [1]. It's a genuine piece of emigrant-trail history — the Applegate Trail and Peter Lassen's trail both crossed here between 1846 and 1869, and the pass earned California Historical Landmark status in 1956 [1]. For rockhounds, it sits within Modoc County's broader agate-and-jasper country: the area around Goose Lake and the Warner Mountains is one of the better spots in northern California for agate and jasper, with chalcedony and quartzite also reported [2]. The pass itself is reached via a 10-mile graded gravel road, 1.5 lanes wide, that closes seasonally with winter storms [1]. This is public National Forest land, straightforward to reach in season, with real history as a bonus.

Fandango Pass is reached via Fandango Pass Road (County Road 9), a 10-mile graded gravel road climbing from Surprise Valley, gaining about 1,600 ft over the final 2 miles to the summit [1]. The historical marker sits 10.8 miles east of Highway 395 on Fandango Pass Road [1]. Winter storms cause seasonal closures — check conditions before a cold-weather trip.

General Modoc County/Warner Mountains guidance limits surface collecting to one bucket per day [2] — treat this as a starting point and confirm current limits with the Modoc National Forest office, since collecting rules can change. Standard USFS personal-use rule applies to common agate/jasper/chalcedony/quartzite: surface collecting without digging, for personal use, without a permit. Obsidian is the exception requiring a separate permit and is restricted to other named sites in the forest, not Fandango Pass [3].

Fandango Pass is public land within Modoc National Forest [1]. General USFS personal-use collecting rules apply to the agate/jasper/chalcedony/quartzite found here — no permit needed for reasonable personal-use quantities of common surface material, but check current Modoc National Forest guidance directly, since a one-bucket-per-day limit has been cited for the broader Warner Mountains area [2]. Road access is seasonal — the gravel road can close with winter storms [1]. This is remote high-desert mountain country; bring water, a good spare tire, and check road conditions with the Modoc NF office before heading out in poor weather.