Rockhounding in Oregon

3 verified locations for rockhounding in Oregon. Each page includes exact permit requirements, restrictions, and what to know before you go.

3 Allowed

Loading map…

Allowed

Glass Buttes (BLM)

Oregon, Lake·Rockhounding

Glass Buttes is open BLM land in the Oregon high desert where four varieties of obsidian — including rare fire obsidian — lie on the surface for personal-use collecting. The 25 lb/day limit applies. The catch most visitors don't expect: the site was a major Native American quarry for 10,000 years, and worked obsidian pieces are protected under ARPA regardless of how natural they look.

Surface collection of raw obsidian is allowed under BLM personal-use rules — 25 lbs per person per day, 250 lbs per year (43 CFR § 3622.2)
ARPA (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) prohibits collecting any worked obsidian — projectile points, scrapers, or any piece showing human modification. Glass Buttes was quarried for ~10,000 years and worked material is mixed into the surface scatter

Allowed

Hampton Butte (BLM)

Oregon, Deschutes·Rockhounding

Hampton Butte is an open BLM site in Deschutes County where surface collection of picture jasper — including dendritic and landscape-pattern varieties — is allowed under the 25 lb/day personal-use limit. Most visitors driving US-20 stop at Glass Buttes for obsidian; those who continue past Hampton find different material entirely.

Surface collection of rocks, minerals, and jasper is allowed under BLM personal-use rules — 25 lbs per person per day, 250 lbs per year (43 CFR § 3622.2)
No permit required for personal non-commercial use; commercial collection requires a mineral materials permit from BLM Prineville Field Office

Allowed

Succor Creek State Natural Area

Oregon, Malheur·Rockhounding

Succor Creek State Natural Area in eastern Oregon's Owyhee canyon country allows rockhounding within the state natural area without a permit for personal-use collection. The creek canyon cuts through Miocene rhyolite exposures that produce thunder eggs, jasper, and occasional obsidian nodules. Adjacent BLM land — the primary destination for serious thunder egg collectors — is open for free personal-use collection under standard BLM rules.

Personal-use rockhounding is allowed within the Oregon State Natural Area under Oregon Parks and Recreation Department rules — collection for personal non-commercial use without a permit
The adjacent BLM land (much of the broader Succor Creek area) follows standard BLM personal-use policy: 25 pounds per day, 250 pounds per year, no permit for personal use