Garnets can be found on the ground. I'm leaving with some beautiful finds! They are Almandine Garnets, a dark red almost black in color.
Three miles on a dirt road. Steep incline near the top. There is a pit toilet, picnic tables, fire rings, grills, and a 5 tent sites, one with an outstanding view. Saw a few smaller motorhomes, and was surprised they made it. I wouldn't reccomend large rigs/RVs. Use your own judgement.
Verizon cell 📲 works.
Safe and peaceful. Bring water. There is no water.
This area was volcanically active 32 to 40 mya. The garnets are in rhyolite. The term for the host rock is Matrix. Almandine Garnets can be found in the Matrix, or laying on the ground solo. A hole in the Matrix where a garnet formed is called a Vug.
If you see Vugs, or garnets in rocks you might want to scan/comb the area.
Follow the washouts, and walk slowly, and slightly bent when possible, or sit on the ground. The garnets will look like dark spots. Juniper berries, broken glass and charcoal spoof.
There is a book to sign because you can get lost. Pay attention to your whereabouts.
Bring at least 4 bottles of water per person, hat, snacks & toliet paper, if heading further away from the main area. I went with two others, and found all of mine further out.
Do not wear open toed shoes or sandals. You'll be walking on sharp rocks, and need good footing. Also there are scorpions out here, but they come out at night (and glow blue). Watch where you're walking. Bring gloves or something to move the rocks with. Mostly garnets are going to lay solo on the ground.
Some garnet hunt at night with head lamps.
I found plenty of wood. Forest is Juniper and Pinyon. Pinyon has sap that accumulates on the bark, base of the tree or cones. This sap is excellent for starting a fire. Rhe picnic tables closest to the rest room is on a concrete base with a Pinyon next to it. The sap pools into the base.
Bring a backpack or hiking bag for your supplies, then place it on the ground, as you hunt. You're out here too long to carry it constantly, and it gets hot. I was here August 2021.
Pit toliet: Keep the lid down. They have a design to exit the smell when the lid is down. If the lid is up, the smell goes inside.
Garnet Hill is free.
The stone below the quarter is a Topaz from Topaz mountain, and a gift from another woman traveling solo. If you don't find garnets, you're sure to make friends.