How to Rockhound in Washington State

A Beginner’s Guide from a Crystal Shop Owner Who Loves the Land

Living in Port Townsend, we are surrounded by some of the most magical rockhounding terrain in the country.

Washington State is rich with agates, jasper, petrified wood, geodes, thundereggs, and all kinds of mineral treasures. And while I source crystals from around the world for Soulful Abundance, there is something very special about finding a stone yourself.

It feels different.

It feels earned.
It feels connected.
It feels like the Earth handed you a gift.

If you’ve ever wanted to try rockhounding, here’s a simple, grounded guide to get you started.

What Is Rockhounding?

Rockhounding is the recreational collecting of rocks, minerals, and sometimes fossils. It’s often done on beaches, riverbeds, forest land, or open desert areas.

It is not mining.
It is not excavation.
It is slow, patient treasure hunting.

And in Washington, we are very lucky; there are many areas where small-scale, personal collecting is allowed.

Some general regions known for rockhounding include:

• Olympic Peninsula beaches (agates and jasper)

• Walker Valley, Skagit County (geodes)

• Greenwater area, near Mount Rainier (agates, jaspers, and chalcedony

• Central Washington (petrified wood)

• Lewis County (carnelians)

• Certain rivers and DNR-managed lands

I intentionally do not give exact coordinates. Part of respecting the land is not overexposing it.

Before heading out, always check regulations through the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Rules can change, and certain lands (like National Parks) prohibit collecting entirely.

Know the Rules - This is important.

In Washington State:

• Collecting is not allowed in National Parks.

• Many State Parks restrict or prohibit collecting.

• DNR-managed lands often allow limited personal-use collecting.

• There are usually limits on how much you can take.

• Digging and tools may be restricted in certain areas.

At Soulful Abundance, we believe in ethical collecting. (Here is the link to the DNR website.)

Take only what is freely offered.
Leave the place better than you found it.
Never dig aggressively into fragile ecosystems.

The land is not a place to harvest without thought. It is alive!

What to Bring Rockhounding

Keep it simple:

• Gloves

• A small bucket

• A rock hammer (only where permitted)

• Water and snacks

• A tide chart if you’re beach hunting

• Patience

Agates especially require patience. You will walk. And walk. And walk. And then suddenly… one glows back at you!

Finding Carnelians in Washington

Carnelian is essentially a red to orange variety of chalcedony (in the agate family). In Washington, you’re not typically finding polished, gemmy deep-red carnelian as you might see from Madagascar, but you can find beautiful translucent orange to reddish agates that qualify as carnelian.

You’re most likely to find them:

• On gravel beaches along the Olympic Peninsula

• In riverbeds after high water moves sediment

• Mixed among common agates - look for deeper orange or reddish glow

Here’s the key:

Carnelian often looks dull when dry. When wet, it glows.

If you’re beach hunting, bring a small spray bottle of water. Mist stones as you scan. The ones that suddenly light up in warm orange tones? Those are your treasures!

A Slightly Witchy Note 🌙

Before you start collecting, it’s nice to acknowledge Earth for the gifts it gives us.

Before collecting, pause, breathe, look around you, and say thank you. You can ask for permission to gather the stones, and afterward, give thanks for your treasures.

You do not have to believe in anything mystical to understand this: when we slow down and acknowledge the land, we move differently. More respectfully. More attentively.

And honestly? The best stones tend to find you when you aren’t forcing it, and you are open to the rock finding you.

What If You’d Rather Not Dig?

Not everyone wants to tromp through mud or watch tide charts.

That’s okay too.

At Soulful Abundance, we source beautiful specimens and polished stones from suppliers. Some of us are gatherers. Some of us are curators.

We have our local rockhound, Blake, who brings in stunning carnelians.
And Kahlia from Woodland Metalsmith has her jewelry, featuring local stones she collected and polished, featured in the store. (follow Woodland Metalsmith on Instagram)

Our Earth is magnificent. And when she hands you a stone, it will feel like magic.