The 20 Best Treasure-Hunting Spots in America

Who doesn’t want to come away from their vacation with some long-lost buried treasure in hand? It might sound like something straight out of your childhood dreams, but in reality, there are dozens of operating mines and state parks in the United States that allow visitors to go hunting for treasure (and even keep what they find!).

The following spots are some of the best treasure-hunting destinations in the country. These locations offer all sorts of goodies, including gold, diamonds, and more semi-precious souvenirs.

Be sure to double-check the opening hours of any parks or mines you’re interested in visiting, as many are open seasonally.

New Mexico

Thundereggs — otherwise known as geodes — are the treasures that keeps on giving, and your best bet of finding one of your own is at Rockhound State Park in New Mexico. At first glance, geodes look like your average rock, but once opened up with a chisel they boast things like amethyst, rose, quartz, and more. Keep in mind that treasure hunters visiting Rockhound State Park are permitted to bring 15 pounds of rock home with them.

California

Big Sur is famous for its Jade Cove Trail, where serious rockhounds dive into the ocean to hunt for jade. You don’t have to be a certified diver in order to find treasure, though; jade pebbles are easy to unearth on the coastline at low tide after particularly rough storms. Keep in mind that there are strict rules regarding exactly where and how much jade you can take home with you — but it shouldn’t hinder your chances of being able to take home some pretty good treasure.

Nevada

Bonanza Opal Mine in Nevada’s Virgin Valley is the ideal destination if you’re looking to combine treasure hunting with a little rest and relaxation. The mine opens over Memorial Day weekend and closes after Labor Day weekend, with free camping available at the Virgin Valley Campground. You’ll also have the chance to dip into the nearby spring-fed swimming hole after a day of uncovering gems. It’s worth noting that Bonanza also boasts all the tools you’ll need to treasure hunt for a small fee.

New Mexico

Glorieta Mountain in New Mexico is considered one of the best spots to search if you’re keen on uncovering meteorites, thanks to its deserts and dry lake beds. Meteorites are made of iron-nickel, which means your best bet in finding your own souvenir from the sky will be with a metal detector.

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North Carolina

If you’re an equal opportunist treasure hunter, you’ll want to pay a visit to Emerald Hollow Mine in North Carolina. The mine has everything from amethysts to aquamarines, but you’re most likely to find its namesake emeralds. The best part is that this mine allows you to make appointments at its lapidary to have your treasures cut, polished, and even turned into jewelry.

South Dakota

The Black Hills in South Dakota is a popular spot for treasure hunters looking to find dinosaur fossils and other Jurassic-period fossils. It’s not uncommon to find pieces of bone aged more than 145 million years old in the Badlands region of the state. Make sure to bring the right tools so you can free your fossils without damaging them — think trowels, whisks, and even a quick-setting glue for holding particularly delicate fossils together during the removal process.

Arkansas

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro is one of the best places in the country to find your very own diamonds; more than 33,000 diamonds have been found there since it opened its doors as a state park in 1972. There are more than 37 acres of land for treasure hunters to explore, as well as plenty of walking trails, designated picnic states, and even the Diamond Springs Water Park.

California

Roaring Camp makes it easy to become a full-time gold digger. The camp is open from May through September and allows visitors to pan for gold or use a sluice box to sift through gold-bearing gravel piles. The best part? Roaring Camp also offers a Dirt of the Month Club where members can receive a 13- to 15-pound bag of dirt each month to sift for gold from home!

Nevada

The Royston Mine in Tonopah, Nevada is run by one of the last remaining mining families in the state. This mine is known for its turquoise, and while visitors are not allowed to go into the mines, they’re welcome to watch. Visitors can also pay to go through the tailing piles (note the three-hour time limit) and are permitted to bring home one bucketful of turquoise.

North Carolina

This family-friendly location in the Blue Ridge Mountains is an excellent option if you’re looking to get the whole family involved in treasure hunting. Guests can head to the flume mine to screen buckets of dirt or embark on guided tours of the Gem Mountain’s private mines. Gemstone Mine also offers services to cut, polish, and transform your finds into jewelry as requested.

Oregon

Spectrum Sunstone Mine in Oregon is your best bet if your ideal version of treasure hunting involves shimmering sunstone gems. Visitors are invited to sift through unprocessed ore for free or can pay a fee to hunt through high-grade pits. If you want guaranteed treasure, you can always pick sunstones from the commercial screen plant conveyor belt for an additional fee. The mine is open from May through November, and Spectrum also offers on-site camping for those sticking around for more than one day.

Alabama

The Alabama Gold Camp is an excellent option for novice and experienced treasure hunters alike. The camp is set on more than 10 miles of creek that is open for guests to mine with their own equipment (although tools are available to rent as well). This camp has prospecting shacks available to rent for overnight stays and a general store with drinks and snacks to help fuel your treasure hunting.

North Carolina

The Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine in North Carolina is a great spot for beginner prospectors. Instead of sending you out on your own, this mine walks visitors through how to identify “in the rough” gemstones before setting out to sift through their bucket of “gem ore” for rubies, sapphires, and more.

New York

The Herkimer Diamond Mines are one of the best options if you don’t want to be limited by the amount of treasure you’re allowed to bring home with you; the New York mine allows you to keep everything you find during your treasure hunt. The admission fee includes everything you need to search, including a rock hammer and Ziploc bags for you to safely store what you find. This mine has multiple levels of accommodations for those who want to stay the night, ranging from on-site campsites to a luxury resort.

Colorado

This unique Colorado experience will take you on a guided tour straight into the Galena Mountain, and includes live demonstrations of mining equipment as well as the opportunity to pan for your very own gold.

California

Did you know that benitoite — a rare blue stone — is the official state gemstone of California? If you’re keen to learn more about the unique gem, head to Benitoite Mining Company in Coalinga, California. Visitors will receive all the gear required to hunt for gemstones — think shovels, screens, washing tables — and staff are available to help identify gemstones as needed.

Nevada

The Virgin Valley in Nevada is famous for its opal mines, and Rainbow Ridge is one of the best options. Treasure hunters can choose from either tailings digging (going through material that has already been mined) or virgin ground loads (fresh dirt) in order to find and keep their own opals.

North Carolina

Rose Creek Gem Mine in North Carolina is an awesome spot for beginners; the staff walk newbie miners through the entire process, from digging up dirt in the mining tunnel to sifting for treasure in the covered flume. This mine has been operating since 1952 and is known for its rhodolite garnet, quartz crystals, kyanite, and more.

Georgia

Graves Mountain is considered to be the most famous rock-collecting site in Georgia, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find your fair share of treasure. The complex geology of the site has resulted in an abundance of pyrite, sericite, kyanite, quartz crystals, and more waiting to be discovered. Groups interested in treasure hunting will need to reserve the mountain, and while entrance is free, it’s generally expected to tip the mountain’s caretaker for his time and effort.

Nevada

Treasure hunting and jet-setting converge at Otteson Brothers Turquoise in the Nevada Desert. The Otteson family was featured on the Amazon Prime show “Turquoise Fever,” and fans and rockhounds alike are invited to join the family on a mine tour. Throughout the tour you’ll experience safety tips and help with digging — and you’ll get to keep all the turquoise you find in your bucket.