Field Trips
Fluorescent Agate & Chalcedony, Piedra River CO.
Photo by Jama Crawford
Registration is Closed for this Trip
Fluorescent Rock Hunt
Saturday Sept 6 and Sunday Sept 7 (Sunday is optional)
This field trip is near Piedra Falls, a destination we've hunted before for blue agates. But it has a twist: we will rockhound at dusk using high intensity longwave UV flashlights. Many local agates and chalcedonies fluoresce yellow, orange, pink, green and blue.
Piedra Falls is about a 2 hour drive from Durango, including dirt road. Participants will receive driving directions to the meeting place.
If plan to spend the night, arrive by 3 pm on Saturday to set up your camp. The campground is free and spacious but has no toilet.
If you are not camping, please arrive by 5 pm on Saturday. We will briefly talk about UV flashlight use and then begin our rock hunt.
Each participant will be loaned a UV flashlight (385-395 nm) by the Club. It is strong enough to pick up fluorescence at a distance of 20 feet but is also a safe wavelength for field use. As for your physical fitness: you should have good balance and patience to move slowly over uneven terrain in dusk conditions.
Please register by Wed Sep 3 so that you receive timely trip information by email. Bring a backpack or bucket, hiking pole, regular working flashlight, jacket with big pockets, trowel, and driving directions. If camping, bring camp gear and water.
The trip is $12 (refund policy is published at bottom). Registration is a two step process. Click on the button below to purchase the Fluorescent Rock Hunt. It is $12 per person. Then email the trip leader Jama to obtain a trip planner and driving directions.
Fluorescent Rock Hunt
Saturday Sept 6 and Sunday Sept 7 (Sunday is optional)
This field trip is near Piedra Falls, a destination we've hunted before for blue agates. But it has a twist: we will rockhound at dusk using high intensity longwave UV flashlights. Many local agates and chalcedonies fluoresce yellow, orange, pink, green and blue.
Piedra Falls is about a 2 hour drive from Durango, including dirt road. Participants will receive driving directions to the meeting place.
If plan to spend the night, arrive by 3 pm on Saturday to set up your camp. The campground is free and spacious but has no toilet.
If you are not camping, please arrive by 5 pm on Saturday. We will briefly talk about UV flashlight use and then begin our rock hunt.
Each participant will be loaned a UV flashlight (385-395 nm) by the Club. It is strong enough to pick up fluorescence at a distance of 20 feet but is also a safe wavelength for field use. As for your physical fitness: you should have good balance and patience to move slowly over uneven terrain in dusk conditions.
Please register by Wed Sep 3 so that you receive timely trip information by email. Bring a backpack or bucket, hiking pole, regular working flashlight, jacket with big pockets, trowel, and driving directions. If camping, bring camp gear and water.
The trip is $12 (refund policy is published at bottom). Registration is a two step process. Click on the button below to purchase the Fluorescent Rock Hunt. It is $12 per person. Then email the trip leader Jama to obtain a trip planner and driving directions.
Sowbelly Amethyst/Agate, Creede CO
Photo by Tom Strain
Creede CO & Last Chance Mine
Friday Sept 12 (optional) and Saturday Sept 13
This field trip led by Cindy Pugsley includes an optional campout Friday night Sept 12, followed by a Saturday morning rock hunt, as well as an afternoon visit to Last Chance Mine where to hunt sowbelly amethyst (pictured).
Creede is a 2 hour 40 minute drive from Durango.
If you want to camp, let's meet at the Creede Visitors Center, 904 S. Main St, on Friday evening at 6 pm. From there we will caravan uphill past the mine to a preselected campsite. This is a fairly good dirt road and an RV can make it. We will have a potluck dinner Friday night (please ask Cindy about potluck items) and tell stories around a campfire. Campers can also go on a Saturday morning rock hunt.
Whether you are camping or not, the entire group will meet at Creede Visitors Center at 1 pm on Saturday. From here we will carpool up to the Last Chance Mine. The mine has very limited parking, so plan to share seats. Here you can collect as much amethyst as you wish, but bring your rock hammer to pick the very best pieces. This stone costs $2 per pound, payable in cash to the mine owner.
If we have time after the mine, there are other rock hounding locations nearby to check out. That evening we can meet in town for dinner, or return to camp, or return home.
Things to Bring: Bucket for rocks, gloves, rock hammer/pick, bug spray, hat, sunscreen, and cash for amethyst. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes for rock hounding. If camping, bring camp gear including TP (and doggy bag to bring TP home again), as well as food items to share if you participate in the potluck.
You must register by Tue Sept 9, 2025. Registration is a 2 step process. Pay $10 per person for the trip below and also call, text, or email Cindy at (847)951-1993 or [email protected]. See the refund policy below.
Friday Sept 12 (optional) and Saturday Sept 13
This field trip led by Cindy Pugsley includes an optional campout Friday night Sept 12, followed by a Saturday morning rock hunt, as well as an afternoon visit to Last Chance Mine where to hunt sowbelly amethyst (pictured).
Creede is a 2 hour 40 minute drive from Durango.
If you want to camp, let's meet at the Creede Visitors Center, 904 S. Main St, on Friday evening at 6 pm. From there we will caravan uphill past the mine to a preselected campsite. This is a fairly good dirt road and an RV can make it. We will have a potluck dinner Friday night (please ask Cindy about potluck items) and tell stories around a campfire. Campers can also go on a Saturday morning rock hunt.
Whether you are camping or not, the entire group will meet at Creede Visitors Center at 1 pm on Saturday. From here we will carpool up to the Last Chance Mine. The mine has very limited parking, so plan to share seats. Here you can collect as much amethyst as you wish, but bring your rock hammer to pick the very best pieces. This stone costs $2 per pound, payable in cash to the mine owner.
If we have time after the mine, there are other rock hounding locations nearby to check out. That evening we can meet in town for dinner, or return to camp, or return home.
Things to Bring: Bucket for rocks, gloves, rock hammer/pick, bug spray, hat, sunscreen, and cash for amethyst. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes for rock hounding. If camping, bring camp gear including TP (and doggy bag to bring TP home again), as well as food items to share if you participate in the potluck.
You must register by Tue Sept 9, 2025. Registration is a 2 step process. Pay $10 per person for the trip below and also call, text, or email Cindy at (847)951-1993 or [email protected]. See the refund policy below.
Thunderegg, Saguache County CO. Photo by Daniel E. Kile, USGS
Del Norte Agate and Thunderegg Hunt
Saturday Sept 20
This field trip explores the Del Norte area for agates and thundereggs, with occasional geodes. The trip leader is Paul Midgley.
The group will meet at the South Fork Visitors Center, 28 Silverthread Lane in South Fork CO, at 11 am where we will consolidate vehicles. It is a 30 minute drive from there to the parking area and we will need high clearance vehicles such as an SUV. Then it is a one mile hike, starting at 8,200 feet and climbing to 8,700 feet under full sun. Before signing up, be sure you have the fitness for this hike.
Bring a backpack with water, sunscreen and snacks. Wear sturdy shoes, appropriate clothes and a sunhat. Registration is a 2 step process. Pay $12 per person for the trip below and also email the trip leader Paul.
Saturday Sept 20
This field trip explores the Del Norte area for agates and thundereggs, with occasional geodes. The trip leader is Paul Midgley.
The group will meet at the South Fork Visitors Center, 28 Silverthread Lane in South Fork CO, at 11 am where we will consolidate vehicles. It is a 30 minute drive from there to the parking area and we will need high clearance vehicles such as an SUV. Then it is a one mile hike, starting at 8,200 feet and climbing to 8,700 feet under full sun. Before signing up, be sure you have the fitness for this hike.
Bring a backpack with water, sunscreen and snacks. Wear sturdy shoes, appropriate clothes and a sunhat. Registration is a 2 step process. Pay $12 per person for the trip below and also email the trip leader Paul.
Field Trips: General Information
How To Enroll. Field trip fees are usually $12 per person unless there are added expenses at the destination to be paid by the Club. Your online payment below will enroll you on the trip. All parties must sign release of liability waivers at the meeting location.
Refunds & Cancellations. If you can't go, you may give away or sell your spot to someone else, but refunds are not issued unless the Club cancels the trip.
How to Get There. All participants are responsible for their own travel to the destination. Before the trip you will receive a trip planner by email with details about the destination, travel directions, road conditions, what to bring, and nearby camping areas.
Membership Requirement. You may attend one Club function (one field trip, open shop, or demo etc.) to find out if you like what the Club has to offer. After that, membership is required to participate. If you see more than one trip on this list you want to attend then please Join the Club. Annual membership prices are very reasonable.
Refunds & Cancellations. If you can't go, you may give away or sell your spot to someone else, but refunds are not issued unless the Club cancels the trip.
How to Get There. All participants are responsible for their own travel to the destination. Before the trip you will receive a trip planner by email with details about the destination, travel directions, road conditions, what to bring, and nearby camping areas.
Membership Requirement. You may attend one Club function (one field trip, open shop, or demo etc.) to find out if you like what the Club has to offer. After that, membership is required to participate. If you see more than one trip on this list you want to attend then please Join the Club. Annual membership prices are very reasonable.