Black Hills Rockhound Area
Rockhounding / fossil site · Graham County, AZ
Black Hills Rockhound Area is a rockhounding area listed by the Bureau of Land Management. BLM rules generally allow collecting reasonable amounts of rocks and minerals for noncommercial use; check the BLM page for current rules.
| Type | Rockhounding / fossil site (BLM rockhounding area) |
|---|---|
| Location | Graham County, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 32.87397, -109.39496 (map) |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| Fees | No fee (per BLM) |
| Hours | Call to confirm |
| Phone | 928-348-4400 |
| Website | https://www.blm.gov/visit/black-hills-rockhound-area |
About this site
This rockhound area makes a great day adventure for rock collectors. The principal attraction for rock collectors here is fire agate. Fire agate is a relatively new gemstone, only identified and formally recognized in the 1930s. It has the color play of precious opal with gem quality reds, greens, and blues. The desert regions of Arizona, southern California, and central Mexico are the only areas of the world where fire agate is known to occur. Although its origin is unknown, it is always associated with volcanic deposits. The site is open for digging by the public without fees or permits. Camping throughout the area is allowed for up to two weeks. Black Hills Rockhound Area is open year-round, but the summers can be hot and dry with temperatures reaching above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Description from Bureau of Land Management.
Directions
Black Hills rockhound area is located on the north side of Arizona route 191, between Safford and Clifton, about 18 miles north of Safford. Access is easiest from U.S. Highway 191, just east of milepost 141.
Verify before visiting. Hours, fees, access and collecting rules change, and some listings come from community-edited data. Call or check the operator's official page before you go. Details we could not confirm are marked "call to confirm".
Nearby sites
- Bear Springs Badlands – Graham County, AZ, 33 mi
- Round Mountain Rockhound Area – Greenlee County, AZ, 33 mi
- Queen Mine Tours – Cochise County, AZ, 104 mi
- Lynx Creek Gold Pan Day Use Area – Yavapai County, AZ, 206 mi
- Vulture Mine Tours / Vulture City Ghost Town – Wickenburg, AZ, 209 mi
Source: BLM: Black Hills Rockhound Area. Data retrieved 2026-11-04.