If you love precious stones, and enjoy rockhounding, Garnet Hill is the place to explore!  Garnet Hill, known as the Garnet Fields Rockhound area, is located 5 miles on Hwy 50 northwest of Ely on 1,280-acres of BLM recreational area.   At the top of the hill, you will see amazing views of the mining hills, mountains and surrounding areas.

You can find the rocks two different methods:  just find them lying on the ground, or, by digging and breaking the rock.  Try to find an area that hasn’t been thoroughly searched yet.  Good spots are often found near a tree or bush to dig a hole.  The garnets are embedded in the rock, so as you pull rocks out of the ground, look them over carefully.  If you see holes in them, you may have found a good rock; it may be broken open and you’ll find a garnet or two inside.

If you are going to rockhound, bring gloves, a pickaxe, rock hammer, bucket, safety eye protection, hat, sunscreen and wear very good walking or hiking shoes.  It’s also recommended to wear long pants – you need to use caution and watch out for rattlesnakes… and other venomous critters!

Be sure to bring lots of water and some snacks with you.  And, remember, you’re at over at over 7,000 feet above sea level… if you’re not accustomed to the high altitude, take it easy and make frequent breaks.

Have lots of fun and good luck finding a garnet to turn into a beautiful piece of jewelry, or just a nice piece of rock for a one-of-a-kind paperweight.

DIRECTIONS

When you head northwest on Hwy 50 out of Ely, be sure to keep an eye out for the sign – it is difficult to spot.  Watch for the train tunnel on the right, and you will see the exit soon after.    

The dirt road takes you to the Garnet Hill turnoff on the right side after about 3.1 miles.  Watch for the “Y” in the road.   You will see a small garnet hill sign with mileage of 1.4 miles.  This will take you to the top area with a map, restrooms and an incredible view!

HISTORY

The volcano that produced the garnets in the Garnet Hill area erupted the same time mammals were becoming dominant and modern plants were evolving between 32 and 40 million years ago.  When you visit Garnet Hill, the ground you will be standing on was actually several hundred feet below the volano’s surface.  Rhyolite, the fine-grained igneous rock that is the volcanic form of granite, was being formed within the volcano.  The garnet crystals formed from the last bit of liquid cooling within the park. 

The crystals vary in size from small grains to crystals of one-quarter inch in diameter.  The color varies from deep red to brownish red and orange.  Rarely crystals of one half-inch size are found.  The garnets at Garnet Hill are of the almandine group; almandine is composed of iron, aluminum silicate, hence creating those colors.

The garnets in this area were mostly likely discovered by early prospectors in the 1870s who were searching for ore deposits in the area.  In 1917. Geologist A.C. Spencer wrote a report on the ore deposit in and around Ely.  On December 22, 1970, Garnet Hill and the surrounding area the Garnet fields rockhound area were withdrawn from the mineral entry when the Garnet Fields Rockhound area was created to ensure continued public recreational and scientific uses of the site.