My Dad and I had signed up to go hunting down near St. George for some agate with a group of other fellow rock hounds. Unfortunately, when we got there early on Saturday morning, they had cancelled due to recent heavy rains. The areas they had planned on going were in nearby canyons and the chance of flooding or getting stuck was just too high to be worth it.
Since we didn’t want to drive all the way down there for nothing, we figured we’d hit up some of the safer areas in the reference books we had read or other areas we had heard about. The most productive area we visited ended up being just South of the small town of Summit (in between Cedar City and Parowan).
We drove up the road a little ways and, upon getting out of the car, I saw instantly that we were in the right place. Lots and lots of blues, reds, oranges, yellows, whites, and blacks. Such vibrant colors! I knew this area was famous for the sky blue agate many people use for making cabochons or other jewelry and so the hunt was on.
When you get to this area (which is being developed more and more for housing each year), it is tempting to look in the flat areas near the road and in the washes, but we actually had the most success trekking up into the steeper foothills to where the source was.
Walking along the road, I also found a small bullet that had already been fired. The side of it was all melted and scratched like it had grazed off of a tree or rock or something. The odds of finding something like that out in the wild just seem crazy.
It is always great to have a rock hounding buddy and I was fortunate that my dad was able to come along on this day. I think he is already addicted after just one trip ha ha ha! The general area around Cedar City, Parowan, and Brian Head ski resort is known for having a great variety of high quality agate and I am stoked to return to some of the other nearby areas.
Directions to Summit:
From the intersection of 800 North and I-15 in Orem, Utah
1. Drive South on I-15 for 201 miles until exit 71 for Summit, Utah
2. Upon exiting, turn left (East) toward the town
3. After going under the freeway, turn right on the first street you come to called Summer Tree Drive
4. Drive 1.85 miles until you hit a street that goes left (East) up into the mountains and turn there
5. After about .4 miles or so there is a fork in the road. You can hang a right and stop whenever/wherever you’d like. Look to the South all over these foothills
Thank you!! The dirt road was too thick with mud to travel but we found a back way in. We had So much fun and found some beautiful agates! I appreciate this tip so much! Great day of making memories with my kids!
Just drove up there but that road is closed from January- April 30. I’ll have to go back. Went up the left road just to check it out. Not too much up there. I did see a bald eagle so I’m leaving happy.
Hounded here as well. So much awesome stuff! We tried digging one piece out of the ground, and it just kept getting bigger and bigger. Had to fill the hole back in and leave it.