In the vastness between the towns of Delta and Milford lies a small knoll just East of Highway 257. This location is a must to include for any rockhounding trips near either town simply because it is just off the highway and collecting is relatively easy. So far I’ve been several times and it has always been worth the sidetrip.
To my knowledge, most sunstones usually come from the state of Oregon or from Norway, but this little spot in Utah has some really nice yellowish specimens. People you ask will provide different answers as to just where on the knoll is the best place to collect, but most of the activity I have seen is on the Southern tip where there is a little bit of a peak on the Eastern side. My greatest success hasn’t necessarily been on the peak itself where you can see people have been constantly chipping away, but instead on the steep slopes around the peak where the stones will gather amongst the brush. I’ve even found a few that were about 1-1 1/2 inches!
Due to the small nature of the stones, it is necessary to get down on your hands and knees to search (but watch out for thorns!). The majority of the ones I’ve found are about as large as a BB. If I were you, I would try to time my visit when the sun is out or otherwise bring a flashlight. That way you can get the gleam off of the stones and they are much easier to see.
I understand that this location is actually still under claim, but the owners allow for public collecting in reasonable quantities. For the amount of traffic the location receives, it is very well kept. The only thing I had a problem with was the broken glass scattered about from people who had been there before. The pieces of broken glass can easily be mistaken for pieces of sunstone.
Any kind of vehicle should be able to get to this location. The only sketchy part is when you first cross the railroad tracks that divide the highway from the knoll. You have to hit it just right or you might just end up in a pothole. After that, I would recommend parking at the base, unless you are feeling daring and want to take the road that cuts right up through the middle of the hill. Most people will go around the hill (either way) and end up at the Southeastern part I mentioned earlier.
Directions to Sunstone Knoll:
From the intersection of 800 North and I-15 in Orem, Utah
1. Drive South on I-15 for 43.7 miles
2. Take Nephi exit 228 and keep right on Main Street (SW) for 2.7 miles
3. Turn Right (West) on W 100 North for 33.2 miles until you hit Highway 6
4. Turn left (South) on Highway 6 for 16 miles until you hit Highway 50
5. Take a right (West) into the town of Delta on Highway 50 for 5.5 miles
6. Turn left (South) on Highway 257 toward Milford for 13.3 miles and your destination will be on the left (East)
A couple of places that might be worth a look for sunstones:
1. Ant hills. You won’t find huge ones but the hills are often covered in smaller specimens.
2. Erosion valleys and their sides. I have found a lot of bits in the natural catch basins formed by rocks and shrubs.
3. When the erosion valleys spill across the dirt roads there will be lots of stones lying about.
Of course, having the sun lower in the sky also helps a lot.
Personally, I like the northeast side of the hill.
If you are jumpy, there are a lot of lizards running around out there. The whiptails are pretty big and move quickly enough that they might startle you. Last time out, I found a Horny Toad. Great little animals.
I haven’t seen any rattlesnakes out there in a while. I did run across a very grumpy gopher snake.
One last thing. You might find small white snail shells in some of the draws or around the road. Most are less than half an inch. These are small and fragile. if you pick them up but it doesn’t take long to have a handful if you are into that sort of thing. I know at least one limestone cliff where you can carefully dig them out and keep them in the matrix. Who knew sunstones and fossils mix?
Thanks so much for the directions, they are great. For those who don’t know Matt, he is great and super fun to go on trips with.