Oregon is an amazing playground for anyone who loves rocks, especially jasper! Here, you can find this gem almost everywhere. But with so many places to explore, you might get overwhelmed choosing a few to visit.
Don’t worry because we’ll share with you the great sites to find jasper in our state based on our personal experiences. Among them are the Ochoco Lake, Crater Lake National Park, Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Yachat, and Clear Creek.
If you’re excited to find your own piece of jasper, Oregon is definitely one of the best places to start. We’ll share more about these spots and how you can find this gem in each of them. Let’s get movin’!
What Is Oregon Jasper Anyway?
Jasper is a type of quartz, which is a very common mineral. It’s usually red, yellow, brown, or green, and sometimes it has beautiful patterns that make each piece unique. Its colors and patterns are big clues when identifying jasper.
In the past, this gem was made into tools and weapons because it’s strong and doesn’t break easily. Today, people mostly use jasper for jewelry and decoration because of its captivating colors and patterns.
The value of jasper is influenced by a lot of factors, including its beauty and uniqueness. Since no two pieces are exactly the same, each one is like having your own little piece of natural art.
If you’re wondering where to find this gem, the good news is it’s found all over the world! Some places, though, are famous for it. Oregon, for example, is one of them.
The Types Of Jasper Found In Oregon
When you’re out and about to find jasper in our state, you have the chance to uncover different types of this wonder, such as:
- Brecciated jasper
- Crater Lake flower jasper
- Green jasper
- Ochoco jasper
- Orbicular jasper
- Red jasper
- Wascoit jasper
If you’re also keen on finding other equally-stunning natural treasures, you can check out our guide to crystal mining in Oregon, too.
- The deep experience and understanding of our team about the area
- Recommendations from local groups and clubs
- How easy it is to get the a particular location
- Safety and potential hazards when collecting
- Weighing private and public locations
- The ability for both experienced and novice rock enthusiasts to find great samples
With these factors in mind we’ve been able to put together a fantastic list that just about anyone can use!
The Best Places To Find Jasper
With its rich geology, it’s no surprise that there are many amazing gem mine sites in Oregon. But if your sight is solely focused on finding jasper, here are our top recommended sites for you to explore:
Always Confirm Access and Collection Rules!
Before heading out to any of the locations on our list you need to confirm access requirements and collection rules for both public and private locations.
These requirements are subject to change without notice and may differ from what we state below.
Always get updated information directly from the source ahead of time to ensure responsible rockhounding.
Ochoco Lake
Ochoco Lake is surrounded by the scenic Ochoco Mountains, a part of the majestic Cascade Range. The area is a blend of beautiful pine forests, rolling hills, and open landscapes.
The geology around this lake is what draws rock enthusiasts. It’s known for its rich volcanic history, which has resulted in a variety of unique geological formations.
One of these is Ochoco jasper, which is unique to the area. It’s renowned for its stunning patterns and array of colors. It often features reds, yellows, and browns, sometimes with intricate banding or orbicular designs.
From the town of Prineville in Central Oregon, you can go here by taking Highway 26 east for about 7 miles. Then, turn onto Ochoco Lake Road, which leads directly to the lake.
Always make sure that you’re abiding by Oregon’s local collecting guidelines as you explore for jasper within our state.
Where we found jasper in the Ochoco Lake
You can find Ochoco jasper if you explore the shores above the dam at Ochoco Lake.
The tools every gem hunter will need
When you're out looking for gems it's very important that you bring the right tools with you. You don't need a lot for most trips but there are a handful that are critical and will make your life a lot easier.
We get asked a lot about the equipment we use. Over the years we've found a handful of tools that we recommend to both new and experienced gem miners which we outline in great detail in our complete rockhounding equipment guide. These are quality options that also happen to be relatively inexpensive.
Below are the basic tools that make your life so much easier and save you a ton of time. Check out the full guide to see everything we recommend bringing. One quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but we try very hard to only recommend gear we would use ourselves and often recommend brands you can't find on Amazon.
At a minimum you should have:
1 - Sturdy rock hammer: The Estwing Rock Pick is our standard
2 - Rugged chisels: Try Kendo' 3-piece Chisel Set
3 - Compact shovel: The Koleiya 28-inch shovel works well
4 - Rock screen pan: The Wazakura Soil Sieve Set fits the bill
5 - Eye protection: DeWalt Safety Glasses are cheap and comfortable
6 - Head protection: Malta's Safety Helmet has been our go-to
7 - Jewelers lens with at least 20x magnification: Jarlink's Jewelers Loop is perfect
The gem-finding books that we use most
There are also a few books that have been extremely helpful in the search for gems. These books have great recommendations and tips:
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America
Northwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide
Earth Treasures: The Northwestern Quadrant
We provide links to find these tools on Amazon but some can also be found at your local hardware stores. For more recommendations check out the link to our full tool guide above.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is famous for its deep blue lake, which is actually a caldera formed by the collapse of a volcano called Mount Mazama about 7,700 years ago. Located in southern Oregon, it’s surrounded by forests and mountains.
This area is a hotspot for volcanic activity, which has shaped the land over thousands of years. This has made it a great place to find the beautiful and rare Crater Lake flower jasper, which has stunning patterns that resemble flowers.
The terrain in Crater Lake National Park varies from rugged cliffs to thick forests. It has numerous trails that range from easy walks to more challenging hikes.
It’s located about 80 miles northeast of Medford. You can drive there via Highway 62, which leads directly to the west entrance of the park. The north entrance, meanwhile, is accessible via Highway 138.
Where we found jasper in the Crater Lake National Park
Explore the trails immediately south of the Crater Lake National Park to find Crater Lake flower jasper. But keep in mind that rock collecting is allowed only in certain areas of the lake, so it’s important to follow park rules to protect this beautiful place.
Warm Springs Indian Reservation
Warm Springs Indian Reservation is home to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. It’s located in central Oregon, covering a large area with diverse landscapes. Truly, it’s a place rich in history and natural beauty.
This area includes parts of the Cascade Range and is characterized by rugged mountains, rolling hills, and beautiful valleys. The Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius rivers run through the reservation.
You can find interesting brecciated jasper in this place. It’s a special kind of jasper that looks like it’s made of broken pieces stuck together. Each piece has a different pattern, and the colors can range from red and brown to yellow and even green.
Getting to Warm Springs is straightforward. From Portland, take US-26 E. It’s about a two-hour drive.
Where we found jasper in the Warm Springs Indian Reservation
To find brecciated jasper, you can explore the general area of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, but there are some important things to remember.
Since it’s a reservation, you need to respect the land and the tribe’s rules. Always make sure to get permission before rock hunting.
Yachats
Yachats is a small coastal town located along the scenic Oregon Coast, about midway between Newport and Florence. It’s known for its stunning ocean views, rocky shores, and the lush Siuslaw National Forest nearby.
The geography around here is a mix of rugged coastline with cliffs and tide pools, and forested areas with rivers and streams. The ocean brings in rocks from far away, and the rivers help uncover hidden gems in the forest.
If you’re looking for jasper, you can find orbicular jasper here, which has circular patterns that look like little orbs or eyes. A really unique find!
Want to visit Yachats? It’s an easy trip. If you’re coming from the north or south along the Oregon Coast, just follow Highway 101. This scenic route will take you right to Yachats.
Where we found jasper in Yachats
Enjoy the view and soak in the smell of the ocean breeze as you explore the area beaches of Yachats where you can find orbicular jasper.
Clear Creek
Clear Creek is located in the Willamette Valley, near the small town of Corvallis. It’s an area rich in natural beauty, with lush forests and clear, flowing waters.
The creek winds through a valley surrounded by hills and forests. It has a mix of terrains, from flat, easy-to-walk areas along the creek to more rugged, hilly regions in the surrounding forests.
The geology of Clear Creek is what makes it stand out. Its water flow helps uncover various rocks, including different types of jasper that come in various colors like red, yellow, or even green, and sometimes have unique patterns.
If you’re interested in visiting Clear Creek, getting here is not difficult. From Corvallis, take Highway 20 east for about 15 miles. Then turn onto Clear Creek Drive, which will lead you towards the creek.
Where we found jasper in the Clear Creek
Search through the gravels and gravel bars southwest of Clear Creek to find amazing specimens of jasper.
Other Great Places To Find Jasper
As we’ve said, Oregon is THE place to go for some jasper wonders. Besides our top recommended places, below are some more great sites that you can explore for this gem.
Our recommendations by county
| County | Location |
| Baker | Shirttail Creek |
| Clatsop | Pacific Ocean beaches in Astoria |
| Clatsop | Nehalem River |
| Crook | West side and all land surfaces, draws, and washes |
| Crook | Ochoco Reservoir |
| Crook | Coyle Spring area |
| Crook | Carey Agate Beds |
| Curry | Ocean beaches along entire county, including Chetco River |
| Curry | Rogue River |
| Curry | Brookings area ocean beach gravels |
| Douglas | Davis Creek |
| Douglas | South Umpqua River |
| Grant | All regional draws, washes, land surfaces in John Day |
| Harney | Steens Mountains |
| Harney | Harney Valley |
| Harney | Warm Springs Reservoir |
| Jackson | Green Springs Mountain |
| Jefferson | Ashwood area |
| Jefferson | General region of Madras |
| Jefferson | Fulton Agate Beds (formerly Priday Ranch) |
| Jefferson/td> | Willowdale area surfaces, draws, washes |
| Josephine | Oregon Caves |
| Josephine | Althouse Creek |
| Klamath | Klamath River |
| Lake | All surrounding desert area in Lakeview |
| Lake | Crane Canyon |
| Lake | Hart Mountain |
| Lake | Quartz Mountain |
| Lane | Mt. Pisgah |
| Lane | Willamette River and its tributaries |
| Lincoln | Beach gravels of Agate Beach |
| Lincoln | China Creek to Commings Creek beach gravels |
| Malheur | Brogan surrounding area |
| Malheur | Ironside surrounding area |
| Malheur | Willow Creek Reservoir |
| Malheur | Jordan Creek |
| Malheur | All area draws, washes, surfaces of Jordan Valley |
| Malheur | Area immediately surrounding town in Nyssa |
| Malheur | Basalt rimrocks along regional creek valleys |
| Malheur | Owyhee Reservoir Dam |
| Malheur | Sucker Creek |
| Polk | Area land surfaces in Dallas |
| Sherman | Rufus area in Biggs |
| Tillamook | Ocean beach gravels of entire county south of Oceanlake |
| Union | Orofino Mine |
| Wasco | Antelope general area |
| Wasco | Bear Springs Forest Camp at Sunflower Flats |
| Wasco | Wapinitia |
| Wheeler | Clarno Fossil Beds |
Laws about collecting jasper
Collecting jasper in Oregon is generally allowed, but it’s important to know the rules and regulations.
On public lands, like national forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas, small-scale collecting for personal use is usually permitted. However, there are limits on the amount you can take, and commercial collecting requires a permit.
On private lands, you must have the landowner’s permission to collect jasper. In state parks and certain protected areas, rock collecting may be restricted or prohibited to preserve the natural environment.
Always follow the local guidelines and practice responsible collecting to ensure these natural treasures are available for future generations to enjoy. To check specific regulations in the area you’ll visit, check with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.
The Best Places To Buy Jasper
You can also pay a visit to our trusted local rock and mineral shops that have stunning displays of jasper and many other gems and crystals.
Below are some of them:
- 5 Elements Gem and Mineral – 2100 W Broadway, Eugene, OR 97402
- Flux Crystals – 280 W Broadway, Eugene, OR 97401
- Mystery Gallery – 13750 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Oak Grove, OR 97222
- Rock Your World – 3203 SE Hwy 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367
- Scott’s Rock & Gem – 1009 Talent Ave, Talent, OR 97540
