Geodes in California
1 legal place to look for geodes in California — fees, seasons, and official sources below.
Where it's legal to look
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Wiley Well District Geode Beds
Blythe, CA
geodesagate noduleschalcedony
BLM collecting area · Free · free, no permit for reasonable personal-use collecting. Note the widely repeated 25 lb per day plus one piece / 250 lb per year figure is the federal petrified wood rule, not the geode limit — BLM's test for rock and mineral collecting is a reasonable, non-commercial amount. Call the El Centro Field Office (760-337-4400) for current limits
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Questions collectors ask
Where can I find geodes in California?
Start with the 1 legal place listed on this page — each shows what you can find, its fees, and its season, with a link to the official source. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Can I collect at old geode mines in California?
Treat California's historic mines as history, not destinations. Most sit on private land or active mining claims, and old workings are dangerous even to walk. The state page's mineral record tells you what the ground holds — the directory tells you where you are welcome to look for it.