Crystal Park
Wise River, Montana
quartz crystalssmoky quartzamethyst
Forest Service collecting area · Fee, seasonal
Crystal Park
The Forest Service set aside a tract of crumbling granite high in the Pioneer Mountains purely so people could dig quartz out of it. Crystals turn up loose in the decomposed granite - clear, milky, grey smoky, and sometimes purple amethyst. Hand tools only, no tunneling, and each person is capped at five digging days per season, so bring a screen and kneepads and make the day count.
The card catalog
| What you can find | quartz crystals, smoky quartz, amethyst |
|---|---|
| Access | Forest Service collecting area — Fee, seasonal |
| Fees | $5 per person per day for ages 11 and up; children 10 and under free. Self-service fee station. |
| Season & hours | Day use only, mid-June through mid-October depending on snowpack. IMPORTANT: the Forest Service page currently lists the area as CLOSED due to the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires. Confirm with the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest before you drive up. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — About as good as public digging gets for kids: soft decomposed granite you screen with a trowel, picnic tables, vault toilets, and a paved accessible loop trail for anyone who tires of shoveling. |
| Official source | USDA Forest Service - Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Crystal Park cost?
$5 per person per day for ages 11 and up; children 10 and under free. Self-service fee station. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Crystal Park open?
Day use only, mid-June through mid-October depending on snowpack. IMPORTANT: the Forest Service page currently lists the area as CLOSED due to the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires. Confirm with the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest before you drive up. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Crystal Park good for kids?
Yes — Crystal Park works for families. About as good as public digging gets for kids: soft decomposed granite you screen with a trowel, picnic tables, vault toilets, and a paved accessible loop trail for anyone who tires of shoveling.