Diamond Point Crystal Collecting Site
Arizona
quartz crystalsdoubly terminated quartzchalcedony
Forest Service collecting area · Free
Diamond Point Crystal Collecting Site
The Forest Service designated a 35-acre patch on the Mogollon Rim east of Payson where the public may collect the water-clear quartz crystals old-timers called Arizona diamonds. The posted rules are specific and worth memorizing: stay inside the 35-acre area shown in light red on the Forest Service map, keep any site disturbance under 4 by 4 by 8 inches — the dimension of a 32-ounce water bottle — no digging within 6 feet of the base of any tree, only small hand tools such as gardening spades, hand trowels or short-handled gardening picks, no more than 10 pounds per person per day, and backfill all holes with native material. Most finds are small doubly terminated points that come out already faceted by nature.
The card catalog
| What you can find | quartz crystals, doubly terminated quartz, chalcedony |
|---|---|
| Access | Forest Service collecting area — Free |
| Fees | Free; no permit or dig fee. Collection for commercial use is not authorized. Standard Tonto National Forest camping rules apply nearby. |
| Season & hours | The Forest Service publishes no seasonal restriction for this site — collecting within the posted rules is allowed year-round. Winter snow can complicate the drive up onto the Rim. Questions go to Tonto National Forest at 602-225-5200. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Pine shade on the Rim, a short walk from the parking area, and quartz points lying loose in the duff make this one of the friendlier family stops in Arizona. Small hand tools only, and every hole gets backfilled with native material from the site. |
| Official source | USDA Forest Service, Tonto 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.
More drawers in Arizona
-
AZ
fire agate, chalcedony, agate
-
AZ
agate, jasper, purple chalcedony
-
Crystal Hill Area, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
AZ
quartz crystals, agate, chalcedony
-
Dobell Ranch Petrified Wood Dig (Rhonda's Dig Site)
AZ
petrified wood, rainbow petrified wood, agatized wood
Before you go
What does Diamond Point Crystal Collecting Site cost?
Free; no permit or dig fee. Collection for commercial use is not authorized. Standard Tonto National Forest camping rules apply nearby. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Diamond Point Crystal Collecting Site open?
The Forest Service publishes no seasonal restriction for this site — collecting within the posted rules is allowed year-round. Winter snow can complicate the drive up onto the Rim. Questions go to Tonto National Forest at 602-225-5200. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Diamond Point Crystal Collecting Site good for kids?
Yes — Diamond Point Crystal Collecting Site works for families. Pine shade on the Rim, a short walk from the parking area, and quartz points lying loose in the duff make this one of the friendlier family stops in Arizona. Small hand tools only, and every hole gets backfilled with native material from the site.