Rockhound State Park
New Mexico
thundereggsgeodesjasperagatecommon opalquartz crystalsperliteapache tears (obsidian)onyx
State park dig · Fee
Rockhound State Park
Established in 1966 as the first American state park that invited visitors to carry rocks home, Rockhound sits on the eroding flank of a rhyolite dome southeast of Deming. New Mexico's own rule, 19.5.2.25 NMAC, sets the terms: small hand tools only, no mechanical or motorized equipment, no tool with a handle longer than 12 inches, no wheelbarrows, carts or wagons, and anything you carry out is a souvenir, not stock for resale or trade. The often-quoted 15-pound-per-person ceiling is park signage rather than published rule text, so confirm the current figure at the visitor center. Thundereggs are the prize, but most people leave with a bag of jasper, agate and perlite and a sunburn.
The card catalog
| What you can find | thundereggs, geodes, jasper, agate, common opal, quartz crystals, perlite, apache tears (obsidian), onyx |
|---|---|
| Access | State park dig — Fee |
| Fees | Day use $5/vehicle for New Mexico residents (waived Oct 1-Apr 30) and $10 for non-residents, per the state parks fee schedule. Camping runs $10/night resident primitive, $15 non-resident primitive, $15 and $20 for developed sites, plus $5-$10/day for water, electric or sewer hookups. |
| Season & hours | Year-round, daylight hours. Spring and fall are kindest; the Little Florida Mountains bake in July. The separate Spring Canyon unit is described by the park as a hiking and picnicking area, not the collecting ground. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — About as easy as legal collecting gets: park the car, walk uphill, turn over rhyolite float. Only small hand tools are allowed, so a kid with a bucket and a trowel is properly equipped. The slopes are loose and the trails steep enough that small children need a hand. |
| Official source | New Mexico State Parks (EMNRD) |
| 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 New Mexico
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NM
lepidolite, spodumene, beryl
Before you go
What does Rockhound State Park cost?
Day use $5/vehicle for New Mexico residents (waived Oct 1-Apr 30) and $10 for non-residents, per the state parks fee schedule. Camping runs $10/night resident primitive, $15 non-resident primitive, $15 and $20 for developed sites, plus $5-$10/day for water, electric or sewer hookups. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Rockhound State Park open?
Year-round, daylight hours. Spring and fall are kindest; the Little Florida Mountains bake in July. The separate Spring Canyon unit is described by the park as a hiking and picnicking area, not the collecting ground. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Rockhound State Park good for kids?
Yes — Rockhound State Park works for families. About as easy as legal collecting gets: park the car, walk uphill, turn over rhyolite float. Only small hand tools are allowed, so a kid with a bucket and a trowel is properly equipped. The slopes are loose and the trails steep enough that small children need a hand.