Wiley Well District Geode Beds
Blythe, California
geodesagate noduleschalcedonybanded agatequartz crystals
BLM collecting area · Free
Wiley Well District Geode Beds
The Wiley Well district holds the Hauser, Potato Patch, and Straw beds, and BLM maintains the whole complex as a place people come to dig and camp. Geodes weather out of an ash bed and range from hollow crystal-lined spheres to solid banded agate nodules. Access is the Wiley's Well Road exit off I-10 about 16 miles west of Blythe, then roughly 15 miles south on washboard that punishes low-clearance cars. Military land lies in this broader stretch of desert — stay on BLM routes and never cross a posted military boundary.
The card catalog
| What you can find | geodes, agate nodules, chalcedony, banded agate, quartz crystals |
|---|---|
| Access | BLM collecting area — Free |
| Fees | 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 |
| Season & hours | October through April only — summer heat out here is genuinely dangerous; graded dirt roads wash out after rain |
| Kids | Family-friendly — finding a geode takes real digging with pick and bar, so pair a young digger with an adult; the primitive BLM campgrounds have no water |
| Official source | Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office |
| 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 Wiley Well District Geode Beds cost?
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 Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Wiley Well District Geode Beds open?
October through April only — summer heat out here is genuinely dangerous; graded dirt roads wash out after rain Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Wiley Well District Geode Beds good for kids?
Yes — Wiley Well District Geode Beds works for families. finding a geode takes real digging with pick and bar, so pair a young digger with an adult; the primitive BLM campgrounds have no water