Hell Canyon

Hell Canyon is prime agate hunting country. This location is right outside Jewel Cave Park and has been a successful surface hunt spot.  

When to visit: Spring, Summer, Fall.

What you can find: Hells Canyon agate, jasper, fossil shells, calcite.

What to bring: Rock hammer, chisels, pick axe, buckets, backpack, water, snacks.

Where to stay:  The Hell Canyon area south of US-16 is open to dispersed camping. The town of Custer is 25 minutes West on US-16 and has many hotels and campgrounds.

Getting there: From Custer, South Dakota travel west on HWY. 16 / Mt. Rushmore Rd. approximately 15 miles. You will come to FS Rd. 277, turn left and travel 150 feet then turn right on the dirt road. Drive approximately 0.3 miles to get to Site A. You can continue down this dirt road pull off anywhere to park and surface hunt the area. 

(Site A: 43°43’27.6″N 103°50’52.6″W)
(Site B: 43°43’18.0″N 103°50’53.1″W)

Rockhounding

The Hell Canyon area has agate scattered all over. Taking a random hike around can definitely produce surface agates. The Hell Canyon Agates typically look similar to Tepee Canyon Agates. They are often shades of red in a chert nodule. The nodules are usually a darker color than their Tepee cousins to the north. Site A on the Map is towards the top of the Hill and is a good area to park to start a surface hunt. Surface agates have been found on the hillsides above Site A and Site B and at the bottom of the ravine in the old road cut. Look for patterns in where you are finding surface agates by marking your finds with rock piles. This can lead you to find more agates just below the surface with a bit of shallow digging.

Gallery

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