Emerald Creek Garnet Area

*ATTENTION GARNET AREA TICKET HOLDERS*

Due to a closure on Forest Service Road 447, an alternate route is needed to access the garnet area. See the General Information section below for details.

There are only two places in the world you can find Star Garnets - India and right here on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests! The garnets found here are called "star garnets" because of a unique property that causes some of them to display a reflection like a four or six pointed star. India is the only other place in the world where star garnets like these are found in any quantity.

Garnet Area Brochure

The 12 sided (dodecahedron) or 24 sided (trapezohedron) crystals range in size from sand sized particles to golf balls or larger, and often have 4- or 6-ray stars when cut en cabochon by a lapidarist.

The Forest Service has developed the Garnet Area as a place where the public may collect these unique gems in a safe and environmentally friendly way. In the past, people would dig in the stream bed in search of the garnets. Now, due to concerns for water quality, aquatic habitat, and public safety, the Forest Service provides a stockpile of garnet bearing gravels from which people can gather material to run through one of two sluice boxes in search of garnets.

Tickets to the Garnet Area will be by reservation only through recreation.gov. No tickets will be sold on site.

The Garnet Area is only open Fridays through Mondays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The area is closed the rest of the year.

Title:	Garnet Area trailhead
Date:
Forest Name:	Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Location:	St. Joe Ranger District - Garnet Area
Credit:	Bob Hartsock
Description:	Your garnet adventure begins near the parking lot where you start a 1/2 mile hike uphill to the garnet site.
Source:

At a Glance

Current Conditions:	The Emerald Creek Garnet Area is now open by reservation only. No walk up permits will be sold. All tools provided on site. Please don't bring personal sifters, shovels or buckets.
Reservations:	By RESERVATION ONLY. No walk up permits will be issued. Permits can be purchased online at https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/10086846?tab=info or by calling (877) 444-6777 or TDD (877) 833-6777
Area Amenities:	Accessible, Picnic tables, Toilets, Parking
Fees:	Permits can be purchased online at https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/10086846?tab=info or by calling (877) 444-6777 or TDD (877) 833-6777 Adults: $15 Children ages 6-12: $5 Children under 6: Free. Recreation.gov charges a $1 processing fee on each transaction A mineral permit is issued for each individual. Limit of 2 lbs of garnet per person; 1 permit per person per year.
Usage:	Heavy
Restrictions:	Trained Service Animals Only (no shaded parking for cars with pets)
Closest Towns:	Clarkia, Idaho
Water:	None - bring your own drinking water.
Restroom:	Outhouse

General Information

Directions:

Forest Service Road 447 to the Garnet Area is partially closed from Aug. 5 to Sept. 15, 2024. During the closure, access is available from the west end of FSR 447.

Directions:
Turn off of State Highway 6 approximately 3.6 miles north of Harvard, Idaho. Turn onto FSR 447 (Palouse River Road and access to Laird Park CG). Follow FSR 447 for approximately 17.5 miles to the Garnet Area parking lot. The FSR 447 could take 45 minutes to an hour from SH 6. There are active logging sales in the vicinity of the detour – be cautious of logging traffic on FSR 447.

Call the St. Joe Ranger District with additional questions at 208-245-2531. Thank you for your understanding.

Read the full closure order here.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Rockhounding

There are only two places in the world you can find Star Garnets - India and right here on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests! The Forest Service has developed the Garnet Area as a place where the public may collect these unique gems in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

Amenities

Picnic tables:	Picnic table at parking lot and ADA accessible toilets at dig site.
Parking:	Parking off main road, no parking available at dig site.
Toilets:	ADA accessible toilets available at parking lot and dig site.
Accessible:	Contact the St. Joe Ranger Station at (208) 245-2531 for details.