Welcome to the beautiful coast of the Pacific Northwest, where you can explore some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. Oregon's section of Pacific Ocean beaches is home to some of the most unique and beautiful rocks in the world, including the coveted agates. In fact, Oregon has 363 miles of free, public shoreline, so your chances of finding agates on the beach are excellent.
How and Where to Find Beach Agates in Oregon
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to find the best Oregon Coast agates.
What are agates?
Before you embark on your adventure, let's start with the basics. Agates are a semi-precious form of chalcedony that forms in volcanic rocks. They come in a wide range of colors and patterns, from white to black and everything in between. The most valuable of these beach finds are translucent, in colors ranging from deep reds and grays to yellows and almost clear and transparent.
Other gemstones found near the ocean include jasper, Oregon jade, bloodstone, carnelian, and petrified wood. I personally have also discovered marine fossils in the gravel beds, usually molluscs.
Oregon Beach Agate Hunting Introduction: Tips and Tricks
When looking for agates, it's important to know what you're looking for. Agates are usually small and can be easily missed if you don't pay close attention. Look for stones with distinctive patterns and colors, as this is a good indication that you may have found an agate.
When is the best time to find agates?
The best time to hunt for agates is at low tide, when the rocky areas of the beach are exposed. As these beautiful stones form on the beach cliffs, natural erosion washes them down onto the gravel bars, where they are pounded and polished by the sand and ocean. High tide is generally the worst time for a beach adventure.
Hunting for Oregon Coast Agates in the Winter
The best time of year to find Oregon agates is from winter to early spring, when storms stir up the bedrock and sand between the tides.
Look for beaches with exposed gravel beds
It goes without saying that more stones present on the beach means better conditions for collecting agates.
How are the agates?
Examine the stone you just picked up. Is it shiny or waxy on the surface? Agates, jasper, and gemstones are distinguished by their brilliance from common sandstone and basalt. They can be solid in color, have bands of minerals, or even crystals. These beautiful stones also become much more vibrant when wet and therefore easier to spot.
Hunt for agates with the sun behind you
All of these translucent beauties glow in the glare of the sun, making them easier to spot among the wet rocks.
Agates are less dense than other minerals found on Oregon beaches
This means that searching the waterline where the waves have just passed will usually produce good results. Agates tend to roll with the waves instead of staying stationary in the sand like the heavier basalts.
Be courteous to your fellow agate hunters
From hardcore collectors to casual wanderers, you can bet there will be others seeking out our beautiful beaches, especially at low tide. Choose a place to stay or walk along the coast in search of treasure, the choice is yours.
Stay safe and watch the tides on the Oregon coast while looking for rocks
High tides and crashing waves are always a threat when hiking the Oregon coast. The most important thing to remember is this mantra:NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THE OCEAN.
Bring the right agate hunting gear
While no special equipment is needed, remember to bring a bag for your treasures (pockets fill up fast, trust me). Some people like to carry long-handled household spoons and strainers, as they can help protect the back and knees from the inevitable pain of bending over.
A good pair of shoes or sandals is also helpful. Flip-flops can slip and drag, while walking barefoot can literally be a pain on the bottoms of your feet.
Where to find Oregon agates on the coast
The Oregon coast is lined with fantastic beaches (and even rivers) for agate hunting. Some of the best places to look for agates are:
Related:The 16 Best Beaches in Oregon
North Oregon Coast Beaches
1. Manzanita
Manzanita is a charming seaside town located in Tillamook County, offering 7 miles of beautiful beaches to search for Oregon agates.
The town's main street, Laneda Avenue, is also a popular destination for visitors, offering a variety of boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.
Bonus: Manzanita is northwest of the Nehalem River, where carnelian agate can be abundant. Changing the coast for the river is not always a bad idea, especially during the summer if you want to swim and the sea is too cold.
2. Playa
This little community has one of my favorite beaches on the Oregon coast,short beach. The beach is home to the famous Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, which is a sanctuary for more than 200,000 seabirds, including tufted puffins, common guillemots and cormorants. As an advantage, it is inScenic Route of the Three Capes, a road that I will never tire of driving. I have always been lucky to find agates in this area.
3. Playa Rockaway
rocky beachSense: It's a small town in Oregon with big character. With 11 kilometers of beaches, this is a great destination not only for agates, but also for the sights, sounds, and amazing food. It's also a perfect city for families and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a fun and relaxing coastal vacation.
Other nearby attractions include theTillamook Cheese Factory, which offers tours and tastings of its famous cheeses, and theTillamook Air Museum, which features a collection of vintage aircraft and exhibits.
4. Praia do Canhão
Cannon Beach is a quaint Oregon coastal town that is also a great place to find agates. Be sure to explore the areas around Haystack Rock, as this is a prime location for agates. Always keep an eye out for wildlife as you walk the beach.
To search for agates at Cannon Beach, visitors should first check the tide charts and plan their trip when the tide is out and more of the beach is exposed. The Pacific Ocean can be beautiful, but it can also be rough and dangerous, especially duringking of the tidesand winter storms.
Central Oregon Coast Beaches
The central Oregon coast is one of my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest to find agates. Not only does it have beautiful beaches, but there is so much to see and do that you could be busy for weeks.
5. Lincoln City, Fogarty Beach and Depoe Bay
lincoln cityis another popular seaside town on the Oregon coast and is known for its great agate hunting. When looking for agates here, look for areas where waves are actively washing the rocks. Agates are often found in areas where water meets rock, though every Lincoln City beach is ripe for hunting, from Road's End to Taft.
Just south of the city isFogarty Creek State Recreation Area, a beautiful secluded spot with lots of small gravel to sift through.
Any of the surrounding beach accessesdepoe baycan produce Oregon agates. Bonus: it's a whale watching mecca!
6. Área de Newport: Otter Rock, Beverly Beach State Park, Moolack Beach y Ona Beach
Newportis a popular beach destination on the central Oregon coast and a fantastic place to search for agates. The beaches here have many exposed rocky areas, which means you'll have plenty of chances to find agates, especially in winter. Look for areas where the waves crash against the rocks, where you are most likely to find agates.
Although one of Newport's beaches is literally called "Agate Beach", this spot has been chosen for many years, making the name a bit of a misnomer and agates in short supply here.
otter rockIt is a designated Oregon Marine Reserve, which means that in addition to beautiful agates, it is a great place to see tide pools, marine mammals, sea cliffs,otter ridge beach, and the majesty of the Devil's Punch Bowl here.
beverly beach state parkIt's a beautiful secluded beach north of Newport, perfect for agate hunting. This beach is usually less crowded than some of the more popular beaches in Oregon, which means you'll have more room to hunt for agates.
Be sure to explore the tide pools and rocky areas in Beverly Beach for the best chance of finding agates, but always keep an eye out for wildlife. Never disturb their natural habitat and keep an eye out for high tide.
Playa Moolackit stretches from Spencer Creek at the southern end of Beverly Beach to the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. Visitors to Moolack Beach, Oregon can enjoy a variety of activities including beachcombing, bird watching, surfing, and fishing.
Before you leave Newport, be sure to check theOregon Coast AquariummiHatfield Marine Science Center, two of the best family attractions on the central Oregon coast.
Ona Beach State Parkit is about four miles south of Newport. Here you will find beautiful views, hiking trails, and if you are lucky, beautiful agates. Part of the beach is made up of unique rock formations for walking and climbing. For most of the year they are covered in a slippery green layer of algae, so be careful here as it's easy to end up on your butt.
Southern Oregon Coast Beaches
7. Yacht Area: Cummins Creek, Strawberry Hill and Bob Creek
You won't find agates on the beaches of Yachats, as they are rocky and treacherous (but beautiful and great for whale watching). Not the kind of rock that is good for collecting agate, but rather the kind that is constantly battered by high tide. It doesn't matter; Yachats still houses aannual festivaljust for agates worth seeing on your way to collect your own specimens.
arroyo cumminsit flows from the Siuslaw National Forest south of Yachats, Oregon, and into the Pacific Ocean. Walking along its rocky coast, you will be able to discover agates, petrified wood and other semi-precious stones. Park at the Neptune State Scenic Lookout and walk along theneptune beachdown to the creek, enjoying the views along the way. Visit in late fall through winter and early spring.
Just down the street from Neptuno isEstrada Strawberry Hill, a great place to find agates due to the rocky nature of the beach here. It's also a very popular spot with experienced agate hunters, so don't be surprised if you find at least one other people combing the beach.
bob brookit's just a few more miles up the 101 freeway from Strawberry Hill, and if you're bringing your kids, they'll love it here. There are truly amazing tide pools at Bob's where you can spot hermit crabs, mussels, anemones and the occasional starfish. You can almost always find an agate while searching the stones on the rocky shoreline.
8. Golden Beach
Gold Beach is a quaint seaside town located in Curry County on the southern Oregon coast. It is situated at the mouth of the Rogue River, which is one of the most popular destinations for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities.
Agate hunting is a popular activity in the area, with many beautiful specimens found on the beaches and in the surrounding hills. the nextOtter Point State Recreation SitemiPanoramic corridor of the state of Cabo Sebastiánare great places to start.
Praia do Ouro is home to theJet Boating on the Rogue River, which offers scenic tours of the river and its wildlife.
The Oregon coast isn't the only place to find agate in the state.
Actually,Oregon is a rock hunter's paradise, especially in eastern Oregon. All kinds of amazing rocks and minerals fromthunder eggsforsolar Stonethey can be found throughout the state. Be sure to check out our guide here:That Oregon Life | All the best public rock hunting sites, eastern Oregon and beyond.
FAQs
Where is the best place to find agates at Agate Beach? ›
Moolack Beach
It's a popular spot for agate hunting, as the waves tend to expose the stones that are embedded in the cliffs. Moolack beach is a great resource for finding all sorts of agates including carnelian, jaspers, and fossil shells.
Agate Beach, Oregon
Newport is also home of what has historically been one of the most popular places in Oregon to find agates. And that's none other than Agate Beach. Not surprisingly, Agate Beach in Oregon is named for the agates that can be found along the beaches that lie between Newport and Yaquina Head.
Lovely sandy beach, but due to dredging that changed the rate of sand deposit on the beach; several feet have covered up the agate bed.
How do I identify Oregon beach agates? ›You can tell an agate from other beach rocks by its translucence. Hold it up to a light and you'll be able to see it glow. When you see an agate in wet gravel, it will be the one that looks like it's lit from within.
What time of day to look for agates? ›This is a big one. Do your best to get to your favorite agate hunting spot first at prime time. This means you should be on the beach just prior to low tide. Early mornings are great because the waves have had all night to expose new agates.
How much are beach agates worth? ›The price of agates can range from incredibly cheap (between $1 and $10) to incredibly expensive (from $100 to $3000). The rock's worth depends on its type, color, and where it was found. For example, tumbled agate is deemed more valuable than raw agate, as are agates with more vibrant colors.
What beach is best for agate hunting? ›Tips: How to Find Lake Superior Agates
One of the best agate hunting spots is on any public beach or other location that has exposed rock gravel. Try the varied beaches of Lutsen-Tofte-Schroeder, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage.
Agates form when hollow cavities in lava are later filled with quartz and other minerals precipitating through the rock, so any volcanic beds are a good sign. Depending on your local geology you may also be able to find agates in conglomerates that have formed from volcanic source rock.
Where is the best beach in Oregon to find rocks? ›The beaches stretching from the Road's End to Siletz Bay in Lincoln City, the coastline near Newport, Yachats and Florence are considered to be the most productive areas for collecting gem quality minerals. Over 7.5-mile beaches of Lincoln City produce agates and multicolored jaspers.
What is the rarest agate? ›What Is the Rarest Agate Color? Generally, the rarest of agate types by color is purple. However, dendritic agate – which is also called the plentitude stone – is often the most valuable. Iris agate is also highly prized due to its striking coloring.
What is the rarest agate stone? ›
Dendritic Agate
It is considered to be the most valuable form of agate.
Our favorite spots include Moolack Beach, Oceanside, Nelscott Beach, Yachats, and Gold Beach, but I've found agates on most beaches I've visited in Oregon. Rocks to Find on Oregon Beaches: Agate, chalcedony, jasper, fossilized seashells.
How do you find agates on Agate Beach? ›Most agates are translucent and when held to the sun or other strong light, the formations inside can be seen. It is best to hunt on an out-going tide for it is then that the gravel has been freshly agitated and the stones are most plentiful. Walk into the sun so that you can better see the agates sparkle.
Where are blue agates in Oregon? ›Holley (Holly) Blue Agate
The beautiful highly-prized material ranges from translucent light blue to opaque purple in color. Holey Blue is found in the hills near the small community of Holley, 4 miles away from Sweet Home.
Agate can be of any color, the most frequent colors are (in descending order) gray, white, brown, salmon, red, orange, black, and yellow. Shades of violet or a grayish-blue can occur, deep green and blue tones are very unusual .
Do you crack open agates? ›Open the stone with a hammer and chisel if your sample is not already broken open. The rough outside of agate will block all light, so you'll have to get it open in order to test the transparency.
What does a raw agate look like on the outside? ›Most agates look like a dirty, rust-colored rock, unless they've been smoothed by water and found on the seashore or the edge of a lake.
What is the biggest agate ever found? ›The agate measures 22.62 cubic meters(798.82 cubic feet).
How do I know if my agate is worth money? ›In general, agate values are quite modest. Their prices reflect mainly labor and artistry rather than the value of the material itself. Agates of large size or with particularly distinctive, fine, or landscape-like color patterns are at a premium.
Where is most agate found? ›Agate is found throughout the world. In the United States it is produced in several western states; Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana are the chief sources of gemstones. Most agates occur in cavities in eruptive rocks or ancient lavas.
How long does it take for a beach agate to form? ›
Agates take 50 million years to form. It is characterized by colored band patterns inside various rocks.
Where can I find moss agate in Oregon? ›The Maury Mountains is a small mountain range within the boundary of the Ochoco National Forest. This site is well-known for its moss agate, a rare mineral containing embedded mossy or fern-like inclusions.
What color is raw agate? ›Agate is found in a wide range of colors, including shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, as well as black and white.
What do wild agates look like? ›The most obvious part of an agate's definition is banding: true agates are almost always translucent (letting through some light when you shine a light on it) and have banding- thin visible layers. Often these bands form concentric rings, though not always. The patterns can be quite wild.
What do agates look like under UV light? ›conspicuous feature of many agates under UV excitation is a visible bright green luminescence (Fig. 1). The greenish PL can only be excited by short wavelengths (<300 nm). The visual luminescence pattern follows both the agate banding and the distribution of macrocrystalline quartz and chalcedony.
What is the rarest rock in Oregon? ›rare! Sunstone is Oregon's state gemstone. Sunstone is a feldspar crystal you can find stemming from volcanic lava flows in the south-central region of Oregon.
What gemstones are found on Oregon beaches? ›The most highly prized of these beach finds are translucent, in colors from deep reds and grays to yellow, all the way to almost clear and transparent. Other gemstones to be found near the ocean are Jasper, Oregon Jade, Bloodstone, Carnelian, and Petrified Wood.
Which Oregon beach has big rocks? ›Haystack Rock is a 235 ft-tall (72 m) sea stack in Cannon Beach, Oregon. It is the third-tallest such intertidal structure in the world. A popular tourist destination on the Oregon Coast, the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide.
What is a ghost agate? ›Ghost Agate slabs are a slice of microcrystalline quartz that usually forms in nodules. It is known for having transparent or translucent portions resembling ghosts. And as with all species in the quartz family, agate takes a high polish with cerium oxide.
What is the most famous agate? ›The Hooded Owl Agate, also known as the Apache Agate, is a highly valued and prized specimen in the world of agates. The first recorded appearance of this agate was in an advertisement from Triangle Rock Shop in Lapidary Journal in April of 1958.
What is the most common agate stone? ›
Blue lace agate is one of the most popular forms of agate and it's no surprise with its delicate light blue colouring, with purple hues and gorgeous white veins running throughout it.
Which agate is good for money? ›Moss Agate
Moss agate is a stone of abundance, prosperity, wealth, and good luck. The moss agate has become popular in recent years because it is known to be able to attract money.
Some may include layers of yellow ochre, gold, scarlet and red. Agate is sometimes called the earth rainbow because, in its various forms, the concentric bands in nature form nearly every color the earth can produce, including a colorless form.
What is a cold water agate? ›Cold-Water Agate, Minnesota, agates that formed in cavities in weathered limestones and were recovered as water-worn fragments along dry washes of the Zumbro River at Mazeppa, Minnesota. See Rapp and Wallace (1966, p. 17). The term coldwater may have been first used by Vanasse (1951).
What colors does agate come in naturally? ›Agate occurs in a wide range of colors, which include brown, white, red, gray, pink, black, and yellow. The colors are caused by impurities and occur as alternating bands within the agate. The different colors were produced as groundwaters of different compositions seeped into the cavity.
How can you tell a geode from an agate? ›Inspect the surface of the stone for pit marks. Agates sometimes form in igneous rock and are surrounded by softer rock that erodes away, which can result in surface pitting. Slide your fingers into a crack in the stone or a part of the exterior that has worn away. If you feel waxiness, this is a sign of an agate.
What crystals are inside of an agate? ›The agate crystal is a microcrystalline-quartz mineraloid that has a lustrous display of multi-color banding and results from long-term accumulations of siliceous groundwater deposits in rock cavities.
What is the famous beach rock in Oregon? ›Haystack Rock is one of Oregon's most recognizable landmarks, home to colorful tidepools and diverse birdlife. It has been featured in countless novels, television programs, and movies such as The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. This basalt sea stack rises 235 feet from the edge of the shoreline.
Where can I find rubies in Oregon? ›One of the best places to find both in Oregon is the Oregon coast. In fact, Agate Beach in Newport, Oregon, gets its name from this semi-precious gemstone. You can also find them in the town of Antelope, draining into the Western Cascades. And, not surprisingly, Central Oregon, near Prineville.
What are the rocks with holes on Oregon beach? ›If you find a chunk of brittle rock with symmetrical holes, chances are it's mudstone. Inside the holes you might find oblong-shaped clams called piddocks. The raspy, rounded end of their shell is used to grind out their burrows, where they spend their lives.
What beach is best for agates in Oregon? ›
The best beach for agates in Oregon is Siletz Bay, which is located just north of Lincoln City. Agates can also be found on the beaches of Depoe Bay and Newport, but Siletz Bay is by far the best place to look for them.
What is angel wing agate? ›This refers to a surface chalcedony formation characterized by groups of chalcedony filaments often intricately woven or connected together, so they resemble the feathers of a wing or flowing hair. They occur most often in the center of a vug or vein of agate, but can also occur in the center of a hollow thunderegg.
Can diamonds be found in Oregon? ›Several hundred diamonds have been found along the Pacific Coast of the United States in California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, for which no known source rock has been identified.
What is the blue stone found in Oregon? ›Owyhee blue opal: A cabochon cut from blue Owyhee opal mined in the Owyhee Mountains in eastern Oregon, near the Oregon-Idaho border. Some of the opal from this area looks like chalcedony and occurs in a range of pale blue to medium blue colors.
Are there agates at Agate Beach Bolinas? ›Bolinas is immediately north of Stinson Beach, and is the town that is (in)famous for having the locals remove the exit/city limits signs. At Agate Beach, one can find many (though mostly pea-sized) "oil agates," which are agates with black inclusions.
How do you access Agate Beach? ›Agate Beach is accessed from Sue-Meg State Park--leave your car at the Agate Beach campground and take the long flight of stairs down to the beach.
Where is the best place to find an agate in Washington state? ›The best places to find agates in Washington are:
North Beach. Ocean Park. Crescent Beach. Damon Point.
This small pebble beach is located at Yaquina Head on the central Oregon coast. A stairway from the beach head leads down to the pebble beach filled with round black basalt stones.
Where can I find Holly Blue agate in Oregon? ›Holley (Holly) Blue Agate
Holey Blue is found in the hills near the small community of Holley, 4 miles away from Sweet Home. Currently, the collecting area is the private property of the timber company and is closed to collecting.
- At low tide, tidal pools fill with marine life like sea anemones.
- On a clear day ocean views stretch to the Farrallon Islands.
- The tidal ecosystem draws a wide variety of seabirds. ...
- An Inclusive Access trail near the parking lot overlooks the beach and reef.
- Friendly dogs on leash are welcome.
What do agates look like on the ground? ›
Most agates look like a dirty, rust-colored rock, unless they've been smoothed by water and found on the seashore or the edge of a lake.
Where is the best place to find agates in Oregon? ›Newport Area: Otter Rock, Beverly Beach State Park, Moolack Beach, and Ona Beach. Newport is a popular beach destination on the Central Oregon Coast and a fantastic spot to search for agates.
Is Agate Beach worth visiting? ›But it is worth it. Having always been a beachcomber, I loved being able to sit down on the gravel/sand and run my fingers through it to see what treasures I could find. I found a couple of agates and stones worth taking home. After that I took a long walk down the beach (extensive) and watched for whales and birds.
What happened to Agate Beach Oregon? ›But according to Oregon coast agate expert and author K.T. Myers, the beach stopped being productive as long ago as the '60s. This came about when the jetties in Yaquina Bay were elongated, and dredging equipment also began dumping their sand load right off Agate Beach and Nye Beach.
What agate is worth the most? ›Generally, the rarest of agate types by color is purple. However, dendritic agate – which is also called the plentitude stone – is often the most valuable.
What is the most sought after agate? ›Dendritic Agate
It's called the Plentitude Stone. It is considered to be the most valuable form of agate.
See silica mineral (table). Agate is found throughout the world. In the United States it is produced in several western states; Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana are the chief sources of gemstones. Most agates occur in cavities in eruptive rocks or ancient lavas.