Miles City Boat Launch
Montana
Find: Montana moss agates, jasper (red/yellow/white), petrified wood
GPS: 46.41858, -105.86128
Nearest city: Billings, MT
Recommended Vehicle: Any vehicle to get to dock, AWD or high-clearance vehicle to get onto the shore itself.
Season: Accessible year round, Winter is likely to have significant snow, ice, and frigid temperatures.
Late Fall has typically lowest water levels.
Summary:
Montana moss agates are known for their translucency and their dark dendritic (branching) inclusions. The inclusions can come in a variety of colors and shapes based on oxidized minerals within the agate.
They are abundantly found in the gravel along the Yellowstone River. This boat launch was a really large area to explore.
Beyond this, I haven’t had a chance to explore many other public access areas of the Yellowstone River. There are many different points to access the river on public land.
You can get to this area with any vehicle, but I think you may struggle on the rocks in vehicles like sedans or FWD cars.
A Montana State Conservation Pass is required for activities such as hunting, fishing, birdwatching, or in our case rockhounding on Montana State Lands. It’s around $10 if you’re from out of state - Here’s a link: https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/conservation-license
3 Helpful Tools
Chest Waders
Chest waders are a great way to stay warm if you plan on going into the water.
Agate Scoop
An agate scoop is helpful for both keeping dry and picking up rocks faster. You don’t need a fancy one. Mine is a golf club welded to a kitchen scoop.
Kayak
I do not own a kayak, but having one opens up access to many new gravel bars that aren’t accessible on foot.
The scenery of the Yellowstone River. It flows across much of Southern Montana.
The rocks here had nice variety, similar to the Great Lakes but with more packed dirt.
A geology pick is useful here.
Looks like jasper of some sort.
This is a moss agate. I actually found this one on a gravel road.
One of my favorite pictures I've taken.