Mason Mountain
📍Franklin, North Carolina
Mason Mountain is famed for its ample supply of ‘rhodolite’ garnets, named after the rhododendron flower. The mine allows visitors to fill their buckets with as much native dirt as they’d like to sift in the flumes.
GPS coordinates:
35.24836, -83.39594
Land type:
Private
Digging fee:
Adults: $40/day (standard dig)
The mine also offers private digs where you can get your own pile of native material for $500 per day (split up to 10 people).
A night dig option is also available for a $750 group rate from 5pm-9pm.
*Rates current as of July 2026.
What can you find?
Mason Mountain is famed for its ample supply of ‘rhodolite’ garnets, named after the rhododendron flower. Ruby/sapphire (corundum), moonstone, and kyanite can be found here as well among a few others. Corundum will be a bright orange-red at night under an ultraviolet light if you go for one of their night digs. Moonstone will typically be a bright purple under an ultraviolet light, similar to how fluorite reacts.
They have flumes where you can sift your material that you dig directly from the mountain. You can fill your bucket with material as many times as you’d like!
Seasonality:
SUMMER/FALL 2026 (Mar. 4 thru Oct. 31)
CLOSED Sunday/Monday/Tuesday
Wednesday: 9am-5pm
Thursday: 9am-5pm
Friday: 9am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm
WINTER 2026 (November – December)
Nov. 16 – 30 = CLOSED
Dec. 14 – 31 = CLOSED
CLOSED Sunday/Monday/Tuesday
Wednesday: 10am-3pm
Thursday: 10am-3pm
Friday: 10am-3pm
Saturday: 10am-3pm
CLOSED Jan. & Feb. 2027
OPENING DAY 2027 - Wed. Mar. 3, 2027
*These dates current with published information as of July 2026. May vary slightly year to year. Their website is linked below and will be most accurate.
Weather by month (using the nearest town):
Road condition notes:
Site is accessible with any standard car.
Public bathrooms: Unknown
Showers: No
RV hookups: No
Additional information:
Phone number: (828)421-1457
Address: 5315 Bryson City Rd, Franklin, NC 28734, United States
Website: https://masonmtnmine.com/
Note: rockhoundingmap.com is a free resource created using public online information and has no partnership with the Mason Mountain mine.
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