GPS: 35.2381, -83.40542
Land type:
Private
Digging fee:
$20 per person. Your first two 2-gallon buckets are included. They offer $5/bucket refills. An unlimited rate is available for $50.

Kids age 6 and under dig free alongside an adult.

Note: This mine offers numerous “salted” dig options, where non-native material has been added to guarantee finds but it is transparently advertised and separate from the native material digging.

Description:
The Rose Creek Mine is a popular stop for families looking to explore gemstone mining in Carolina’s Cowee Valley. It has a long history of being a publicly accessible mine, beginning back in the 1950s.

The material coming from the native ground at the Rose Creek Mine is similar in nature to Mason Mountain, which is right nearby. You’ll be looking for rhodolite garnets, kyanite, and quartz crystals. This mine tends to have less corundum (ruby/sapphire) occuring here than some of the others in the area.

Rose Creek has a covered flume to keep cool while sifting your dirt through the running water as well.

Based on recent photos, it appears that paydirt from the mine is available for you to dig and then sift at the flumes.

Without covering the full list of salted digging options that are available, this mine does a good job of making it clear what you’ll have a chance of finding in your bucket and whether or not you’re digging native material.

The mine owner is a geologist and offers guided geologic tours of the area for a separate fee as well.

Seasonality:

April 1st through October 31st
Wednesday–Saturday: 9am–5pm
Sunday: 11am–5pm

Rose Creek operates rain or shine and asks everyone looking to dig that day to arrive no later than 4pm.

Road condition notes:

The road to the Rose Creek Mine should accessible with any standard car.

Additional information:

Website: rosecreekmine.com