Sunstone Public Collection Area
Oregon
Find: Sunstones
GPS: 42.72335, -119.86045
Nearest city: Bend, OR
Recommended Vehicle: High Clearance 4x4
Season: Accessible year round, Winter is likely to have significant snow, ice, and frigid temperatures.
Summary:
I visited this spot in Winter, which I learned is somewhat difficult to do. It was a couple hours of driving alone through some windy snowstorms in Oregon’s desert. A better time to visit would be from
The location is marked with signs from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This is a well-known area for collecting your own Oregon sunstone. It is a feldspar crystal with a yellow to red coloration. Red is less often found than yellow.
Some people suggest digging a couple feet down to unearth larger ones, but I found some decent ones on the surface.
You will want a vehicle with high clearance to access this spot. It’s in a very remote portion of Oregon with no amenities and the road to get in here was not graded when I visited in 2022.
There are also some private digging claims nearby you can pay to dig at. I have heard good things about them.
Video
Check out the video for a better look at what can be found when exploring this spot.
3 Helpful Tools
Classifier
If you choose to dig, a classifier is great for separating crystal from dirt. Oregon Sunstone has a hardness of 6.5+ so the screen won’t scratch it.
Geology Pick
A geology pick is useful for flipping over embedded stones and prying them out of the ground.
D-Handle Shovel
A short D-Handle shovel is my preference if you plan on digging.
Here is why visiting in Winter was difficult.
An example of a sunstone with some decent clarity.
Sunstones are a feldspar, similar to labradorite which I found interesting.
These were all found on the surface.
Finding a handful like this sometimes didn't take more than a few steps. They're all over the place up here.
Some of the larger ones I found.
I still give some of these away every now and then and maybe will facet my favorites one day.