Wiley’s Well Roadway
California
Find: Fire agates, chalcedony, Hauser Geodes (thundereggs), and giant spiders
GPS: 33.44937, -114.89322
Nearest city: San Diego, CA
Recommended Vehicle: 4x4 Truck/AWD, but you could probably get out here with a car.
Summary:
I had heard there were fire agates/chalcedony in the area. I ended up stumbling across a hotspot of them while setting up camp out here. I imagine there even better ones than I found, as I only searched about a 1 mile zone.
Oh… and the tarantulas. Apparently very large spiders call this area home as well. I actually heard a tarantula I encountered before seeing it, which is a first for me when it comes to spiders.
You will want at least an AWD SUV or a truck to get out here, especially if you plan on going further down this road to the Hauser Geode Beds. The road transitions from a sandy gravel to rougher stone road slightly after you hit the Wiley’s Well Campground area, which is roughly where I’ve dropped the map pin.
Video
Check out the video for a better look at what can be found when exploring this spot.
3 Helpful Tools
Geology Pick
A geology pick was helpful to overturn agates that were stuck in the sandy mud.
Lightweight Backpack
I prefer a light backpack with a whole bunch of water in it. I hiked about a 1-square mile area out here.
Water Bladder
I use a 3L water bladder whenever I’m in the desert. A cheap one that is dishwasher safe is plenty good.