Tough Creek
Wyoming
Find: Banded iron, green aventurine
GPS: 43.3145, -108.14317
Nearest city: Casper, WY
Recommended Vehicle: High clearance recommended
Summary:
The Tough Creek area is right next to Boysen State Park. The coordinates listed will lead you to BLM land which borders the state park land.
Out in the arid, windy landscape you will find a wide variety of colorful stones. Significant amounts of quartz and hematite are in the area, which is what drew me to explore the area.
Wyoming is home to some awesome banded iron. It’s beauty is exacerbated if you polish or tumble it. Some pieces have reds, yellows, and purple colors that create an awesome contrast against the hematite.
3 Helpful Tools
Water Bladder
The warmer months are arid and dry in Wyoming. A water bladder is a great luxury to hike with. I covered a lot of distance while I was here.
Geology Pick
A geology pick is useful for flipping over embedded stones and prying them out of the ground.
Spray Bottle
A spray bottle is useful for getting a better look at the dry stones you’ll find.