Emerald Creek Garnet Area

Breanna Post

We love going here to get garnets. The tickets are hard to come by but worth it and pretty inexpensive. If your handicap you can drive up the hill and drop off people. Just open the gate. It's not locked. I've been in aug and it was super hot and dry. No Real shade and we went in June and there was mud up to your knees in some areas. If ypu go after it's rained wear gear your 10000% of with having mud on and possibly never coming totally Clean. When we got home I layer our clothes out to dry in the sun and then picked off and shook off the thick cracked mud before I washed them. Most came out Clean.

Scott Hamley

Experience is OK, but the gov't ruined it with its paranoid covid procedures. You're outdoors in the fresh air, yet they act as if the apocalypse is about to happen. They now use an inefficient online reservation system which charges extra fees, so the advertised price is never the price. The list of prohibitions and what they don't allow is so long that you would think you've walked into an internment camp. They allow so few people anymore that almost no one can get a chance to go. Once these resources get into the hands of the gov't, they are no longer brought to the service of the people. It's over-managed and effectively denies a resource to the people who should be able to enjoy it freely.

Melissa Ward

This is something our family has wanted to do for several years, since we first moved to north Idaho. We finally took the drive and had a great time; found quite a few small garnets. Permit for each of us (adults) was $10 cash, purchased at the site, after the 1/2 mile hike from the parking lot. There are picnic tables but minimal shade. Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen/hat. Wear clothing you don't mind getting dirty and bring a change of clothes. A pair of thin gloves might also be a good idea. Next time, we'll go early, right when they open, take lunch, and make a day of it; maybe even spend the night in the campground. Excellent family fun.

Crystal Rucker

Garnet hunting was such a great activity and outing with the family. The kids had so much fun playing in the dirt and washing the rocks.