Rock hunting in Wisconsin: Your official guide

Rocks and crystals and fossils—oh my! Enjoy this guide for rock hunting in Wisconsin, which includes what you should know and what you can expect to find.

Along the shorelines of the Great Lakes that border Wisconsin and its many smaller bodies of water, you’ll find all kinds of beach glass (like sea glass, but for freshwater), shells, and unique stones. If you love looking at and collecting these stones, rocks, and crystals, rock hounding might be the activity for you. 

Rockhounding, also known as rock hunting, has been around for a long time. While our ancient ancestors mostly collected different rocks, crystals, and minerals in practical ways to make tools or weapons, more recently, it’s become a popular hobby.

Before you head out to hit the hills, caves, and lakeshore, make sure you know the rules, what to bring with you, and what kinds of rocks you might find when you go rock hunting in Wisconsin.

What to know before you go rock hunting in Wisconsin

If you’ve never gone rock hunting in Wisconsin, there are a couple of things you should know before you go. 

Follow the law

Typically, rocks, minerals, and fossils can be collected by people for their personal collections (but not for commercial use). The limit for this kind of collecting is no more than five pounds in a day and not more than 50 lbs per year, but before you head out, you’ll also have to get written permission. 

There are a couple of specific areas that are always off-limits. State trails and parks, as well as Havenwoods forest, are great places to go and look (but not touch or collect) minerals, fossils, and rocks. 

Come prepared

Always check the weather before you head out the door. While you can still go rock hunting in the rain, it’ll be a lot less pleasant if you’re in wet clothes. And on that same note, make sure you’re wearing shoes and other outdoor apparel.

You also might want to consider a few small tools like gloves, a trowel, a chisel, and a rock hammer. Other things to keep in mind are how you’ll be transporting your newly found natural treasures—bring a bucket with or another container to put your rocks in. 

Build your collection: Unique rocks and minerals in Wisconsin

Did you know red granite is the official state rock of Wisconsin? This red and pink stone is abundant in Wisconsin and often used in construction and landscaping, and while it might be the official state rock, there are plenty of other rocks, minerals, and crystals that will catch your eye on your rock-hunting adventure.

Malachite

This bright green-to-teal mineral is used to make copper metal. Most often, it’s fashioned into gemstones used in jewelry. Fun fact: In its powder form, Malachite was often used in ancient Egypt to decorate tombs and color carvings. 

A gorgeous, green malachite rock. (Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com/CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Agate

Known for its unique band pattern, agate is a commonly found (but beloved) rock in Wisconsin. Part of the quartz family and volcanic rock, it’s a reminder that once upon a time, the land we now know as Wisconsin experienced volcanoes. It’s also said that this stone is calming and healing energy—folktales even claim agate can cure snake bites.

A fairburn agate found while rock hunting. (James St. John/CC BY 2.0)

Calcite

This mineral forms beautiful crystals, some of which you can see right through. Sometimes, calcite is fluorescent, meaning it glows in the dark. Did you know when calcite grows in caves and hangs down from the top, it’s called a soda straw stalactite? 

Soda straw stalactites & bulbous stalagmites in Crystal Cave. (James St. John/CC by 2.0)

Amethyst

The color of royalty amethyst can range from a light lavender to a deep aubergine. Amethysts are said to have a calming energy, support restful sleep, and are February’s birthstone. The name amethyst actually has origins in Greek mythology involving a nymph and Dionysus—it comes from the Greek word amethystos, meaning not drunk. 

An amethyst cluster. (Renee Kiffin/Unsplash)

Epidote

Is it moss that you see on the forest floor, or is it a pistachio-colored epidote? This mineral comes in lots of different shapes and sizes and can range from yellow-green to pistachio or even brown-green—the more iron there is, the more green it’ll be. It’s a softer crystal, so it isn’t used often in jewelry but is believed to nurture personal growth and emotional healing.

Image of a large epidote.(Didier Descouens/CC by 4.0 Interntational)

Jasper

This rock has a very earthen hue to it in either a patchy or lined pattern of reds, yellows, and oranges—the higher the iron content, the more red the rock will be. Did you know that one of the birthstones for March is bloodstone, which is a type of jasper?

A fiery red jasper. (James St. John/CC BY 2.0)

Rhyolite

Rhyolite is a volcanic rock found in southern Wisconsin. In fact, the rhyolite hanging out in the Badger State is about 1.7 billion years old. This stone is often used in landscaping and construction, and it was used to build the foundation of Science Hall on the UW-Madison campus.

Rhyolitic volcanic breccia. (James St. John/CC BY 2.0)

Where to go rock hunting in Wisconsin

Again, make sure before you head out that you’re following the rock hunting rules—most importantly, that you don’t collect from state trails and parks.

A few places you should consider checking out if you decide to go rock hunting are Quarry Lake Park and North Beach in Racine, the area north of Copper Falls State Park, Black River (and its tributaries), Lake Superior’s shoreline, and the sandstone exposures along the Annicon, Brule, and Black Rivers.

Happy hunting!

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.