The closest place to go rockhounding near Burlington, VT is Smugglers’ Notch Resort — Gem Mining, about 29 miles east in Lamoille County, VT (seeded gems/minerals in managed resort activity). Within 150 miles of Burlington there are 19 places you can visit: 16 fee-dig or privately run sites and 3 on public land. 13 are Ready and 6 need something first, such as a fee, a permit or the right season.
Closest places to Burlington (under 75 miles)
4 places are within about 75 miles. Distances are straight-line miles to the site, or to the centre of its county where no exact point is published, so driving distances will be longer.
| Place | Distance | What you can find | Status | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smugglers’ Notch Resort — Gem Mining | 29 mi east | Seeded gems/minerals in managed resort activity | Ready with conditions | Lamoille County, VT |
| Killington Resort — Roaring Brook Mining | 63 mi south | Seeded minerals/gems in managed mining rough | Ready | Rutland County, VT |
| Okemo Adventure Zone — Managed Gem Mining | 69 mi southeast | Seeded gems/minerals in purchased mining rough | Ready | Windsor County, VT |
| Gore Mountain Garnet Mine Tours | 74 mi southwest | Almandine garnet and associated Adirondack metamorphic minerals | Ready with conditions | Warren County, NY |
Day trips from Burlington (75 to 150 miles)
15 more places are within a long day trip.
| Place | Distance | What you can find | Status | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruggles Mine — Public Mineral Collecting | 80 mi southeast | Mica, feldspar, beryl, quartz, garnet and associated pegmatite minerals | Ready | Grafton County, NH |
| Twin River Campground — Controlled Wild Ammonoosuc Gold Panning | 80 mi southeast | Placer gold in river gravels | Ready | Grafton County, NH |
| Jellystone Glen Ellis — Managed Gem Mining | 106 mi southeast | Seeded gems/minerals in purchased mining bags | Ready | Carroll County, NH |
| Moat Mountain Mineral Collecting Site | 106 mi southeast | Smoky quartz, feldspar, topaz and Conway-granite cavity minerals | Ready | Carroll County, NH |
| Herkimer Diamond Mines | 114 mi southwest | Herkimer diamond quartz crystals and associated dolostone-pocket minerals | Ready | Herkimer County, NY |
| Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground | 122 mi southwest | Herkimer diamond quartz crystals, druzy quartz and matrix specimens | Ready | Montgomery County, NY |
| Bethel Outdoor Adventure — Maine Gems & Minerals Sluice | 126 mi east | Maine mine material with beryl, amethyst, tourmaline, quartz and other minerals | Ready | Oxford County, ME |
| Coos Canyon Rock & Gift — Managed Gem Screening | 126 mi east | Gemstones, crystals, fossils and seeded/pay-dirt materials | Ready | Oxford County, ME |
| Dig Maine Gems — Authorized Mt. Mica Sunday Field Trip | 126 mi east | Tourmaline and other pegmatite minerals at active Mt. Mica mine | Ready | Oxford County, ME |
| Dig Maine Gems — West Paris Tailings Dig Site | 126 mi east | Tourmaline, beryl, quartz, feldspar, mica | Ready | Oxford County, ME |
| Maine Mineral & Gem Museum — Sluice Days Seasonal Program | 126 mi east | Gemstones and minerals in prepared mine-tailings sluice bags | Ready with conditions | Oxford County, ME |
| Swift River / Coos Canyon — Independent Hand Gold Panning Context | 126 mi east | Placer gold in stream gravels | Ready with conditions | Oxford County, ME |
| White Mountain National Forest (Maine) — Rock/Gold Context | 126 mi east | Common rocks/minerals and recreational gold prospecting where federal rules allow | Ready with conditions | Oxford County, ME |
| Jellystone Lakes Region — Managed Gem Mining | 134 mi southeast | Seeded gems/minerals in purchased mining bags | Ready | Strafford County, NH |
| Rock Fossil & Dinosaur Shop — Mining/Panning Program | 139 mi south | Seeded gemstones/fossils in mining sluice and dig activities | Ready with conditions | Franklin County, MA |
What you can find near Burlington
The most common activity is gem mining, offered at 13 places, the nearest being Smugglers’ Notch Resort — Gem Mining (29 miles). Quartz and crystals can be found at 7 places, the nearest being Ruggles Mine — Public Mineral Collecting (80 miles). Mica and pegmatite minerals can be found at 5 places, the nearest being Ruggles Mine — Public Mineral Collecting (80 miles). Gold panning can be found at 3 places, the nearest being Twin River Campground — Controlled Wild Ammonoosuc Gold Panning (80 miles).
Fee sites or public land?
Most places near Burlington are fee-dig mines and privately run sites, where you pay to dig or buy a bucket of material and keep what you find. The nearest public-land option is Ruggles Mine — Public Mineral Collecting at 80 miles, and the nearest fee site is Smugglers’ Notch Resort — Gem Mining at 29 miles. Rules differ by agency; read rockhounding rules by land type before you collect.
Questions about rockhounding near Burlington
Where can I go rockhounding near Burlington, VT?
The closest place on our map is Smugglers’ Notch Resort — Gem Mining, about 29 miles east of Burlington. There are 19 places within 150 miles that you can visit, each listed with distance, status and what you can find.
Is there free rockhounding near Burlington, VT?
The nearest public-land option is Ruggles Mine — Public Mineral Collecting, about 80 miles away (Ready). There are 3 public-land places within 150 miles. Hobby collecting on public land is free but limited to small amounts for personal use, and the rules vary by agency.
Where can I pan for gold near Burlington, VT?
The nearest gold panning on our map is Twin River Campground — Controlled Wild Ammonoosuc Gold Panning, about 80 miles from Burlington. There are 3 gold panning places within 150 miles.
Before you go
Open each place for its source and last checked date, and confirm opening days, fees and closures with the operator or land manager. See how map statuses work, what to bring and field safety.
For research sites, protected places and the full map, see the Vermont rockhounding guide, New York rockhounding guide, New Hampshire rockhounding guide, Maine rockhounding guide, Massachusetts rockhounding guide, or use rockhounding near me to search from your exact location.