The second location we decided to visit this weekend was on the other side of Highway 143 near the town of Panguitch (“the Gateway to Bryce Canyon National Park”). I’m sure there are multiple “agate hills” throughout the world, but the two I know of in Utah are one located in the Drum Mountains South of Topaz Mountain and another one located Southeast of Panguitch near the West wall of Bryce Canyon National Park.
This “Agate Hill” is truly a hill made up almost entirely of agate–just about every single rock you pick up will be some sort of agate. As such, this truly is an agate-lover’s paradise with multiple colors, multiple varieties, and an abundance of material. If you remember, we were coming from the Brian Head location and I noticed we passed several lava flows on Highway 143 while en route to this location. From my limited knowledge on how agates are formed, I assumed that the numerous amount of agate material was due to these large ancient lava beds.
If you get bored searching the hill itself, I would highly recommend meandering around the washes surrounding the hill, especially to the East when you start getting into the red sand. I’ve heard of some really cool fossils people have found in the area. Bryce Canyon is my favorite National Park in Utah and, although the views from this area are mesmerizing in and of themselves, I would highly recommend a quick trip into the park itself. It is one of the few National Parks you can explore and take in most of it in just one day.
We didn’t run into too many other people around the area (Probably because of the season), but I did notice that many of the trees on and around the hill had been cut down with all of the limbs cut off and left there. This made for an easy scoping of the area, but I didn’t know the reason for it.
Again, as with many of the other locations I have been to and mention on this site, the directions to this place were completely off-base in the other books and references I was using so I have corrected that below. As always, please let me know if you have any new information on ANY of these locations or if I have any incorrect information. I don’t want to lead any of you astray!
Directions to Agate Hill near Bryce Canyon:
From the intersection of 800 North and I-15 in Orem, Utah
1. Drive South on I-15 for 178.4 miles until exit 95 toward US-89/Panguitch/Kanab
2. Turn left (East) onto UT-20 E and drive 20.5 miles to US-89
3. In the town of Panguitch, turn right (South) onto US-89 for 10.1 miles until you get to a dirt road on the left hand side called Casto Canyon Road
4. Turn onto Casto Canyon Road, cross the bridge and hang left, and drive 2.4 miles in total from the highway to the location on the left
Awesome directions and finds!! Thanks for posting. We followed your directions and stayed at the East base of the hill, found a good wash area and scored some amazing rocks!
Hi The Dude. Thanks for your postings and tips on where to seek rocks and minerals in beautiful Utah. We are huge fans of Southern Utah and have been for 30 years. Love Brian Head year’round. A couple of years ago we found your blog about agate on the saddle of the peak and hiked all over it and found some nice cutting and tumbling material. We’re headed back out soon for a short summer S.Utah rockhounding trip and noticed the spot at Twisted Forest (which we’ve snowmobiled over a dozen times in the thick of winter!) in a rock hounding map and one in Casto Canyon. Your instructions Coming from the North state once in Panguitch (town not Lake) Go south or right? Did you mean left if coming from 20 and the North? I got a little confused when I read this. If you would be so kind as to clarifying the directions for me and include GPS coordinates if you’ve recorded them.
Let me know if you are ever in SoCal in the fall or winter and want to go rockhounding out here in the Mojave. Be glad to guide you. We know of plenty of spots to find excellent material for cutting and tumbling.
Rock on!
found tons of agate and volcanic rock here. as the post says, pretty much any rock you pick up is agate. wasn’t sure if the picture to post was accurate or if the hill is just behind whoever took the picture as that’s where i found my rocks. i’d imagine anywhere along the road would have them too. i went after lots of rain and snow and the road was only accessible with 4 wheel drive and even then wasnt an easy drive. be warned/prepared!
Just spent 2 great collection days here at lovely agate hill, & what a view too.
Found much agate, with much solid & mixed color , but none with bands or circles or patterns. Wonder if these agates were formed differently than ‘normal’ (i.e. inside a cavity etc).
Disappointed about that aspect.
Any theories?
We are going to be taking a trek this way and would love to take my daughter. Curious how the road is? I may have a trailer on the truck and would hate to not be able to turn around.
Was there a few days ago. Go around the turn, through the wash and up the little hill. Pull-off at the top should have plenty of room to turn a trailer around. Road is good. Could have driven my car there.
Perfect directions. Agate everywhere. To many to choose from
Wanted to fill my car. Thanks so much bro.
Quinn from PA.
In your directions on this page, you state: “Directions to Brian Head Agate”. Since those don’t look like very good directions to Brian Head, you might want to change it to Agate Hill 🙂 You can delete this log, but I just wanted to let you know about the copy/paste error. I haven’t been here yet, but look forward to going soon.
Hi Ratwaffles! Good catch! Thanks so much. I’ll change that pronto!
I made it out here a month or so – definitely one of my favorite spots. I looked to the right of the road instead of the left, but there is fantastic stuff all over.
Agates galore, as promised! Thanks. Red, white, orange streaked, caramel colored. I missed the turnoff from hwy 89, but at intersection of 89 and 12, went west on hwy 12 a little bit and saw a sign for Casto Canyon Road. Turned off there, pass a horseback riding stable for Ruby’s, pass the trailhead for Casto Canyon, passed most of the red dirt area and came to a rolling hill area, got out of the car, walked about 25 yards uphill and was surrounded by agate. Little flakes, larger softball size, and some big rocks poking out of the dirt my guess 2-3ft diameter. Awesome spot!
Awesome Steve! Good to hear you managed to grab some big ones as well. I love this area!
Thanks for the direction, we found it, and got a lots of agates. My boys are very happy. it’s our first rock hounding. Now we are trying to find how to polish them and make them shining. Thanks again! really a great website to learn knowledge of rockhounding.
Hi Yang! I’m so glad it was a successful trip for you and your boys! Let us know how they polish up 🙂
Hello Yang, I have two tumblers and a vibratory polisher, I would be happy to sell one of the tumblers, so you can polish your agates, you can contact me at my email address…
[email protected]
We found loads of great agate there, and if you take a 4 wheeler ride up casto wash, you will find agate the entire way, but not in the quantities that you find on agate hill.
Hi Jason! Thank you for your comment. I was actually super curious about what one would find further up the wash so that is awesome to know it really is all over the place. The views alone are totally worth it!
Great directions. Good hunting. Thanks.
We considered state hill on a trip last year, but we missed it. After seeing your picture, I really wish we had gone.