US 2 - Stevens Pass

[airborne1092]

I moved this from Rock/Minerals -

Has anyone ever been rockhounding or searched for mineral specimens up around near Stevens Pass?

As a child, I was always fascinated by the rock-falls on the shoulder of the road and bald mountains, while traveling over Stevens Pass to see the grand-folks in Wenatchee. Now as an adult with an interest in rockhounding and gems/minerals, I wonder more and more about what secrets this area actually contain. I remember being fascinated also, by all the tumbled rocks in the Skykomish river, and I've always wanted to go explore more. Even at a young age, I had an itch for finding gold and gems.

Looking at a Google map of the Stevens Pass area from Deception falls camp ground all the way to the Tye river road on the other side, It looks rather promising. Given how rugged it really is around there, I would expect it to have some real treasures. My wife nor any of my friends are really interested in this sort of thing, and my kids are both too young right now for any real arduous adventure. I believe this next summer I may have to take a solo trip up there and tool around for two or three days.

 

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[lgadbois]

You can get some good tips if you are more specific about your interests.

If you turn off at Index and head toward Garland Hot Springs, there are some good spots for various minerals. At Galena, just west of where the bridge crosses the north fork, you will find a galena outcroping on the north side of the road. (The road may still be closed a couple of miles passed Index, but you can always walk or bicycle in.)

If you cross the bridge you are on the way to what used to be Mineral Center. It was a gold and silver mining area. The road from the bridge(now a trail) is about 4 miles long and ends at Poodle Dog Pass, which crosses over to the ghost town of Monte Cristo. You will pass mines along the way. This area has a variety of minerals. There are pieces of silver ore that can be found along the trail.

If you continue passed the bridge toward Garland, the road will cross to the north side of the river. Just passed the bridge you will find a trail head on the left side of the road. The trail goes up the mountain to an old copper mine site. There is a rock face up that trail near the mine that contains large garnets. Some are large enough to make jewelry.

If you want information on the geology of Snoqualmie, Swauk (Blewett), and Stevens Pass areas, you might be able to find an excellent booklet put out by the University of Washington in 1963. Here is a link referencing the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Snoqualmie-Information-University-Washington-Department/dp/B002YC4058

Good hunting!