Visitor Center Activities Garnet Digging
	A nice collection of rough garnets THE GARNET AREA IS UP AND RUNNING FOR THE 2009 SEASON The weather continues to be extremely warm with chances of thunderstorms. Make sure you bring plenty of water for you and your family. We look forward to seeing you! IMPORTANT CHANGES TO EMERALD CREEK GARNET AREA OPERATIONS Due to heavy use at the Emerald Creek Garnet Area a limit of 170 people at the site at one time has been established to provide a positive experience to those who purchase permits to find garnets at Emerald Creek. Once that number has been reached additional visitors will be turned away. Please note that the number of people going to the Garnet Area has tapered off and we have not had to turn anyone away. Also, permits will not be issued before 9 a.m. so please do not arrive before 8:45 a.m. Forest Service employees will update the Clarkia Office both Saturday and Sunday mornings regarding operations at the Emerald Creek Garnet Area with specific information about the number of visitors. For more information about the Emerald Creek Garnet Area and the need for a limitation on daily visitors please contact the St Joe Ranger District Office at (208) 245-2531. STAR GARNET - THE IDAHO STATE GEM STONE The garnets found here are called "star garnets" because of a unique property that causes some of them to display a reflection like a four or six pointed star. India is the only other place in the world where star garnets like these are found in any quantity. The 12-sided (dodecahedron) crystals found here range in size from sand particles to golf-ball or larger size. Gem quality faceting material is also found at the Garnet Area. The Forest Service has developed the Garnet Area as a place where the public may collect these unique gems in a safe and environmentally friendly way. In the past, people would dig in the stream bed in search of the garnets. Now, due to concerns for water quality, aquatic habitat, and public safety, the Forest Service provides a stockpile of garnet bearing gravels from which people can gather material to run through one of two sluice boxes in search of garnets. Our Garnet Area photo gallery shows the steps one takes to get from gravels to garnets. Read below to find out where the Garnet Area is and how get the most out of your Garnet Area adventure. Please note that for your safety, the safety of your pet, and the safety of others, pets are not allowed at the Garnet Area. HOURS Open Friday thru Tuesday 9 A.M. -to- 5 P.M. CLOSED Wednesday and Thursday Please call ahead to make sure it is open before you plan your trip to allow for unexpected closures. St. Maries Office:(208) 245-2531 or Clarkia Office:(208) 245-1134 WHERE IS IT? From St. Maries, Idaho, follow Highway 3 south 24 miles to Road 447. Proceed southwest 8 miles on gravel Road 447 to the parking area. Permits, information, and the sluice area are a 1/2 mile hike up 281 Gulch. Be aware that there is logging traffic in the vicinity of the Garnet Area. Please drive with care! Detailed directions from: Spokane, WA Coeur d'Alene, ID Moscow, ID Missoula, MT Maps and Photos: View map. Photo gallery Google Earth view (Google Earth required) Coordinates for navigation devices: Garnet Area Parking Lot: Latitude: 46° 59' 49" Longitude: 116° 21' 54" Garnet Area Site: Latitude: 46° 59' 59" Longitude: 116° 22' 02" Notes regarding navigation devices: These coordinates are provided to facilitate route finding using a navigation device. However, your navigation device may not choose an appropriate route to the Garnet Area. Depending on your starting location the device may direct you over roads that are not designed for passenger vehicles or to roads that have been seasonally or permanently closed. The chosen routes may include forest roads where conditions can change rapidly and which are impassable at times. When travelling forest roads you should also carry a current forest map. If you are unsure of conditions or have questions regarding specific routes, please contact a local Forest Service office. IS THERE HANDICAPPED ACCESS? Yes. Those who are unable make the walk should call the Clarkia office (208-245-1134) and make arrangements for someone to open the gate. Or, they can have someone walk up to the sluice site and have an employee go down and open the gate. A handicap placard, handicap license plate, or some other proof of disability is required for this service. HOW DOES ONE GET A PERMIT? Permits are available at the site and cost $10 for adults and $5 for children age 6-12. The permit is valid for one day and includes equipment. Permits are required for anyone washing or screening gravels. You may take up to five pounds of garnets with your daily permit. If you want to remove more than five pounds of garnet during the same day, you can buy another permit for each additional five pounds or fraction thereof. You are limited to six permits or 30 pounds of garnet per year. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? We recommend you allow at least two to four hours at the site. Many families like to bring their lunch and make it an all-day outing at the Garnet Area. Some rockhounds like to return several days in a row. Prepare to have fun! WHAT EQUIPMENT DOES ONE NEED? You are provided: buckets, shovels, and special screen boxes. You should bring: Drinking water, snacks, and/or lunch Change of clothes Sunscreen, hat Container for garnets (recloseable plastic bags work well) Some items other visitors have found useful are: Lined, rubber gloves Small hammer Small brush Collapsible stool GUIDELINES Pets are not allowed. Please leave your pets at home because there is no shade in the parking lot and vehicles get extremely hot in the sun. The Forest Service is not responsible for your pets. Motorized equipment is not allowed in the Garnet Area. WHAT FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE? At the parking lot: information sign, directions, and outhouse. At the administrative tent: permit sales, displays, assistance to permittees, and outhouse. Forest Service personnel are available to provide: visitor information, permit sales, garnet collecting instructions and assistance. WHAT ACCOMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE? Emerald Creek Campground 4 miles east of the Garnet area. Fee is $6.00 per night per unit. Cedar Creek Campground 3 miles north of Clarkia on HWY 3. Fee is $6.00 per night per unit. Clarkia Work Center Guest Bunkhouse Rental on HWY 3 in Clarkia. (call: 208-245-1134 or 208-245-2531 for rental information). Food, gas, and other supplies are available in Clarkia (6 miles), Fernwood (12 miles), and Emida (25 miles). Laundromats in Fernwood and St. Maries. The nearest safe drinking water is in the Emerald Creek Campground. For motels in St. Maries, Idaho, contact the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce, 208-245-3563 For motels in Moscow, Idaho, contact the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, 800-380-1801 The nearest RV dumps are available at the cities of St. Maries, Bolvill, Fernwood, and Kendrick. FOR MORE INFORMATION Download a copy of our Garnet Area Brochure in pdf format. Contact: St. Joe Ranger District 222 S. 7th Street, Suite 1 St. Maries, Idaho 83861 (208) 245-2531 or Clarkia (208) 245-1134 Top of the page Last updated: 08/18/09
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