Rockhounding Near Cedar Rapids, Iowa: 7 Places To Hunt Rocks, Crystals, and Fossils

Cedar Rapids, Iowa is a great place to go rockhounding.

Most of the places on this list allow you to go on a guided rockhounding hike with a naturalist and the best time to visit is in the spring or fall.

Detailed below are some of the best places for rockhounding near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Rockhounding Near Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Laws are updated. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material.

1. Indian Creek Nature Center

Indian Creek Nature Center is located just outside of Cedar Rapids and offers a great place to hunt for rocks, minerals, and fossils.

The nature center has over 300 acres of land to explore, with hiking trails, creeks, and ponds.

The Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is home to a variety of rocks, minerals, and crystals.

Visitors can find amethyst, quartz, calcite, pyrite, and other minerals throughout the nature center.

The staff at the nature center can help identify any rocks or minerals that you might find during your visit.

From I-380, take the exit for 1st Avenue and head east. After about 1.5 miles, turn left onto Indian Creek Road.

The nature center will be on your right after another mile or so.

2. Ellis Quarry

Ellis Quarry is a rock quarry that is now abandoned but was once used for mining limestone.

The quarry is located on private property but can be accessed with permission from the owner.

The quarry is home to a variety of rocks, minerals, and crystals, including granite, gneiss, quartz, and mica.

Visitors can also find fossils of marine creatures such as crinoids and brachiopods.

To get to Ellis Quarry from Cedar Rapids, take I-380 south to Exit 75.

At the bottom of the ramp, turn left (east) onto Highway 30. Go 1.3 miles and turn right (south) onto Ellis Quarry Road.

The quarry will be on your left in about a half-mile.

3. Squaw Creek Park

Squaw Creek Park is located in the city of Cedar Rapids and offers a great place to hunt for rocks, minerals, and fossils.

The park has over 200 acres of land to explore, with hiking trails, creeks, and ponds.

The most common rocks, minerals, and crystals found in Squaw Creek Park are quartz, granite, limestone, and shale.

Other less common finds include calcite, dolomite, gypsum, feldspar, and mica.

Squaw Creek Park is a great place to find Quartz.

Granite can also be found in the park, although it is not as common as Quartz.

Limestone and shale are both fairly common in the park as well.

Some of the less common rocks, minerals, and crystals that can be found in Squaw Creek Park include calcite, dolomite, gypsum, feldspar, and mica.

These are all quite rare, so if you find any of them it is a real treat!

To get to Squaw Creek Park from Cedar Rapids, take I-380 south to exit 8.

At the stop sign, turn right onto Highway 30 West.

Travel about 5 miles until you see the park entrance on your right.

There is a small parking lot just inside the park entrance.

4. Coralville Reservoir

Coralville Reservoir is a man-made lake that is located near the city of Iowa City.

The reservoir is a great place to hunt for rocks, minerals, and fossils.

The Coralville Reservoir is home to a wide variety of rocks, minerals, and crystals.

Some of the more common ones include quartz, calcite, and pyrite.

However, several rarer minerals and crystals can be found in the area, such as amethyst and topaz.

With so many different types of rocks, minerals, and crystals to choose from, there is sure to be something for everyone at the Coralville reservoir.

To get to the Coralville Reservoir from Cedar Rapids, take I-380 north until you reach exit 10.

At the exit, take a right onto US-6 East/Troy Road.

Drive for about 3.5 miles before taking a left turn onto Coral Ridge Avenue.

Follow this road for 2 miles until you reach the reservoir.

There is a parking lot on the left side of the road just before the dam.

5. Amana Colonies Landscape Reserve

The Amana Colonies Landscape Reserve is located in the city of Amana and offers a great place to hunt for rocks, minerals, and fossils.

The reserve has over 200 acres of land to explore, with hiking trails, creeks, and ponds.

There is a plethora of rocks, minerals, and crystals available for diligent rockhounding including: Amanite, Basalt, Banded agate, Calcite, Celestine, Elbaite, Fluorite, Garnet, Hematite, Jasper, Lepidolite, Malachite, Manganite, Milky quartz, Molybdenite, Onyx, Pyrite, Rhodochrosite, Rock crystal, Rose quartz, Sapphire, Sugilite, Tiger’s eye, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Uvarovite, Vanadinite, Wulfenite, and Zebra stone.

To get to the Amana Colonies Landscape Reserve near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, take I-380 north to Exit 28.

At the stop sign, turn left onto Linn-Mar Drive NE and continue for about 2 miles.

The Amana Colonies Landscape Reserve will be on your right.

6. Ledges State Park

Ledges State Park is located in the city of Madrid and offers a great place to hunt for rocks, minerals, and fossils.

The park has over 500 acres of land to explore, with hiking trails, creeks, and ponds.

The rocks in the park are primarily limestone and dolomite, which are common in the Midwest.

However, there are also a few sandstone outcroppings.

The most popular minerals to collect in the park include calcite, quartz, and pyrite.

Crystal can also be found on occasion.

To get to Ledges State Park from Cedar Rapids, take I-380 south for about 15 miles.

Take exit number 11B and turn onto Highway 30 east.

Drive for about 3.5 miles and then turn left onto County Road F56 (Ledges Road).

Continue on Ledges Road for about 2 miles until you reach the park entrance.

7. Honey Creek State Preserve

Honey Creek State Preserve is located in the city of Anamosa and offers a great place to hunt for rocks, minerals, and fossils.

The preserve has over 300 acres of land to explore, with hiking trails, creeks, and ponds.

There are a variety of rocks, minerals, and crystals that can be found in Honey Creek State Preserve near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The most common rocks found in the preserve include limestone, sandstone, and shale.

There are also a variety of minerals and crystals that can be found in the area, including quartz, calcite, and fluorite.

To get to the Honey Creek State Preserve, take Highway 30 east from Cedar Rapids.

The preserve will be on your right just before you reach the town of Fairfax.

There is a small parking area at the preserve entrance.

From the parking area, follow the trail down into the ravine.

The trail will take you past some impressive sandstone cliffs and to the Honey Creek waterfall.

The falls are usually best seen in the springtime when the water flow is highest.

After enjoying the waterfall, continue following the trail upstream.

The trail will eventually loop back around to the parking area.

This concludes our list of the best rockhounding spots near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

With so many great places to explore, you’re sure to find a spot that’s perfect for you.

So get out there and start hunting for those rocks, minerals, and crystals!