Rock Shops

of the Western United States

We’ve visited so many Rock shops in our travels that we’ve begun to find our favorites based on a whole slew of different criteria. After literally hundreds of requests for good hunting locations, we decided it was time to start making recommendations and this section of our website was born. We hope these pages will enhance your visit to the great American West, where rock hunting and shopping adventures are available to match any fitness level, any budget, and any degree of interest or expertise.

It Takes All Kinds
Rock shops come in all shapes and sizes. There are rock shops dedicated to displaying museum quality specimens and those that focus on the casual tourist who wants to start a low-budget collection for a child. Each type is worth at least a look, for every specimen is unique and each dealer will have his or her own special interest to share. Rock hounds are notoriously independent, but get them talking about their rocks and you’ll find a wealth of knowledge and respect for what the earth has to offer up.

Where Are They?
With our own interest in rocks, minerals and fossils, and our love for the west, we’ve visited many shops from as far north as Montana, as far south as Arizona, as far east as Kentucky and as far west as California, with lots of stops in between. We’ve listened to old miners talk about their finds in the mountains of Colorado and listened to new geologists talk about the good places one can hunt through the remains of the mines for a choice specimen that was of no value to the miners who were looking for only gold or silver.

We want to share our enjoyment for finding the earth’s great bounty displayed in rock and gift shops in out of the way towns, along country roads or even in major cities across the country. We love getting off the recently beaten path in search of a place where miners and prospectors once roamed in abundance. Their ghosts tell tales of hard work for little money, but they also tell the story of men who loved the beauty of the mountains and were willing to risk their lives to extract the great gifts the mountains hold. For you, the route is easy, just get to one of these easily reached rock shops and explore to your heart’s content.

As you read these pages, keep in mind those who paved the way to discovery of the beautiful treasures housed in these shops. If one day you travel to these sights, we hope you’ll find a world of wonder at your fingertips! Happy hunting!

The Rainbow Gift Shop

Rock shops abound in the western United States. To find some of the Rock and mineral Shops in the western US by clicking this link:

Rock Shops of The Western US

footer for rock shops page