hauser geode beds

We had some help before we arrived of what to look for. As soon as we stopped we were picking up little geodes off the ground. After a bit of looking we found a nice bed of geodes that were a nice baseball size. In about an hour we filled up our bucket. Husband enjoyed it so much he already wants to go back. This is a great place to come find geodes in their natural state and a great geology lesson. Camping is available in the area.

An off road adventure out in the desert to explore and look for geodes, we got about half a bucket of small ones on a fun adventure

there are broken pieces and some cut left behind by others. But if some way have a "guide "by far is the way to go because its a large area.. I suggest doing some research prior to going, the whole area has a amazing past. With recent rains there is a lot of lava in various stages. Beautiful rocks ..the hosts at Coon Hollow are THE NICEST people. Camp clean. Watch for snakes and spiders. Take lots and lots of water no matter what time of year.

When we planned our vacation I bought a book to help find the geode beds. The first thing we saw was a prison. Worried us a bit. Then we traveled down what seemed like four thousand miles of dirt roads and paths. There are signs pointing to the beds but we never did find them. We did run into an area where we found some broken geodes. That was good enough for us. It was getting close to dusk and we were in no way going to be caught out there after dark! I would love to go back sometime with someone who actually knows where these are!

It's a different experience actually going to middle of desert hunting for geodes. There are some off-road driving but overal the road condition is not as bad as we thought.We picked quite a bit cracked-open geodes just from ground and it is good enough to make kids happen, makes the driving worth of reward.

My parents, and I, have been visiting the Wiley's Well area for at least twenty years. It is an excellent place for rockhounds to play during the cooler months of the year. The two campgrounds along the road south from freeway I-10 are both "dry" camps. Coon Hollow camp does have cistern water delivered by BLM and frequently cleaned and stocked pit toilets in blockhouses. The water is NOT recommended for drinking, bring your own.Sites have picnic tables and some have shade covers. The campgrounds usually have camp hosts that are typically old pros in the area, though changes can occur, of course, from year to year. We always stay in Coon Hollow Campground along with friends who have been staying there for many decades, in some cases.The geode beds are spread over a fairly wide area and are not terribly difficult to find, but it's a heck of a lot quicker if you team up with someone who knows the area, maybe staying at the campground. Be prepared to do serious digging. That being said, I have frequently found areas where the eggs are literally sitting on top of the ground and nobody seems to have walked that way, before! Quality varies widely, but it is unlikely you will get skunked if you put a bit of effort into walking the desert flats surrounding the geode locals and hillsides near the known beds. Part of the allure of the area is finding NEW beds and that requires putting on a pack, hauling a couple quarts of water and your hammer and striking off into the desert. Be very, very, sure to let others know where you are going and STICK to that "flight plan", especially if you're going it, alone. A wrenched ankle can do you in, out there. Take a map with you if you are going far, a gps device is very nice, these days, and a cell phone. I often find places that I can hit cell towers as you aren't that far from the freeway in many spots. Just don't let the battery dwindle trying to hit distant signal towers.Take food, more than you would normally for a day's hunt. If you get stuck, and have to wait for help, it may take awhile. I've rescued people, myself, who broke down out there and I just happened to drive down that particular, unmarked, trail where they went.The geodes, or agate nodules, vary from "bed" to "bed". Do your homework beforehand and you will be able to find various different looking nodules on-line. It is unlikely you will be able to visit all of the various digging areas in one, or even two, visits, especially if digging gets involved, so try to experience the area in chunks, coming back in the future to visit new spots instead of running all over the desert in one weekend. Stop by the Coon Hollow camp on the way back towards the freeway to get your rocks "evaluated" if you'd like. There probably will be someone there who's been there before and can give you feedback, especially from just before Christmas up to just before Easter.

finding a geode is fantastic....a good place to get your walking exercise.....but felt uneasy to drive pass the prison

Spent the day digging for geodes in the Hauser beds. The duty roads are well maintained, but a 4X4 is a good idea. Do your research before traveling so you can find what you are looking for. Take plenty if water and food. Also take tge proper tools, like a pick, shovel, hand tools and something to carry your geodes and other treasures in. We went to two places and collected some nice, but small specimens. Happy hunting!

This is an off-road trip to collect colorful agate and crystal-filled nodules--while most of it is driven on rough desert tracks, I encountered a few places where gully erosion and deep sand/gravel were too much for any vehicle without high clearance and 4-wheel drive. Drive a truck, SUV, or jeep. Take a shovel, pick, or something to dig in loose rocky soil. Take lots of water, maybe some food--you'll spend hours driving in, digging, exploring, and driving back out.The Hauser beds are scattered over several square miles. Search the web and read the various accounts and directions about beds with names like Potato Patch, Straw Bed, South End, etc. Several books about rockhounding in California have been published,and most give GPS coordinates. Plug these into your GPS to help ensure that you do find productive geode beds. Dig the rounded geodes out of holes left by other miners, or start your own hole. Some miners dig in the washes and gullies where the ash layer is easy to see. Others find tilted rock outcrops in the surrounding hills, where it is possible to dig in under the rock layer covering the ash. By the way, and not to be missed, the most famous of rockhounds after geodes in the west (Paul "The Geode Kid" Colburn and Christopher) have collected agate geodes here--visit their cutting and polishing works near Rockhound State Park in New Mexico to see fabulous finished Hauser Bed and other specimens for sale.Something you will wish to know about digging here is that there are bees in the desert, and they are thirsty! As you dig down into the loose volcanic ash layer where the geodes are, the ash is sometimes slightly damp, and bees will come from far and wide, attracted by the smell of water. Some miners apparently leave cups and bottles of water as offerings to the bees. I don't recommend disturbing any of these that you find--the bees will be excited and will not leave you alone. Even when you take a drink of your own water, bees will come. They are very annoying, but I did not get stung even once. I couldn't identify them, but Arizona does have Africanized honey bees ("Killer Bees") so just beware. In my experience, these bees jjust buzz you a lot. Suppress your reflex for shooing them, it only makes them more aggressive.Have fun on this excursion. The Southern California Desert is an experience not to be missed, if only for the scenic and vast landscape. Pack your trash out so the next visitors will also be able to imagine that they are the only people in the world as they wander this ancient place.

The geodes are about the size of softballs. Get someone to show you where to look. Collectors generally cover them back up with dirt to preserve them, but they can be quite beautiful. A high-clearance vehicle is required.

Finding and staying on trail is a little tricky the first time. Just stay on the road most traveled. Nice views. Digging the geodes up is harder work than I thought. Bring a shovel & pick. Took Bradshaw Trail to Wileys Well Road to Geode Beds Road. On return we went Geodes Bed Road to Wileys Well Road and then continued on to Milpitas Wash and Hwy 95. There are a couple of outhouses in rough campgrounds on Wiley's Well Road - other than that - nada. Bring food and water. If unfamiliar with area, you should get another vehicle to go with you. A little remote. Vehicles should have good ground clearance - 4x4 nice but not absolutely necessary if you are experienced off road. We take this drive at least once a year - Have Fun! Remember: Pack It In - Pack It Out.