Emerald Creek Garnet Area Tickets

Tickets open up for reservation 90 days prior to the available date. If no availability is shown on the calendar they have either not been released yet or all available times are fully booked. If ticket holders cancel their reservation these available times will show up on the calendar. Tickets will begin to be released March 2nd, 2022 on a 90 day rolling basis. 

Welcome to the Emerald Creek Garnet Area! If you are ready to get dirty, have fun and find some garnets to take home you’ve come the right place. Our staff will greet you with an orientation to the site and provide all the tools necessary to dig, sift and wet sluice to find garnets. This is a great activity for families and people of all ages.  

Hidden in the hills of the Idaho Panhandle, Emerald Creek is one of only two places in the world where Star Garnets can be found in quantity and the only location where you’re able to collect them! When a Star Garnet is cut by a jeweler it displays a six-ray reflective star pattern in the purple stone and is commonly used for jewelry. It is also the Idaho State Gem! Please note that garnets cannot be collected outside the Emerald Creek Garnet Area recreation site or while the site is closed.  

Emerald Creek Garnet Area is open Friday through Monday beginning the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and ending the Monday of Labor Day weekend. To provide for public safety and to protect the delicate natural resources, tickets are required to visit Emerald Creek Garnet Area. Thank you for your cooperation! 

Tickets are available for morning or afternoon time slots. They are issued per person and are only valid for the date and time slot listed. To make your reservation, please visit www.recreation.gov for tickets. Please be sure to bring your printed ticket(s) with you to the recreation site and we’ll issue a mineral permit when you arrive. This permit authorizes the holder to dig, sift, sluice and collect garnets within the Emerald Creek Garnet Area recreation site.

Be aware of road conditions prior to choosing your route. From St. Maries, Idaho, follow Highway 3 south 24 miles to Road 447. Proceed southwest 8 miles on 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 considerable logging traffic in the vicinity of the Garnet Area. Please drive with care!

Note: Do not rely exclusively on your mobile GPS, Google Maps, or similar automated navigation systems to get to the Emerald Creek Garnet Area in time for your scheduled ticket. Routes can be misleading and incorrect