Gem State Indeed

There’s a reason Idaho is called the “Gem State.” A large portion of the semi-precious gemstones (meaning colored stones, not diamonds, which are precious stones) come from the this area of the rocky mountains. Idaho has long been known for its jasper, agate, quartz and of course the garnets, which are the best in the world. But did you know that it’s also known for its opals, which are also world renowned?

Over in Spencer (just a few minutes from Island Park if you continue west on the “shotgun” road) is one of the biggest and most productive opal mines in the world. For a great mining experience, the folks in Spencer will give you a pick, a bucket and send you out in search of beautiful opals. This is a fun, inexpensive way to spend an afternoon, and I haven’t talked to anyone who didn’t find opals on their visit to the Spencer Opal Mine. (For the less intrepid among us, you can just buy cut and polished opals at the mine if you don’t want to get your hands dirty.)

My wife prefers hunting opals, but I like garnets. As you may or may not know, garnets come in a geode. A geode is basically a rock that’s like a hollow egg. When you break open the geode, the entire interior surface is lined with beautiful red garnets. All you have to do to enjoy gemstones is have them cut and polished.

If, like me, you prefer to not to go over to Spencer but would like to stay right here in Island Park, there is some great garnet hunting to be had. The hills around Henry’s Lake contain thousands of garnet-filled geodes. They’re easy to spot, once you get the hang of it, and they are a joy to discover. If you want to do some rock hunting here in Island Park, you’ll want to get a pocket field guide so you know what you’re looking for. You’ll also want to wear sturdy shoes and clothing as the hillsides are very brushy. You’ll need a rock hammer, a rucksack, and food and water.

You needn’t travel far from the road to be successful in your hunt, so don’t make yourself crazy. You’ve been driving past thousands of garnet-bearing geodes every time you come to Island Park. You just need to get out of your car and get looking. Happy hunting!