Joe Wilson Wash (Nearby Agates)
Utah
Find: Agates (vibrant orange/purple/yellow chalcedony)
GPS: 38.25504, -109.38153
Nearest city: Moab, UT
Recommended Vehicle: Any
Summary:
If you’ve ever driven on Utah’s highway 191, you’ll witness some fantastic scenery. Most noteworthy are the arches, such as the Wilson Arch on the way South to Monticello.
There is a little road pulloff just South of the arch itself, which will allow you to access the wash. If you’re unfamiliar, a wash is a dry riverbed - often these are great places to find a healthy mix of stones from the area.
In the wash, you’ll notice some red, white, and yellow chalcedony. None of which I found super exciting, if I am honest. However, these coordinates are just a starting point. If you backtrack up the road about 1/4 mile, there is a road that will allow you to access more of the same wash to the West. I found much more agate (with a broader spectrum of colors and even some fortification banding) after doing so.
You’ll likely want a 4x4 vehicle for that. The road was chopped up from both cattle ranchers and offroad vehicle tours that seemed to be going through the area.
Video Guide
Check out the video for a better look at what can be found when exploring this spot.
If I could only bring 3 tools…
Gad Bar
A gad bar is my favorite tool for both prying and breaking rock.
3lb Hammer
Pair the gad bar with a 3lb hammer for the perfect lightweight combo to walk around with and investigate which agates are worth cutting or collecting.
Rubber Tip Gloves
Gloves will be handy - pun intended. Fractured agate is essentially glass, so it can be quite sharp even when covered in dirt.