Crystal Park
Montana
Find: Quartz crystals, amethyst crystals, smoky quartz, with phantom points and double terminations possible
GPS: 45.48678, -113.10021
Nearest city: Bozeman, MT
Recommended Vehicle: Any
Summary:
Crystal Park is probably one of the most fun places to take a family. This spot looks like a WWII battlefield, with holes dug as far as the eye can see. Those willing to put a shovel to work are rewarded with stunning quartz and amethyst crystals.
If you’re going in the Summer, don’t skip bug spray. While it’s a bit tiring, I recommend carrying all of your gear for the day (including plenty of water) up the hill all in one go. To maximize your efforts, bring a shaker screen like I have in the pics below. I picked up a shovel and a gold pan to wash crystals while up on the hill for $7 at a pawn shop in Butte, MT.
This site has a $5/day fee. The Forest Service made a nice sheet that explains Crystal Park rules as well. You can get to this area with any vehicle.
Crystal Park is filled with holes like this. It could easily be mistaken for an artillery field if you didn't know why the holes were there.
Quartz crystals weather out of the granite in the area.
This was my haul for the day. I wish I had a better picture, but my camera decided to turn off permanently on the day I recorded this.
I found by clearest and largest crystals by digging.
It would have been a struggle without this shaker box. A local guy named Matt comes to this spot every year and was kind enough to give an extra he had to me. I've gotten lots of use out of it!
You don't need to backfill your holes here. Please knock in or fill overhangs you create, though.
The drive from Butte, MT up to Missoula was a memorable scenic drive.