Missouri’s Top Spots for Rockhounds to Explore

One of my best childhood memories involved searching for rocks near the creek on my grandmother's farm in Missouri. There are many who have made rockhounding a lifelong passion. If that's you, you should know the top places in the state where rockhounding flourishes.

There are some important things to remember. If you're going rockhounding, you need to avoid entering abandoned mine shafts, pits or underground workings, even if they look accessible. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources warns that even if a mine shaft or cave looks safe, the ground might not be stable enough to even support your weight and could collapse. You also need to be beware of entering private land which would cause trespassing troubles. Even some public land has rules about what you can and can't do when it comes to the search for rocks. Best to do your own research about where you'd like to adventure to make sure you're doing it legally and ethically.