BLM Public Lands in Montana
Miles City, Montana
montana moss agateagatejasperpetrified woodquartz
Public land, rules apply · Free
BLM Public Lands in Montana
Montana's most-wanted collecting rock, the moss agate that washes out of the lower Yellowstone drainage, is legal to pick up on unclaimed BLM ground under the agency's casual-collecting policy. There is no designated agate park here, though — BLM land is a checkerboard with private ranch and state sections, and collecting is closed on active mining claims, at developed recreation sites, and where the mineral estate is privately owned. The Miles City Field Office manages 2.7 million surface acres across 16 eastern counties; get a current surface-management map from its public room before you fill a bucket.
The card catalog
| What you can find | montana moss agate, agate, jasper, petrified wood, quartz |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free, no permit. BLM lets rockhounds collect surface material — agates and the usual hobby stones — in reasonable quantities for personal, noncommercial use. Petrified wood is capped separately at 25 pounds plus one piece per day, up to 250 pounds a year. Power equipment and explosives need written authorization from the field office, and nothing you collect may be sold. |
| Season & hours | Practically June through October in the eastern badlands. Two-track roads on bentonite clay turn impassable after rain and stay that way for a day or more. |
| Kids | Better for experienced collectors — Unsigned, unstaffed country with no water and no facilities, and the hard part is proving to yourself that you are standing on public land. Fine for teenagers who already camp; not a drop-in family stop. |
| Official source | Bureau of Land Management — Montana/Dakotas recreation |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
More drawers in Montana
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Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine & Gold Fever Rock Shop
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Before you go
What does BLM Public Lands in Montana cost?
Free, no permit. BLM lets rockhounds collect surface material — agates and the usual hobby stones — in reasonable quantities for personal, noncommercial use. Petrified wood is capped separately at 25 pounds plus one piece per day, up to 250 pounds a year. Power equipment and explosives need written authorization from the field office, and nothing you collect may be sold. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is BLM Public Lands in Montana open?
Practically June through October in the eastern badlands. Two-track roads on bentonite clay turn impassable after rain and stay that way for a day or more. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is BLM Public Lands in Montana good for kids?
BLM Public Lands in Montana is better suited to experienced collectors than young kids. Unsigned, unstaffed country with no water and no facilities, and the hard part is proving to yourself that you are standing on public land. Fine for teenagers who already camp; not a drop-in family stop.