Crystal Hill Area, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Arizona
quartz crystalsagatechalcedonyjasper
Public land, rules apply · Free
Crystal Hill Area, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Kofa refuge closes almost all of its acreage to collecting, then carves out a single exception at Crystal Hill east of Quartzsite. The refuge's published rule is short and absolute: recreational, non-commercial rock or mineral collecting is restricted to the designated 1.5-square-mile Crystal Hill Area, and the use of tools, including metal detectors, is forbidden. Within those lines you can walk out with clear quartz points and agate that weathered free on their own. Rockhounding guides widely repeat a 10-specimen or 10-pound annual ceiling; that figure does not appear in the refuge's current published rules, so call the refuge if you plan to collect anywhere near it.
The card catalog
| What you can find | quartz crystals, agate, chalcedony, jasper |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free; no collecting permit and no day-use fee. Confirm current camping rules with the refuge before planning an overnight — the refuge's published rules page covers collecting, not camping rates. |
| Season & hours | Open year-round, but the Kofa country is brutal from May through September. October through April is the season, and the winter Quartzsite show crowd makes January busy. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Surface-only, no-tool collecting is genuinely ideal for grade-school kids: it is a treasure hunt with your eyes, not a dig. Be blunt with children that even a trowel or a screwdriver is off-limits here, and keep a sharp watch for cholla. |
| Official source | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge |
| 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.
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Before you go
What does Crystal Hill Area, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge cost?
Free; no collecting permit and no day-use fee. Confirm current camping rules with the refuge before planning an overnight — the refuge's published rules page covers collecting, not camping rates. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Crystal Hill Area, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge open?
Open year-round, but the Kofa country is brutal from May through September. October through April is the season, and the winter Quartzsite show crowd makes January busy. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Crystal Hill Area, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge good for kids?
Yes — Crystal Hill Area, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge works for families. Surface-only, no-tool collecting is genuinely ideal for grade-school kids: it is a treasure hunt with your eyes, not a dig. Be blunt with children that even a trowel or a screwdriver is off-limits here, and keep a sharp watch for cholla.