Crystal Vista Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest
Mount Ida, Arkansas
quartz crystalsmilky quartz
Forest Service collecting area · Free
Crystal Vista Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest
The Ouachita National Forest's one officially designated crystal collecting area: four acres of a former commercial mine high on Gardner Mountain, reached by a trail off a gravel road. Quartz points and milky quartz work loose from the ground surface here, so it is a picking-and-sifting site rather than a digging one. Everything you carry out must be for personal use - resale is prohibited. The Caddo-Womble Ranger District at (870) 867-2101 is the office to call about road and trail conditions.
The card catalog
| What you can find | quartz crystals, milky quartz |
|---|---|
| Access | Forest Service collecting area — Free |
| Fees | free - the Forest Service states plainly that Crystal Vista is not an active mine and there is no fee to collect quartz for personal use |
| Season & hours | year-round during daylight; the last miles in are county gravel road and the trail is slick after rain |
| Kids | Family-friendly — A short uphill walk each way, then easy surface picking on an open bench - fine for grade-schoolers who can handle a moderate climb. Carry water; there is none on site. |
| Official source | USDA Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest |
| 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 Vista Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest cost?
free - the Forest Service states plainly that Crystal Vista is not an active mine and there is no fee to collect quartz for personal use Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Crystal Vista Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest open?
year-round during daylight; the last miles in are county gravel road and the trail is slick after rain Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Crystal Vista Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest good for kids?
Yes — Crystal Vista Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest works for families. A short uphill walk each way, then easy surface picking on an open bench - fine for grade-schoolers who can handle a moderate climb. Carry water; there is none on site.