Hoosier National Forest
Bedford, Indiana
geodesquartz crystalscalcitechertcrinoid fossils
Forest Service collecting area · Free
Hoosier National Forest
South-central Indiana's Mississippian limestone sheds geodes by the thousand, and the Hoosier is the clearest place in the state where taking them is legal — Indiana closes its state parks, state forests, and nature preserves to collecting. The Forest Service permits small personal-use quantities without a permit, but the no-earth-disturbance rule is the whole game: you pick geodes off gravel bars and eroding slopes, you do not dig for them. The Salt Creek drainage is the classic ground, and using a metal detector to search for artifacts is separately prohibited on all national forests.
The card catalog
| What you can find | geodes, quartz crystals, calcite, chert, crinoid fossils |
|---|---|
| Access | Forest Service collecting area — Free |
| Fees | Free, with no permit for small quantities of rock for personal use. What you collect may not be resold or bartered, and no earth may be disturbed in the process. |
| Season & hours | Year-round. Creek gravel bars read best in late summer and fall when water is low. Recreational panning is allowed under the same no-earth-disturbance rule but is prohibited in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness, and dredges and sluices are not permitted anywhere. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Creek walking for geodes is a classic Indiana family outing and needs no tools at all. Water shoes rather than sandals, watch for slick limestone, and be aware you may need landowner permission to cross private ground to reach a creek. |
| Official source | USDA Forest Service, Hoosier 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.
Before you go
What does Hoosier National Forest cost?
Free, with no permit for small quantities of rock for personal use. What you collect may not be resold or bartered, and no earth may be disturbed in the process. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Hoosier National Forest open?
Year-round. Creek gravel bars read best in late summer and fall when water is low. Recreational panning is allowed under the same no-earth-disturbance rule but is prohibited in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness, and dredges and sluices are not permitted anywhere. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Hoosier National Forest good for kids?
Yes — Hoosier National Forest works for families. Creek walking for geodes is a classic Indiana family outing and needs no tools at all. Water shoes rather than sandals, watch for slick limestone, and be aware you may need landowner permission to cross private ground to reach a creek.