Mount Apatite Park
Auburn, Maine
tourmalineapatitequartzfeldsparmuscovitegarnet
Public land, rules apply · Free
Mount Apatite Park
Auburn owns this park outright, and the city's posted ordinance rules let you use hand tools to explore for mineral and gem specimens to a depth of two feet in the area known as the mines, free and without asking anyone. In the 1880s some 1,500 tourmaline crystals came out of an exploratory mine here, from half an inch to four inches long, in pastel pink, blue, lilac, yellow and green; what remains in the dumps runs small but is genuinely still there, along with apatite, quartz and feldspar. Generators, compressors, pumps and any other mineral exploration mechanism are strictly forbidden, as are camping and fires.
The card catalog
| What you can find | tourmaline, apatite, quartz, feldspar, muscovite, garnet |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | free, no permit and no special permission required; the City of Auburn owns and administers the park under municipal ordinance |
| Season & hours | open to the public dawn to dusk, year-round, though the tailings are workable only when the ground is not frozen or snow-covered |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Easy trail network, no gate hours, no fee, and the tailings are loose enough for small hands with a screen. Old quarry edges are the hazard, so keep kids off the pit rims |
| Official source | City of Auburn, Maine - Parks Department (Mt. Apatite Park Rules & Trail Map) |
| 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 Maine
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Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area
Stow, ME
amethyst, smoky quartz, feldspar
-
Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures
West Paris, ME
tourmaline, aquamarine, beryl
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Lord Hill Mineral Collecting Area
Stoneham, ME
topaz, phenakite, smoky quartz
Before you go
What does Mount Apatite Park cost?
free, no permit and no special permission required; the City of Auburn owns and administers the park under municipal ordinance Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Mount Apatite Park open?
open to the public dawn to dusk, year-round, though the tailings are workable only when the ground is not frozen or snow-covered Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Mount Apatite Park good for kids?
Yes — Mount Apatite Park works for families. Easy trail network, no gate hours, no fee, and the tailings are loose enough for small hands with a screen. Old quarry edges are the hazard, so keep kids off the pit rims