Pala Chief Mine
Pala, California
pink tourmalinekunzitemorganiteaquamarinequartzgarnet
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal
Pala Chief Mine
One of the oldest gem mines in San Diego County, the Pala Chief turns you loose on Chief Mountain's slopes and hundred-year-old dumps with your own tools. The operator describes it as free-style: collecting ranges from walking around to attacking the pegmatites themselves. That freedom is the appeal and the difficulty — nobody hands you a screen of pre-sorted dirt, so finds come from reading the dump and working it. Tourmaline, kunzite, and morganite turn up both loose and still on matrix.
The card catalog
| What you can find | pink tourmaline, kunzite, morganite, aquamarine, quartz, garnet |
|---|---|
| Access | Fee dig — Fee, seasonal |
| Fees | $75 each, adults and children the same; bring your own shovel, hand trowel, hand rake, and pry bars |
| Season & hours | October to June, digs held only twice a month on selected Sundays, 8am sharp to 1pm — check the operator's calendar; reservations required, 48 hours or more ahead |
| Kids | Better for experienced collectors — the operator suggests 12 years of age and up — this is freestyle digging on an uphill slope through century-old dumps, not screening at a table |
| Official source | Pala Chief Mine / DigForGems (operator) |
| 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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Pala, CA
pink and green tourmaline, kunzite, morganite
Before you go
What does Pala Chief Mine cost?
$75 each, adults and children the same; bring your own shovel, hand trowel, hand rake, and pry bars Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Pala Chief Mine open?
October to June, digs held only twice a month on selected Sundays, 8am sharp to 1pm — check the operator's calendar; reservations required, 48 hours or more ahead Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Pala Chief Mine good for kids?
Pala Chief Mine is better suited to experienced collectors than young kids. the operator suggests 12 years of age and up — this is freestyle digging on an uphill slope through century-old dumps, not screening at a table