Teri Smith Rock Hunts — Alpine-Area Ranches
Alpine, Texas
plume agatemoss agatebanded agatejasperpetrified woodquartz crystals
Fee dig · Fee
Teri Smith Rock Hunts — Alpine-Area Ranches
West Texas agate lives on private working ranches, and this outfit has been walking rockhounds onto them for decades — Ritchie, Pigmon, South Larremore, East Needle Peak. Plume, moss, and banded agate come off the hillsides alongside jasper, petrified wood, and quartz, at day fees of roughly $20 to $60 plus per-pound charges at Ritchie. There is no unguided ranch access in the Big Bend country, so a guided trip like this is the legal way in.
The card catalog
| What you can find | plume agate, moss agate, banded agate, jasper, petrified wood, quartz crystals |
|---|---|
| Access | Fee dig — Fee |
| Fees | Per-ranch day fees: Ritchie Ranch $20 entry plus $1/lb for cutting material, East Needle Peak $50/day, Pigmon Ranch $50/adult/day (children free), South Larremore $60/day. Rollin' Rock Club membership is required for all hunts — $10/year single, $16 dual. |
| Season & hours | Spring (March-April) and fall (October-November) seasons out of Alpine, including a four-day Pigmon Ranch hunt in early March. The Spring 2026 season is posted as running. Most hunts meet at 8 a.m. at the Little Caesar's parking lot in Alpine (9 a.m. for Ritchie). Confirm dates by text at (432) 386-3431 or email agatehunter@sbcglobal.net. |
| Kids | Better for experienced collectors — Children are welcome and free at Pigmon Ranch, but this is not a casual kids' outing: working desert ranches with rough volcanic hillsides, long days, no facilities, real heat, and rattlesnakes. Sturdy boots, long pants, and far more water than you think you need. |
| Official source | Teri Smith Rock Hunts / Rollin' Rock Club (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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Before you go
What does Teri Smith Rock Hunts — Alpine-Area Ranches cost?
Per-ranch day fees: Ritchie Ranch $20 entry plus $1/lb for cutting material, East Needle Peak $50/day, Pigmon Ranch $50/adult/day (children free), South Larremore $60/day. Rollin' Rock Club membership is required for all hunts — $10/year single, $16 dual. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Teri Smith Rock Hunts — Alpine-Area Ranches open?
Spring (March-April) and fall (October-November) seasons out of Alpine, including a four-day Pigmon Ranch hunt in early March. The Spring 2026 season is posted as running. Most hunts meet at 8 a.m. at the Little Caesar's parking lot in Alpine (9 a.m. for Ritchie). Confirm dates by text at (432) 386-3431 or email agatehunter@sbcglobal.net. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Teri Smith Rock Hunts — Alpine-Area Ranches good for kids?
Teri Smith Rock Hunts — Alpine-Area Ranches is better suited to experienced collectors than young kids. Children are welcome and free at Pigmon Ranch, but this is not a casual kids' outing: working desert ranches with rough volcanic hillsides, long days, no facilities, real heat, and rattlesnakes. Sturdy boots, long pants, and far more water than you think you need.