Rockhounding Northern California: A Guide to the Region’s Best Rockhounding Sites (Rockhounding Series)

Anyone who has ever picked up a pretty rock and admired it has the makings of a rockhound in them. This book will be invaluable for those who are true rockhounds, but it is so accessible and beautiful that it will be of interest to nearly everyone.

The book opens with a geologic introduction to Northern California, followed by sections specifically concerning rockhounding in that region, collection regulations and etiquette, how to use this book, safety, and map legend. All this good information is followed by write-ups on 85 sites. Each of these details the land type, GPS coordinates, best season, land manager, material, tools needed, vehicle most appropriate, accommodations, finding the site, and text describing the rockhounding experience.

The writing is lively and fun and shows author Montana Hodges’s love for the subject matter. There are beautiful full-color close-up photographs of some of the material found at the sites and sometimes also beautiful photos of the area. Maps are interspersed throughout. There is even a handy ruler on the back cover.

This book is a real treasure trove of information for anyone living in or visiting Northern California who enjoys the outdoors and learning about geology. Don’t miss it.