Located 55 miles east of Prineville, Dendrite Butte is a popular destination for rockhounds, especially those seeking limb casts and petrified wood.
This 540-acre site is managed by the BLM as a designated recreational rock and mineral collecting area and is featured on the Central Oregon Rockhounding Map, along with other rock collecting sites.
Dendrite Butte is known for its colorful limb casts, which showcase vibrant shades of blue, pink, and green. In addition to limb casts, you can also find opalized and petrified wood throughout the area.
Dendrite Butte Rockhounding
This is a Limb Cast Collection Area with limb casts displaying vibrant shades of blue, pink, and green. You can also find opalized and petrified wood here too.
Limb casts are formed when quartz deposits replace wood in volcanic ash cavities. The intense heat from the ash burns away the wood, leaving behind a tree-shaped mold.
Over time, the cavity is filled with chalcedony and other minerals. This process forms beautiful crystals in various hues, often with dendritic patterns reflecting the original wood shape.
When you visit, focus your rockhounding efforts on the northern side of the road (to your left as you approach). Be mindful of the South Fork Wilderness Study Area boundary on the right, where digging is prohibited.
There are two primary ways to search for treasures:
Surface Collecting: Explore the area on foot, looking for exposed or "float" materials scattered across the ground.
Digging: Use a shovel or pick to excavate and uncover hidden pieces below the surface.
While Congleton Hollow is nearby, there is no direct shortcut due to the private property separating the two sites.
Know Before You Go
The roads leading to Dendrite Butte are rugged and uneven. During wet weather, they can become muddy and difficult to navigate, so a 4WD vehicle is recommended.
The high desert environment can also be harsh and unforgiving, so it's essential to prepare properly before your trip.
Beyond the Rocks: Exploring the Area
Dendrite Butte is mostly a rockhounding site with limited adventures. However, the area can be great for hiking, picnicking, and primitive camping.
Additionally, Bend, Redmond, and Prineville are nearby and can serve as a perfect pit spot to recharge, enjoy the culture, and explore.
Dendrite Butte | Facts
Material: Limb casts, petrified and opalized wood
Tools: Shovel, geology pick
Land type: High desert
Best time to visit: May through October
Land manager: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Fees: None
Location: 55 miles southeast of Prineville • Oregon • USA
Road access: A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is recommended
Elevation: 4,450 ft (1,356 m)
Places to Stay Near Dendrite Butte
Primitive camping is permitted on BLM land.
You can book a stay in Prineville, 55 miles east, or Bend, 80 miles east, if you want more comfortable accommodation.
Affordable short and long-term vacation rentals at Prineville
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Dendrite Butte Directions & Contacts
From Prineville,
- Head southeast on Highway 380 Post/Paulina to Camp Creek Road between milepost 43 and 44
- Turn right onto Camp Creek Road and drive 9.3 miles to a dirt road FR 6574 on the left
- Take this road just after you pass the rock quarry and drive 1.9 miles to a fork
- Bear left and continue 1.7 miles to the next fork
- Keep right and drive 0.6 miles to the next split of the road
- From this point, bear left and continue 1.2 miles to the first site.
The collection area is located on the left side (north) of the road.
To find another collecting site, go next 0.7 miles then turn left and continue 0.5 miles to a gate. Materials can be obtained on the northern and western hills.