The wild and scenic Elk River originates in the Salmon Mountain and Grassy Knob Wilderness and flows through the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest for about 30 miles before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The mouth of Elk River is located one mile south of Cape Blanco and four miles north of Port Orford.

The Elk River is known for its clean emerald-green water, stunning landscapes, and various outdoor adventures, including rockhounding.

While private land ownership makes many lower parts of the Elk River inaccessible, the upper 17-mile segment is open to the public. This segment stretches from the North and South Fork Elk River confluence to the Elk River Fish Hatchery. Additionally, a 2-mile part of the North Fork above the North and South Fork confluence is designated as wild.

Elk River Rockhounding

The Elk River and the South Fork of the Sixes River both drain the areas of the Copper-Salmon Wilderness and Grassy Knob Wilderness. These wilderness areas include a geological formation called the Myrtle group, which contains various fossils within shales and sandstones dating back 66 to 145 million years.

In the riverbed and nearby gravels, you can find loose pieces of shale containing plant remains, quartz, and chert.Quartz is primarily milky, while chert ranges from gray and green to yellowish and red. However, the reddish chert is the most common type.

You can collect small amounts of rocks and minerals for personal use along the 17-mile Elk River segment, extending from the North and South Fork confluence to the Elk River Fish Hatchery.

You don't need any tools for rock collecting, but a Sand Dipper Square Scoop can save you some bending and help you get to hard-to-reach areas.

The Elk River is also a popular destination for recreational gold panning.

Please remember that some parts of the river and its tributaries are closed for recreational rockhounding and gold panning. This includes a quarter mile from Elk River Fish Hatchery to the junction of North and South Forks. The segment up North Fork to the falls is also closed.

There are multiple spots along the river to collect rocks. Sunshine Bar Campground and Butler Bar Campground are two of the most developed and easiest to get to.