The area northwest of Highway 20 near Hines and Burns was once well-known for its diverse obsidian deposits, including black, green, greenish-blue, and red varieties. The presence of obsidian in the region indicates past volcanic activity, with these volcanic glass deposits likely forming from rhyolitic lava flows during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (roughly 5–20 million years ago).

Obsidian forms when lava cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth, resulting in a smooth, glassy texture. The color variations are due to differences in trace mineral content and oxidation levels during formation.

Today, much of this land is privately owned. However, a small section near Mud Ridge, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), remains publicly accessible for rock collecting.

The BLM land begins approximately 9 miles north of Highway 20 at a gated entrance. A signboard at the site indicates that the BLM road is closed during winter and early spring due to seasonal conditions. It makes sense to contact the BLM Burns District Office before you go.

Mud Ridge at Hines Rockhounding

The BLM-managed area begins 2.8 miles from the gate and extends 3 miles along the road. The GPS coordinates provided below mark one of the stopping points where the search can start.

Once you get there, it is not hard to spot obsidian. Surface collecting is a great way to start. Look for floats throughout the sagebrush, hills, and dry washes.

A geology pick can help pry up everything that looks interesting. If your search involves digging, fill in any holes to minimize environmental impact.

While most obsidian in the area is black, you may also find green, greenish-blue, snowflake, and red varieties.

As always, practice responsible collecting: do not leave trash, respect private property boundaries, and follow BLM guidelines to help preserve this site for future rockhounds.

Note: Land ownership may change, and access to this site could become restricted. To ensure the area is open for collection, contact the BLM Burns District Office before visiting.

There are several excellent rockhounding sites near Burns, including the obsidian deposits at Glass Butte. For those seeking plume agates, the areas around Warm Springs Reservoir and North Beede Reservoir provide great opportunities. Unique oolitic agate can also be found 25 miles from Hines, at the ancient lakebed in Harney Basin.

The vast Alvord Desert offers a striking landscape for exploration. For geothermal enthusiasts, Borax Lake Hot Springs and Mickey Hot Springs, are fascinating sites to observe geothermal wonders, though they are not suitable for soaking due to the extreme temperatures.

If you’re looking to unwind after a day of rockhounding, both Crystal Crane Hot Springs and Alvord Hot Springs offer overnight accommodations and the chance to soak in mineral-rich waters.

From Highway 20 in Burns,

Take N Foley Drive and travel west for 1.3 miles to Radar Base Road
Turn left onto Radar Base Road and continue for 2.6 miles to the BLM gate on Skull Creek Road.

From Highway 20 in Hines,

Turn west onto Hines Lodging Road (National Forest Road 47) at the southern end of Hines
Travel 4.5 miles to a gravel road on the right
Turn right, and after 0.1 miles, bear left onto Radar Road
Continue for about 3.3 miles to the gate.

From the gate,