French Creek Agate Beds — Attraction in Hot Springs

Very cool place, lots of beautiful rocks. I found petrified wood here, as well as a few good agates. I hiked back, I would suggest high clearance if you plan to drive back to the agate beds, due to the fact that you have to cross a little creek to get back there, and it gets rutty towards the top. There is a pit toilet, but the door wouldn't lock. Not busy when we visited on a Sunday. There is camping here, but most of the spots are in the direct sun a lot of the day, there is a little picnic area that has some shade. There is shade down by the little creek as well. Bring water and good shoes, there are...

It's a little bit of a drive but well worth the trip. Just drive behind the campground area. Lots of colorful stones to be had for the picking. I hiked in preferring not to risk the undercarriage of my vehicle. (It's a long way and wait for help.) Others drove in. Everyone has to perform their own risk management. I was lucky to find a yellow quartz. There are a huge variety of quartzes, agates and other minerals. I used a spray bottle of windex, a hammer and a screwdriver. No need for fancy gear. Many rocks just sitting on the ground. I think this area is also know as the Fairburn or...

Well, it's a long hike back into the agate beds. It's drivable with 4wd, but you have to cross a shallow creek. We were towing a trailer, so we opted not to try. We did our rock hunting in and around the creek bed.

There are camping sites (two week maximum stay), a potable water source, and simple outdoor facilities. We hadn't realized that the agate beds were so far or that there was camping available. We didn't have time to camp this trip, but we plan to return in the early fall to spend more time.

There are mature trees for shade. It is quiet, remote, and peaceful. It's really a...