Agate Hunting

A favorite Winter through Spring activity amongst Yachatians and visitors alike, is agate hunting! Created millions of years ago, agates are chunks of chalcedony quartz that you can find in the gravel beds year round, but especially in the Winter, but also through the Spring.

Storm surges, King Tides, and the wild Winter weather all play a part in exposing the gravel beds every year, which is why it's so neat to visit the same beach you were at in the Summer, as the landscape will look totally different! Tons and tons of sand will be pulled back out to sea, exposing cobble and gravel beds, where agates tend to hide. 

You dont need much to find some of these coastal gems, just take a leisurely stroll down any rocky beach at low tide, and keep your eyes peeled on the rocks ahead of you. Hone in and look for hues of orange and red, yellows and clear, even sometimes blue! Transparency is key when it comes to agates, as well as banding or marks, and coloration if you're wanting to ID a specific piece. As always, please do not dig or chip away at any cliffs to find things, as this only hurts the coast and can lead to the area being closed off for everyone due to unsafe conditions.

Check out our yearly Agate Festival that happens in January, and make sure to bring any hard to identify rocks to the Rock Doctor to key out for you. Year round, you can also visit some of the shops in town such as the Yachats Chamber Visitors Center, Just Local, and Planet Yachats, for agate gifts galore-Happy hunting!

Photography and Article by: Girl In Water Photography