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Hauser Geode Beds
The Hauser Geode Beds are located south west
of Blythe off of Interstate 10 and then Wiley's Well Road South. It takes about
1 hour from Blythe to get there. About 30 minutes on paved road and then
30 minutes on dirt road.
Known to rock hounds for many years, the
Hauser geode beds have produced some very beautiful geodes of varied types.
Some geodes are lined with amethyst crystals, others have white or black calcite
crystals . A geode is a sphere shaped rock which contains a hollow cavity lined
with crystals. A geode which is completely filled with small compact crystal
formations such as agate or jasper is called a nodule or Thunder Egg.
The Hauser Geode Beds were discovered in 1937 by Joel Hauser,
a Blythe Native. As there were no roads in the Black Hills area, Mr. Hauser used
his Model A Ford that he paid $37.50 for to explore this region. One day
while trying to drive around the Black Hills the Hauser beds was discovered.
There are several areas to find geodes in, the Hauser beds, the Straw beds and
the Potato Patch, for details on exact locations see the maps. |
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Directions from Blythe
Take Interstate 10 west to Wiley's Well Road.
Go South on the Wiley Well Road (paved road but turns into a nice graded dirt
road) and go past the Wiley Well camp ground. Continue South go past Coon Hollow
campground, and past the Bradshaw trail. You will see a sign marked Hauser Geode
Beds turn right on this dirt road. (this road is rough in spots,4 wheel drive
vehicle suggested, but a 2 wheel drive truck or high ground clearance SUV will
make it).
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| Continue on the more defined road. At
4.4 miles from Hauser Geode bed sign there will be a fork in the
road and a sign for Ashley Flats, turn left for the Hauser beds and
Potato Patch, right for the Straw beds. On the left fork at 5.4
miles you will reach another fork in the road, left will take you to
the potato patch, right will take you to the Hauser Geode beds. At
6.2 miles there is another fork, left to potato patch, right to
Hauser bed. For Straw beds continue on Right fork for .7mile take
left on next fork, and continue about 3.4 miles to Straw bed. Look
for diggings in the side of the hills, you can dig into the green
ash and find geodes. Or you can walk around and pick up geodes that
other miners missed or didn’t want. |
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Tools To Take With You
Shovel, pick, rock hammer, several buckets (depending on
your luck), and an old heavy cloth to sit on in the hole you create.
Regular desert items as well, such as lots of water, food, first aid kit, cell phone
maps etc...
GPS Coordinates File
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