St. Maries & Emerald Creek: Dig for Idaho's State Gem
One of only two places in the world (with India) where star garnets, the Idaho state gem, can be collected by the public. South of St. Maries, accessible via the White Pine Scenic Byway from Watson's.
Drive to St. Maries
Garnet Dig Season
Adult Fee
Child Fee (6-12)
One of Two Places in the World
Star garnets, the Idaho state gem, are formed only in two places on Earth in any quantity: northern Idaho and one region of India. The Emerald Creek Garnet Area south of St. Maries, managed by the U.S. Forest Service's St. Joe Ranger District, is the only place in the world where the public can collect them. That is not marketing. That is geology.
The garnets you take home are uncut: dark red, sometimes nearly black until you cut them. When a jeweler cuts and polishes the stone correctly, a four- or six-rayed star appears across the surface as the light catches the inclusions inside. That star is what makes them rare.
How the Dig Works
The Forest Service runs a sluicing operation: workers excavate gravel, screen it into your bucket, and you wash and pick through it on the wooden screen tables. Tools (buckets, shovels, screen boxes) are provided. There is no digging in the streambed; everything happens at the sluice. Plan to get wet and muddy. Bring a change of clothes, sunscreen, and water.
You can take home up to two pounds of garnet per person per day. One permit per person per calendar year. Pets are not allowed at the site.
Plan Your Dig and Book Early
The 2026 season opens Thursday, May 21 (the Thursday of Memorial Day weekend) and closes Saturday, September 5 (the Saturday of Labor Day weekend). The site is open Thursday through Saturday each week through the season.
Tickets are required and are sold only on recreation.gov on a 90-day rolling release. Slots sell out fast, so check recreation.gov as far ahead as the rolling window allows. Fees are $15 per adult, $5 per child age 6 through 12, free for kids under 6, plus a $1 recreation.gov processing fee.
To get there: head south from St. Maries on Highway 3 about 24 to 25 miles, turn right on Forest Road 447, and drive roughly seven to eight miles to the parking area. From the parking area, it is a half-mile hike up 281 Gulch to the sluicing site. Emerald Creek Campground is nearby with eighteen sites at $10 a night.
St. Maries: River Town Stop
St. Maries sits at the confluence of the St. Joe River and the St. Maries River, about 35 to 45 minutes southeast of Watson's. The St. Joe is locally called the “Shadowy St. Joe,” one of the higher-elevation navigable rivers in the lower 48 and a popular fly-fishing and float destination. The town itself is a working timber town with cafes, a few small motels, and easy river access. Plan to fuel up and grab lunch in town before heading down to Emerald Creek.
The Drive: White Pine Scenic Byway
The drive itself is part of the trip. The White Pine Scenic Byway begins near Cataldo at the I-90/Highway 3 junction and runs roughly eighty miles through historic timber country, the St. Maries River drainage, and the St. Joe River valley. The road is two lanes, the traffic is light, and the scenery is consistent: timbered hills, slow rivers, and the occasional glimpse of an old mill site. From Watson's, you start the byway minutes from the property.
For more on St. Maries, the chamber of commerce site stmarieschamber.org has current event listings. The Forest Service Idaho Panhandle page at fs.usda.gov/r01/idahopanhandle covers the St. Joe Ranger District, including current Emerald Creek conditions.
Once you have your raw stones, you will want them cut to reveal the star. Stewart's Gem Shop in Boise has cut star garnets for decades and remains a common destination for serious collectors, though jewelers in Coeur d'Alene and Spokane will also handle a custom cut. A four-rayed star is the typical pattern; the rarer six-rayed cut requires more material and a specific orientation, so save your largest, cleanest stones for that work.
Stay at Watson's, Day-Trip to Emerald Creek
On Rose Lake, at the start of the White Pine Scenic Byway. Cabins, dome, safari tent, and The Tavern Loft for family groups. The garnet dig is a memorable family trip; come home dirty, eat well at Red's Tavern.