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Gem Mining in Hocking Hills, Ohio: A Kids' Guide
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Gem mining in Hocking Hills, Ohio, means sluicing. You buy a bag of rough, rinse it in running water and pick out the stones, fossils and shark teeth mixed in. The main spot is Fox's High Rock Farm on State Route 664, where 2026 bags ran from $10 to $60 and you keep everything you find.
The bags are packed ahead of time, so every kid comes away with a handful. It pairs well with the farm's petting zoo for a slow morning between hikes.
Gem mining in Hocking Hills, Ohio, at a glance
Fox's High Rock Farm listed these bags in 2026, tax included:
| Bag | Weight | Price | What's inside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Dirt | 3 lb | $10 | 6+ oz of colorful gemstones |
| Tumbled Treasures | 3 lb | $12 | 6+ oz of polished stones and a polished point |
| Lucky Strike | 5 lb | $15 | 9+ oz of gemstones |
| Earth Explorer | 5 lb | $18 | Gemstones, a mineral specimen and a pyrite chunk |
| Mother Lode | 10 lb | $30 | Gemstones, fossils, 3 to 5 shark teeth, 2 arrowheads, an amethyst druzy |
| Mega Strike | 20 lb | $60 | 20+ oz of gemstones, fossils, 6 to 10 shark teeth, arrowheads, a crystal point |
The farm says the Mother Lode is its most popular bag. For one or two young kids, a 3 or 5-pound bag is plenty.
How the sluice works
The farm runs a sluice with running water. You open your bag and rinse the material in the sluice until the stones show. Then spread your finds on a towel to dry and sort them by color or size.
To tell stones apart, the farm teaches a simple routine: look at the color, check the surface shine, and hold each one up to see whether light passes through. Kids can count how many are clear, cloudy or solid, which turns the pile into a small science lesson.
When to go
In 2026 the farm opened April 4. It was open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through late May, every day from May 25 to August 14, then weekends again through October 25. From November to March it offers private tours by arrangement.
The farm also has a petting zoo with pigs, goats, donkeys, a cow named Jimmy and an alpaca named Annie, plus a gift shop and a shelter house. Check its site for 2027 dates before you go.
Coming in 2027: gem mining with a coaster
The Hocking Hills mountain coaster, expected to open in spring 2027 as Ohio's first, plans a gem mining station for kids at the same site. Our guide to things to do in Hocking Hills with kids has more on it and on the rest of the family plans.
Ohio's own stone: Flint Ridge
For a stone that's truly from Ohio, drive north to Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve, run by the Ohio History Connection near Glenford.
The ridge is a vein of high-quality flint nearly 8 miles long, dotted with pits where American Indians quarried it. Ohio History Connection ties its rainbow-colored flint to Ohio's official gemstone. The 533-acre preserve is open during daylight hours, adult admission is $5, and the museum is closed this season for repairs.
Leave the park's rocks in the park
Gem mining is the place to take stones home. In the state park, it's the opposite: Ohio's state park rules make it unlawful to remove stone, rocks or minerals from the park, unless the park posts a specific authorization.
That includes pebbles from the creeks and sandstone from the cave floors. Take photos instead.
Our pick
For gem mining in Hocking Hills, Ohio, with small kids, buy one 5-pound bag per pair of kids and add the petting zoo. With older kids or a rock collector, the Mother Lode is worth it for the fossils and shark teeth.
Then bring the haul back to the big table. Our page on Hocking Hills cabins for families shows the cabin, and our guide to things to do in Hocking Hills covers the rest of the region.
Gem mining in Hocking Hills, Ohio FAQs
How much does gem mining cost in Hocking Hills?
Gem mining in Hocking Hills, Ohio, at Fox's High Rock Farm cost $10 to $60 a bag in 2026, tax included. A 3-pound starter bag was $10, a 5-pound bag $15 to $18, the popular 10-pound Mother Lode $30, and the 20-pound Mega Strike $60. You keep everything you find in the sluice.
Is there a gem mine Hocking Hills families can visit year round?
The gem mine Hocking Hills families visit most, at Fox's High Rock Farm, is seasonal. In 2026 it opened in early April, ran daily in summer and closed for the year on October 25. From November to March, the farm offers private tours by arrangement, so contact it before a winter trip.
Do you get to keep what you find gem mining?
Yes, at Fox's High Rock Farm you keep everything you find gem mining. Each bag is packed ahead of time with gemstones, and the bigger bags add fossils, shark teeth, arrowheads and an amethyst druzy. Bring a small bag or egg carton to carry the finds home.
Can you collect rocks in Hocking Hills State Park?
No, you can't collect rocks in Hocking Hills State Park. Ohio's state park rules make it unlawful to remove stone, rocks or minerals from park land unless a specific authorization is posted. Leave creek pebbles and sandstone where they are, and do your collecting at a gem mining sluice instead.
Where can you find Ohio flint near Hocking Hills?
You can see Ohio flint near Hocking Hills at Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve near Glenford, run by the Ohio History Connection. The preserve covers 533 acres along a vein of flint nearly 8 miles long, with ancient quarry pits along its trails. It's open during daylight hours.
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