Hidden in the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas is Mount Ida – the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World. Kids love dirt. Kids love rocks. Why not embrace it? Back in 202 when social distancing was required, rockhounding was a good choice for our family roadtrip. Let’s take a family road trip to Wegner Crystal Mines in Arkansas.
Central Arkansas is truly lovely as the small two-lane highway weaves in and out of the forested hills and small towns. With many quartz mines in this part of Arkansas, there were plenty of mine destinations to choose from. Here are the details about Wegner Crystal Mines so you know why you should choose it.
Where: Mt Ida, Arkansas; mid-west Arkansas 45 minutes west from Hot Springs
Cost: $18 per two hour dig per person
Time: 3-4 hours
A trip to Wegner Crystal Mines won’t be walking deep into the mountain with lanterns like in Snow White. This is surface mining in the dirt. A pit mine. There are plenty of crystals to treasure and buckets to fill on the surface or easily accessed after a shallow dig. It still counts as a mine; it’s just a different kind.
Quartz Mining Table of Contents
Why Should I Visit Wegner Crystal Mines?
What is The Crystal Forest Mine?
Who Should Visit the Wegner Rock Shop?
What If I Can’t Get on a Quartz Mine Tour?
Are There Any Physical Limitations in Going out to the Wegner Mine?
What Do I Need to Bring Quartz Mining?
When is the Best Time to Go Quartz Mining?
Mom Tips for Wegner Gem Mining
Where Should We Go Nearby in Arkansas?
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Why Should I Visit Wegner Crystal Mines?
There are quite a few quartz mines in the area west of Hot Springs in the mountains. However, not many of them allow in-site digging. Some of these quartz mines are actually dirt dumped on top from another site. At Wegner Crystal mines you will find fresh dirt full of quartz and you drive over to the source in the Arkansas hills.
Although this was the only quartz mine we experienced in this area, there were several other families on our truck who had gone to other mines and were choosing to return to this one. They reported that Wegner consistently had bigger quartz crystals to find and was their favorite mine in the area. To me, that means this is a good one even if we don’t have anything to personally compare it to.
We chose Wegner Crystal Mine because my son wanted to be in the original dirt digging and covered in it. Dirt. Lots of dirt. He didn’t want to just dig through the load brought in from a dump truck. At this site, we were up under tree roots digging at the source. Additionally, this mine offers tools to rent and transportation to the site. Not to mention they are open and several others are closed during this time of coronavirus.
Look at their website and read the story of the Wegner family. This isn’t a dig and destroy operation. They work to preserve the land and be as responsible as possible. I didn’t know their promise at the time of our visit. Given these facts plus our experience, I have nothing but the highest regard and recommendation for this lovely place.
What is The Crystal Forest Mine?
This 2.5 to 3 hour tour is first come, first served and the price includes every stone you want to take home. You will find more crystals than you have room to keep. The guide leaves you and the rest of your group out at the site, returning to pick you up when they bring the next group. Make sure you ask them for some tips and any other questions you have before they leave.
Although our group filled up the back of a pick-up truck fitted with benches and walls, there were two trucks to take if needed. The price of the tour includes the fifteen minute ride to the 40-acre surface pit, and you get to keep everything you find. There are several tours available to this favorite site daily – 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM. My kids thought the ride alone was a fun part of the trip as they had to duck for overhead branches several times and hold on to the truck over bumps.
At the mining site, there will be plenty of crystals to find just by walking along and looking down; however, there are intact veins in the hard rock for kids who really want to dig! The kids will want to keep everything they find, and the longer they search, the more you will have to help them learn to be selective. Some of the people on our tour were there specifically to find very large garden rocks. You will want to take some home too!
It would be possible to stay out at the dig site longer than your two-hour time if you want. I was worried that the kids would want to stay longer. However, given how quickly they found quartz, the temperature, and their attention spans, they were actually ready to go before the truck had arrived.
Who Should Visit the Wegner Rock Shop?
When you pull up into the parking lot of Wegner Crystal Mines, you will see the tables and ground covered with giant rocks for sale. Not tiny little rocks. The kind of beautiful gems that you can see from your car across the parking lot! There are also rocks for sale inside including some for wholesale shops. Inside you can see the large crystal specimens as well as the more polished, finished stones from around the world.
The best part is that they are cheaper than anywhere else you will find. They also have many rough geodes which you can break open at the site as well.
You don’t have to be on a tour to grab some treasure at the Wegner Rock Shop! This would make the perfect mid-Arkansas road trip stop for your wiggly kids.
What If I Can’t Get on a Quartz Mine Tour?
There are still other activities available for you! In addition to the shopping at the rock shop, there is a sluice (aka running water in a trough) nearby which you can use to sort through a bucket pre-filled with treasures. This would be good for small kids who want to be guaranteed an assortment of stones. There is also a tailings area near the shop which is dirt which has been brought in from the mining site. At a cheaper price than the mine, the kids can still get in the dirt and search for treasures. Your kids still get to keep everything they find.
Are There Any Physical Limitations in Going out to the Wegner Mine?
Even though the open-air ride out to the site was relatively short, it was very bumpy and crowded if a lot of groups are present. If you have back problems, call the business ahead of time. They are family owned and family friendly. I believe they would accommodate you as much as possible. There were a few seats inside the cab of the truck which might be an option, but I would call ahead of time and make sure.
Additionally, out at the site, it’s a rock field. Take along a folding chair to sit and watch the rest of your group. Maybe bring an umbrella to block the hot sun and be the supervisor. It’s doable. Just need to prepare yourself a little.
What Do I Need to Bring Quartz Mining?
- A bucket or two – Take something to bring all your treasures home! You might also consider bringing some smaller containers for each kid to use at the site, or they will spend all their time running over to your bucket. Take into consideration that they will want to keep “theirs” separate from everyone else’s.
- Old clothes and shoes – This site is dirt. You will sit on dirt. Don’t wear your good stuff. If it’s slightly wet, you will be muddy. Old sandals would work for the most par, but the kids may be scrambling up some steep areas which might work better with closed shoes. For safety reasons though, think about chisels and hammers swinging toward little toes.
- Gloves – Take some at least for the grown-ups. The kids will probably want to put their hands in the dirt! This is also not the best time to test out the new manicure.
- Tools – While you can bring some, they are also available with a deposit. This metal prospector’s rock pick made the kids excited to dig, but it did admittedly take up space on our road trip! You could also go to Dollar Tree and get some cheap garden tools, a hammer, and something pointy – a chisel or screwdriver for scraping out some stones. But they wouldn’t look as “official”.
- Blanket – Grab something to sit on as you will be in an uncovered dirt pit – you and your stuff will get dirty. If not planning on sitting down, a thick picnic blanket to place on the ground to dump your stuff on. A gardening pad or this pack of 3 knee pads would work amazingly to squat down. Some of our groups had even brought a folding chair for older people needing a rest.
- Water – Grab plenty of water both for drinking and cleaning. They do offer bottled water for a cheap price at the site out of a cooler – we just took some in our backpack without problem. Make sure you bring enough for the kids who want to use some to clean off their treasures, and fill up your back-up giant water bottles for the car to continue your drive.
- Snacks – Think of these as just in case for when they are done or the littles need a distraction. My kids were too busy to stop and take a break.
- Protection – Sunscreen, big hats, and lots of deodorant… Enough said. There will not be any shade.
Ready to go on more adventures? Check out “Become an Adventure Mom: Get the Essentials” where I highlight our favorite adventure gear, clothing, and supplies.
When is the Best Time to Go Quartz Mining?
My top tip for going rockhounding is to check the weather to plan your day of digging.
My family went quartz mining during the first shift of the morning in June, and even while it was a bit overcast and with a drizzle of rain, we were quickly hot and tired. Plan to arrive as early as you can, and try to avoid the hottest days.
If it does happen to sprinkle while you are there, consider it a blessing. However, a downpour would be a muddy pit. If you can go the day after it rains, the top surface of dirt will have been washed off to reveal the crystals on the surface waiting for you making your treasure hunting easier.
Does the idea of a road trip excite you but overwhelm you? I’d check out my top expert road trip tips at “Learn to Plan the Ultimate Road Trip”.
Mom Tips for Wegner Gem Mining
Potty Break – A nice bathroom is available at the gift shop. We also used this bathroom to put on clean clothes after the digging adventure. Don’t plan on rinsing off or showering though – the sign in the bathroom specifically says not to do this. At the dig site, there is a clean port-a-potty, but you might want to take some hand sanitizer for afterward.
Food – Picnic tables are available at the parking lot for a meal after digging. Also, some people took coolers with them on the trip so they would have snacks and drinks available. Honestly, your kids will probably be so busy digging that eating won’t be on their radar until they are done.
Extra clothes and shoes – Have an extra set of clothes and wet wipes easily accessible from the rest of your suitcase for everyone. You will want to change into new stuff for the rest of your driving time. You will stink, and the kids will be filthy. Make sure you have some trash bags keep all the dirty stuff separate.
Where Should We Go Nearby in Arkansas?
Clarksville, Arkansas – Located only two hours north, Clarksville is my new small-town headquarters for exploring beautiful waterfalls in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains. Read “Everything You Need to Know” about Clarksville and “4 Best Hidden Waterfall Adventures in Clarksville.”
Crater of Diamonds Park– There is a state park in Arkansas less than an hour away that is one of the only places where you can actually dig for native diamonds. This was originally on our agenda, but given the time constraints, I knew we didn’t have all day to search and probably not find anything. This is on the future plans though! For more information, check out Wild Wanderers’ post on “Visiting Crater of Diamonds with Kids.“
Hot Springs National Park – We actually spent the night in Hot Springs, but because of Covid, much of the park was closed off. It’s so frustrating to be so close and not able to go. Check out “25+ Fun Things to Do Around Hot Springs National Park” also on Wild Wanderers’ site.
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Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. As transplants from Texas, my family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way.
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Thank you for sharing your experience at the Wegner Quartz Crystal Mine. Your insights into the mineral world are truly captivating.