FIELD Beach agates of the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Wave-polished agate, jasper and carnelian wash up along the northern Olympic Peninsula — one of the most beginner-friendly hunts in the Pacific Northwest. No tools, no digging: just timing and a good eye.
When to go
Work a falling tide, ideally after a winter storm has churned the gravel and exposed fresh stones. Check a tide table and aim for the hours around low water. The wet gravel near the waterline is where translucent agates show best.
What you’ll find & how to spot it
Carnelian and red jasper are the most common; clear and banded agates turn up after big swells. Look for the waxy, slightly translucent glow that separates agate from ordinary beach pebbles — wetting a stone or backlighting it against the sky helps.
You’ll find
- Agate (clear & banded)
- Red & yellow jasper
- Carnelian
- Occasional petrified wood
Access & the law
- Collect on public tidelands only — check Washington DNR maps.
- Personal-use quantities; no commercial harvest.
- Don’t cross private beach frontage without permission.
- Leave no trace; pack out litter.
Nearby & related
Pair this with the Olympic Peninsula clubs (their field trips reach the best beaches) and the broader Washington rockhounding guide.
Want polished stones without the tide tables?
Sponsored — partner shop · Minerals KingdomWritten by The Field & Stone Editors. Informational only — verify access and legality locally before collecting. Published by KEVALEX Group.