The Long Way
Crook County
A dirt path leads through a forest with tall pine trees under a clear blue sky.
Plate I. Forested grounds at Whistler Springs Thunderegg Site. From nwrockhounding.com
A landscape view of a hilly, forested area with dry tree branches framing the foreground.
Plate II. Ochoco Mountains view near Whistler Springs. From nwrockhounding.com
A rocky forest floor with pine trees in the background.
Plate III. Whistler Springs Thunderegg Site grounds. From nwrockhounding.com

Whistler Springs Thunderegg Site

Prineville, Crook County, Oregon. Rockhound collection site; May to October.

Details

Map. Prineville, Crook County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
Prineville, Crook County, OR. No street address stated. Directions
When
Open 24 hours/day.
Getting there
From Prineville, drive east via Highway 26 to milepost 49, then 0.4 miles past milepost 49 to Forest Road 27.
Fees
Free.
Access
Located on the northern edge of Mill Creek Wilderness; within walking distance from the Wildcat North Trailhead. Whistler Springs rockhounding site is located within the campground.
Phone
(541) 416-6500
Website
fs.usda.gov
Managed by
Ochoco National Forest.
Coordinates
44.49843104, -120.4827545.

Although this site has been worked by rockhounds for many years, quality thundereggs can still be found by determined rockhounds.

Notable Events

  1. 1965With the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 18 of the Oregon 53rd Legislative Assembly, the thunder egg became the Oregon state rock. d3itl75cn7661p.cloudfront.net

Sources

  1. fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco/natural-resources/rocks-minerals
  2. fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco/recreation/whistler-campground
  3. oregondiscovery.com/whistler-springs
  4. nwrockhounding.com/whistler-springs
  5. visitredmondoregon.com/attractions/whistler-springs
  6. bendbulletin.com/2020/09/18/dig-for-history-in-the-ochoco-national-forest
  7. pubs.oregon.gov/dogami/fieldtrips/p-fieldtrips.htm
  8. cogeosoc.org/event-5723898
  9. d3itl75cn7661p.cloudfront.net/dogami/og/OBv27n10.pdf