We have done other "gem" hunts in the past on other vacations to other areas. When we said we were going to Hot Springs we thought about doing the Diamond Crater mining thing but others recommended this place so we opted for this over the diamond place. Basically, you're digging through trash dumped from the mine so it is a crap shoot to if you find anything at all. The staff are very upfront about you find what you're willing to work to find but don't get your hopes up. There were 5 of us digging for a couple of hours in the hot summer sun and found only a few slivers of clear quartz. Nothing of substantial size or value and far less than anything those who recommended it over the diamond place eluded to being possible. In the end, we had fun searching but just nothing to really show for it. We were just as likely to have had the same luck and fun at the diamond mine but at least there we would have a chance at finding a real gemstone. I guess what I'm saying is that if the odds are the same at both places then I'd rather take my odds to where I can find a diamond and not just a piece of quartz. Take gloves too! Washing the rocks and stones you find can be a bit dangerous with the sharp edges some of those stones have. We ended up with several small cuts on our fingers from where we rubbed the stones while cleaning them. Gloves would have spared us had we thought about.

I really enjoyed my day here, but if I come back I think I will come in the late fall or winter, because my son and I were really hot and sweaty! It is seriously hard work digging through the dirt. Also, make sure you wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty because the dirt is red clay-like and it might stain clothes. I also wish I had brought gloves, because I cut my thumb pretty badly on a crystal or something digging thru the dirt. My only other complaint is it is kind of expensive to get in. It cost us $25/person plus we bought the little plastic tools too. We didn’t stay that long because we were kind of ill-prepared and also had a spa appointment in Hot Springs, so we only dug for like an hour, but we did manage to find some crystals and we had a lot of fun. If I go back, I would go a little earlier in the day, bring gloves and water and stay longer, taking breaks to rest and then going back to look more. I actually am glad we had a spa appointment afterwards, because going there and getting all dirty and hot and then going to Hot Springs about 20 minutes away to indulge in the mineral baths and spa was a really nice day. We found several crystals (small but pretty) and lots of interesting rocks. A kid found a pretty big crystal while we were there so there are definitely nice stuff to be found. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and may return next time we are in the area.

This was our first time digging for crystals and it was a blast! We went all out and got the combo package. You can dig for crystals, take a tour, and have limitless zip lining for $55. This is a unique experience where you can dig for quartz crystals near an active quartz quarry. You can take home anything you find. Make sure to have plenty of water and wear clothing to protect yourself from the sun and mud. After some digging, we went zip lining over the quarry. Joseph gave us our safety talk and hooked us in. He was great and it was thrilling! We got to ride in a military truck down into the quarry, tour the gallery, and see how they clean the crystals, while Cheyenne told us the history of the mine. The gift shop is full of gems and stones for souvenirs. The staff are friendly and courteous. You can mine from 8am until 6pm. There is even a wash station to rinse off your crystals and check out your treasures before you leave. The campground was great for the price, $13.75 for water and electric with a dump station on site. They have laundry facilities but no WiFi. The washing machines aren’t that great but it was better than nothing! The campsites are full of quartz pieces and each fire pit is lined with quartz from past patrons. We actually found some good pieces right at our site! The host, Shawn, was friendly and attentive. Everyone was kind and considerate and there was definitely a positive vibe. I would recommend this park and the mining experience. We really dug it 😂