Upcoming WAMS Field Trips

WAMSI offers several field trips annually around Oregon. Past field trips have included locations like Hampton Butte, Succor Creek, McDonald’s Ranch, Rock Castle, Lincoln City (Nelscott Beach) and Fogarty Creek State Park.

The 2024 Field Trip season opened with an outing to Nelscott Beach in Lincoln City. Watch this page or our Facebook Events page to see what other trips are being planned.

Please note that WAMS field trips are only for WAMS members in good standing (paid membership). Download the membership form here.

For more information or to RSVP for any field trip, please email our WAMS Field Trip Coordinator and include the name of the WAMS Field Trip in your subject line.

Quick Links to WAMS Field Trips and other upcoming events

Wasco: Biggs Jasper

April 27, 2024; 8:30am – 1:30pm

Meet Jay by 8:30am at the new shop: 462 E 1st Street Old Highway 30, Rufus, Oregon

We depart for Beers MT no later than 9:00am. It is a short drive to Beers Mountain where we will start the day. All rock at Beers Mtn. is $5/lb weighed and paid for prior to leaving. We travel as a group through gates on private property . No photos looking North, or at the power right of way.

4WD is required for China Hollow. We encourage carpooling in 4×4’s from Rufus if possible to reduce the number of vehicles traveling through the wheat fields. There are two sites at China Hollow for jasper and agate. All rocks from China Hollow are $2/lb weighed and paid for prior to leaving. We accept cash & checks. There are ATMs in Wasco and in Rufus.

Both sites are high desert and can be cold, windy, dusty or hot. Dress accordingly. You are welcome to bring hand tools and PPE. Safety glasses were popular last year on very windy days. If the weather is unsuitable for China Hollow, we can access Beers Mtn, in 2WD vehicles. There is an abundance of China Hollow rock at the shop in Wasco for $2/lb. At the end of the day, the shop in Wasco will be open, as well as the new shop in Rufus at 462 E 1st Street [Old Hyw 30]. Jay’s shop has a large variety of jasper and agate from Sherman County including many pieces over 1000 lbs.

Ken Stubenrauch and Jay will be leading this field Trip. Field trips are only for WAMS members in good standing (paid). There is limited insurance for accidents.

Please Let Ken know if you don’t want your photo posted to Facebook. You must sign up at club meeting or by Facebook Messenger. Last year, meeting point location changed at last minute. Be sure to arrive early if you need to ride in a high clearance vehicle.

Succor Creek

May 15 – 19, 2024

More information coming soon.

Succor Creek State Natural Area lies in a deep, rocky canyon and is a remote haven for rock hounds and wildlife watchers. Limited souvenir collecting by rock hounds is permitted in the park. A rough 15 mile dirt road leads from Oregon 201 to the park, which has primitive camping and day-use areas along both side of the creek. No water is available. The Succor Creek Bridge is open to vehicles for access to the campsites on the east side of the creek (right/south of the bridge). The road to the left/north of the bridge is not safe for vehicular travel.

There are no pay phones or cell phone services at the Park. Staff and Staff Volunteers are not stationed at this site. This is a remote recreational experience; please prepare accordingly.

Year-round camping (first-come, first-served)
Four primitive sites on the west side of the creek
14 primitive campsites on the east side of the creek
Vault toilet
No water available 

Prineville Pow Wow

June 13–16, 2024

Crook County Fairgrounds, Prineville, OR

This is not an official WAMS field trip; however, many WAMS members attend the gem show and join the Prineville Pow Wow field trips. All field trip participants must become members of Prineville Pow Wow ($10/family) on site at the event prior to signing up for field trips. More information can be found at http://prineville.rocks.

Madras Rock & Gem Show

June 20–23, 2024

Hampton Butte

September 13–15, 2024

WAMS will return to Hampton Butte to dig for petrified wood, limb casts, agate and jasper.  

We will dry camp on public land near the primary dig area. It is dusty, with no services or bathrooms, and limited cellular reception so plan accordingly.

More information will be available mid-2024.

Maury Mountain Limb Cast

September 20–21, 2024

More information will be available mid-2024.