WAMSI offers several field trips annually around Oregon. Past field trips have included locations like Hampton Butte, McDonald’s Ranch, Rock Castle and Fogarty Creek State Park.
As new trips are scheduled, this page will be updated. Even if you are not on Facebook, you can visit our Facebook page to see recaps of recent field trips or announcements of upcoming trips.
Please note that WAMS field trips are only for WAMS members in good standing (paid membership).
For more information or to RSVP for any field trip, please email our WAMS Field Trip Coordinator and include WAMS Field Trips in your subject line.
Quick Links
Rock Castle
Saturday, April 8
39100 River Road, Lebanon, OR
We will meet at Joe Cota’s Rock Castle for some rock collecting and lunch. Arrive anytime between 10am and 2pm. Park at the bottom in the club parking area and save the uppermost parking near building for drop-in customers. There is a large 50 cent a pound pile of all kinds of rocks. You’ll find obsidian, jasper, agate, thunder eggs, and petrified wood. Club is given one pound for every pound members buy. Club members get a 10% discount in the store and price per pound rough rocks.
Joe provides a sausage/hot dog bbq. If you would like to bring a homemade addition (dessert, side, chips), you can.
Rock Castle accepts cash and credit.
This is intended for paid club members.
39100 River Dr Lebanon, Or 97355 541-451-2740
Please RSVP to our WAMS Field Trip Coordinator so we can have a head count for food.
Wear sturdy shoes, shade or rain hat, kneeling pad or stool, bucket, rock hammer or shovel is nice and a bucket or two.
China Hollow & Beers Mountain Jasper
Saturday, April 22
8:30am – 3:00pm
Meet Jay no later than 8:30am at the new shop in Rufus, 462 E 1st Street (Old Hwy 30).
We depart for Beers Mountain 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 will travel as a group through the gates on private property. No photos looking North, or at the power right away.
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 is an ATM 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 weather is unsuitable for China Hollow, we can access Beers Mountain 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 Hwy 30). Jay’s shop has a large variety of Jasper and Agate from Sherman County, with many pieces over 1000 lbs.
Ken Stubenrauch and Jay will be leading this field trip. Field trips are for paid club members only. Limited insurance for accidents.
Succor Creek (Oregon)
May 11 – 13, 2023
This field trip is for paid members only.
Richard Ilg will lead trip on May 11- 13 for three days. You’ll need to plan 2 travel days. Sign up at one of our regular 1st Thursday meetings or RSVP to our WAMS Field Trip Coordinator.
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.
Most participants will camp on the night before the field trip begins at 8 am Thursday, May 11.
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.
First-come, first-served camping
4 primitive sites on the west side of the creek
14 primitive campsites on the east side of the creek
Vault toilet
No water or utilities available
Past Field Trips
