Book your Fee Dig Fire Opal Reservations NOW
Fee Dig Fire Opal Faceting and Cabbing Rough at the world-famous Juniper Ridge Opal® Mine – premiere source in North America for Fee Dig Fire Opal.
An aggressive miner hauled this 5-gallon bucket in a single day!
Some of the nicer small pieces from the bucket.
Note the quarter in the photo for scale.
People come from all over to visit Juniper Ridge. In this photo are artists from Texas – and Switzerland.
Fee-Digging at the Juniper Mountain Opal Mine:
The fee for digging is $250.00 per person, per day, or per one-gallon bucket, whichever comes first. Any reasonably active adult should be able to fill a one-gallon bucket with opal in a day’s dig.
If you manage to dig more than a bucket full, an additional fee will be charged for the additional material – or you can simply high-grade your take down to a single bucket. Browse available fee-dig dates the current or coming season (June through September).
Fee-diggers have direct access to raw matrix in virgin ground. We don’t sell tailings or material that has been high-graded. While fee-digging you have the same chance at a 12-pound opal that the mine owners do. The industrious guy above is sporting an 8+ pound opal that he dug!
Rules:
A fun attitude and good rock-hounding etiquette are required: We reserve the right to be selective about who we invite (or invite back).
Safety is paramount. You are responsible for your own safety and for using good sense. You acknowledge that we are not responsible if you slip and fall, hit yourself with a hammer, or suffer any other injury for any reason or cause whatever. You must wear reasonable clothing, insure your tools are in good repair, and observe all safety requirements, including the wearing of eye protection at all times and following any directions given by the event host.
There is NO SMOKING at the mine or in any surrounding area. The mine is located in a beautiful wilderness area that is environmentally sensitive and prone to forest fire – which can be dangerous in remote mountainous areas. To protect your safety as well as this sensitive area, the Forest Service requires a policy of NO SMOKING in the area of the mine – NO EXCEPTIONS!
As a condition of being allowed to visit the mine, you agree to follow all rules and directions. Anyone who does not do this will be asked to leave without receiving a refund.
General:
The mine is small, and in the interest of fun we keep digging parties to a half-dozen or fewer. That way everyone has good access to good material, and everyone should also have a safe working area without crowding.
As mentioned above, the mine is in a delicate wilderness area. During fire season the Forest Service may shut access to the mine area for safety reasons. We cannot be responsible for any closures beyond our control, and we will provide credit for any reservations toward another digging date, possibly in the following season.
If you are coming from far away, it is best to come earlier in the season and to stay in close touch with us about any potential closures.
You don’t have to knock yourself out to dig good material and have a great time.
Getting Here:
The mine is located about half way between Klamath Falls and Lakeview, Oregon. You can reach the area by automobile from Portland, Oregon, from San Francisco, California, or from Reno, Nevada. Drive times from these cities are about six hours.
The rendezvous point on dig-day is the rest stop on the South side of Highway 140, at the summit of Quartz Mountain Pass:
View Larger Map
Air service is available into the cities mentioned above, or directly into Klamath Falls. And, rental cars are available at the Klamath airport.
Camping accommodations are available in at various Forest Service locations in the area. Contact the Bly Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest for details, restrictions, conditions, etc.
Passenger cars will usually get you to within a quarter mile of the mine, but a high-clearance vehicle is recommended for the last bit – a 4×4 is even better, especially in the earlier part of the season.
What to Bring:
- Special needs and general comfort items such as medications, sunscreen, lip balm, etc. There is almost always a breeze blowing, and lips can become chapped quickly.
- Personal hygiene items as necessary, including containers to PACK OUT ALL REFUSE.
- Eye protection. We’re striking rocks with hammers, here: Eye-protection is REQUIRED.
- Hand tools for heavy hard-rock mining. This includes mallets, sledgehammers, pry-bars, heavy-duty chisels, rock hammers, picks, gloves, screwdrivers (for prying small pieces), etc. For the most part, think large and heavy rock-breaking.
- Knee pads are a good idea. Gloves are REQUIRED (fractured opal is sharp like broken glass!).
- Wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen. The mine is at above 6,000 foot elevation and the sun can be intense.
- LAYERED clothing, including gloves, shorts, sweats, jacket, etc. Sometimes the weather can go from frosty in the morning to quite warm in the afternoon. Coming prepared for that will help insure a good time.
- Did we mention GLOVES?
Provisions:
BYO food and fluids. There is no concession or restaurant within driving distance. You will be in a remote area from arrival until departure. BRING PROVISIONS, including LOTS of fluids. Remember to remain hydrated. Even though the breeze is often cool, that very breeze will dry you out. DRINK fluids to help insure a healthy good time.
Where to Stay:
There are accommodations in both Lakeview and Klamath Falls. We recommend either the Best Western in Lakeview (541-947-2194) or the Quality Inn in Klamath Falls (541-882-4666). The Lakeview location is a shorter drive (about 1 hour) and it is half way between Juniper Ridge and the Spectrum Sunstone Mine. Klamath Falls has more amenities and is closer to Crater Lake and other attractions.
Click here to make your Fee-Digging Reservations
