Reddit reviews Gem Trails of Southern California

So you live in Cali, eh? I worked south of V-town for a while and took a few trips through Napa. Nice area. Lots of grapes and expensive cars and shit. Take a trip over to the Petrified Forest and see if you can talk to the shop owners, I bet they'd know where you can go locally.

There's lots of stuff in Cali to find. You might have to take a few long drives for the good stuff, though. Get you a copy of the book "Gem Trails of California" and read up.

Apparently they revised Mitchell's original 1992 California Gem Trails book and split it into Northern Cali and Southern Cali.

I'd explore a few book stores to see if they have a copy of either, that way you can flip through the book to make sure you get the right one for your area.

Welcome to the club! We've got beer.

I imagine you've come across the safety warnings before, but I'll hit some of the highlights just in case anybody totally green reads this thread.

1. Mines. As a general rule, you should definitely avoid any underground workings as an amateur rockhound. Here's a list of potential hazards from the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. Rockfalls, open shafts, toxic gases, and, hell, even drowning. Old mines = big danger.
   
   
2. Exposure. It sounds obvious, but always carry too much water. Especially if you're working in the sun, dehydration can set in quickly. Wear a big hat and have sleeves that can roll down if needed. Oh, and don't forget your sunscreen and snacks!
   
   
3. Weather. Mostly a Colorado thing, but don't let yourself get caught up on a mountainside when a lightning storm rolls in. Flash flooding is a concern in certain places.
   
   
4. Misc common sense stuff. Just be careful. Watch for snakes, don't torque your ankle on loose debris, don't swing a pick at anything directly above your head. If you're on a pile of mine tailings, be careful of rusty nails, etc. And always go out with a buddy, ideally someone who knows the location and buys good beer (or at a minimum be sure somebody knows exactly where you're at and how to find you -- there's no cell service in a lot of remote spots).
   
   As for laws, you can generally collect as an amateur on National Forest / BLM land. Roadcuts are generally fair game, unless you're on the interstate or blocking/endangering traffic. Private property and claimed land is off-limits unless you have the express permission of the landowner/claimholder. National Parks are always off-limits. Make local inquiries (e.g. at a rock store or BLM field office) to find out specifics. Follow the Code of Ethics.
   
   Here is a fairly comprehensive list of California sites. Nevada here (PDF). I'm a fan of the book Gem Trails of Colorado, but I don't know how good the SoCal equivalent is. Again, asking locally is key.
   
   Happy hunting!