Here’s the Scoop for Dog-Friendly Fun at Emerald Hollow Mine!

Did you know that Emerald Hollow Mine is one of the only places in the world where you can find Hiddenite (the 4th rarest gemstone in the world)? The only thing that makes this place cooler is that it is also dog-friendly!

Get ready to hear all the details about this unique experience you can share with your four-legged friend. We’ll cover the basics, like parking, food, and bathrooms. And the ‘important’ stuff, like what you should bring for your pups and tips on how to make your trip a success.

We had such a great time that we are making a point to visit more gem mines across the United States. I also learned that our husky Emma has a ‘nose’ for picking the best spots! Below is one of the amethysts that she found:

Is Emerald Hollow Mine Dog Friendly?

Emerald Hollow Mine is dog-friendly! Your pup needs to remain leashed and be both dog and people-friendly. Be aware that they do have a few dogs that live on-site and roam around freely.

What to Expect at Emerald Hollow Mine

Emerald Hollow Mine is located in Hiddenite, North Carolina. This spot is a must for all rock lovers! Not only is it the only Emerald Mine open to the public, but it’s also the ONLY place in the world where you can find the super rare gemstone, Hiddenite. 

This special tourist attraction allows you to keep whatever stones you find, like tourmaline, citrine, opal, onyx, topaz, turquoise, flourite, aquamarine, sapphires, and more. On our trip, we found so many different types of small stones like jasper, amethyst, garnet, moonstone, pyrite, rose quartz, and smokey quartz.

Permits are required for anyone who enters the mining area. Your permit will allow you into the digging area and the creek and use their sluice in the tent to clean and sort through your finds.

If you want to make sure you don’t leave empty-handed, they have 5-gallon buckets that are guaranteed to have gemstones in them. You can sort through them at the sluice tent or bring them home with you. 

They also have a lapidary onsite where you can have the rocks that you find turned into jewelry like necklaces or earrings. They also have ready-made pieces available for purchase and can do repairs.

Emerald Hollow Mine Prices and Hours

Emerald Hollow Mine is open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Hours are typically 8 am to 6 pm, though they may close early if they are slow. They will also close temporarily during storms and bad weather conditions.

Permits cost $25 a person for anyone 12 and over and $10 for children from 4-11. Anyone under the age of 3 is free. These permits allow you to search for minerals in the creek or digging site. Basic tools like shovels and buckets are included in the price.

Your permit is good for the entire day, so you can leave and come back as many times as you wish. The one thing your permit does not cover is the ‘pre-packed gemstones” buckets. You can call and order these buckets for pick-up or buy them onsite and go through them in the sluicing tent.

Parking at Emerald Hollow Mine

You will find plenty of free parking at Emerald Hollow Mine. The closest parking spots will be at the bottom of the hill near the lapidary and bathrooms. Remember to drive slowly and keep an eye out for the dogs that live there. The pups frequently lay down and sun themselves on the dirt paths and roads.

Are there Bathrooms at Emerald Hollow Mine?

Bathrooms are located near the parking lot. They have flush toilets and communal sinks with running water. Each stall has a toilet, toilet paper, and a small trash can.

Is There Food Available at Emerald Hollow Mine?

Unfortunately, there’s no place at the mine that sells lunch, but they do have snacks and drinks available for purchase. They do allow you to bring your own food if you don’t want to leave for lunch; they only ask that you don’t bring glass bottles or containers and no alcohol. You will find picnic benches throughout the mining areas that you can use while you eat.

If you don’t want to bring food, here are several restaurants just a short drive away: 

• The Yellow Deli
• Little Caesars Express
• Jean’s Grill

Where to Stay When Visiting Emerald Hollow Mine

Emerald Hollow Mine is located in the Brushy Mountains of Hiddenite, North Carolina. Unfortunately, there are not a ton of places to stay close by, so you can expect at least a 10-30 minute drive from most hotels or private rentals. 

Statesville is one of the closest cities to Hiddenite if you’re looking for a place near more amenities. This is also where a good portion of the private rentals are located.

If you’re looking to camp, the closest one is Midway Campground in Statesville, starting around $35/site. They are also pet-friendly.

What to Bring When You Visit Emerald Hollow Mine

Your entrance fee does include some basic equipment for your mining experience. You will get a shovel and bucket for digging and a sluice box, brush, and nylon trowel for sluicing and creeking. The items provided will allow you to participate in all the mining activities; however, I suggest you bring some of your own equipment to make it easier and increase your luck when you’re digging.

On our first day, we only used the tools provided and quickly realized that we wanted more. Here are the items that I would recommend you bring to make gem mining easier and more comfortable:

• Wagon to carry the buckets you fill while digging back to the sluicing tent.
• Rock pick to help get through rocks 
• Weeder tool or screwdriver to help create space behind rocks to help remove them
• Knee pad or cushion to sit or kneel on
• Water shoes to protect your feet in the creek
• Waterproof bag for your phone and belongings
• Secure lidded container to hold the gems that you find
• Safety glasses for protection from flying rock shards from the rock pick
• Gloves
• Metal Spade for the dig pits

If you bring your own equipment, there are two important rules to remember. One, you can’t use anything metal at the creek, and two, you can’t bring anything with a motor.

What to Bring for Your Dog When You Visit Emerald Hollow Mine

If you are wondering what to bring for your pup to make the trip better for them, here it is! These are the things we were glad to have and items that we wished we had brought with:

• Bring plenty of water. Gem mining is hard work! Make sure to bring enough water for both you and your pups.
• Bring a blanket or towel for your dog to lie on. This will help keep them clean.
• Towels and wipes to dry them after the creek or wipe them down before they get into your car
• Snacks and toys that won’t stain if they need extra help staying occupied
• Hands-free leash or tie out so you are free to find gemstones
• Protective eyewear if they will be close to you while you are splitting rocks

Gem Mining at Emerald Hollow Mine

During your visit, be prepared to get wet (from the creek) and dirty (at the dig site). The area has a lot of clay, which is guaranteed to get on your legs, hands, and clothes. We didn’t realize that the area was clay and came home with several stained items of clothing. Here’s a quick rundown from check-in to check-out so you can be better prepared than we were.

The Check-in Process at Emerald Hollow Mine

Once you have parked, it’s time to head to the admission booth and sluicing tent. You’ll be able to pay, check in, and get an overview of the rules and equipment. This is also the place where you can purchase pre-stocked buckets, drinks, and snacks. You can also get help identifying the gemstones you find. 

Before you jump into searching for your potential retirement plan, there is a video you can watch that will go over the basics of gem mining in the area. Even though my husband Danny watched many videos about mining, specifically in Hiddenite, we all found the video helpful. 

After the video, it’s time to decide which mining method you want to start with, grab your gear, and get started!

Digging for Gems at Emerald Hollow Mine

The digging portion of your mining day will be very physical, so I recommend starting with this. We were all sore after the first day.  If you are there on a hot day, it’s even better to get this part out of the way in the morning. 

After you grab your tools, you’ll want to pick the area where you’ll start your search. The video you watched when you first arrived will help, but if you really want your best chance at finding things, here are some awesome YouTube videos that help spell out exactly what to look for:

• John’s Corner exclusively covers his expeditions here in Hiddenite, North Carolina. 
• Gem Hunter Adventures is a more basic “How To” of hunting for quartz crystals. Finding gemstones may seem like it’s just the luck of the draw, but there’s a lot of science behind it. 

Learning about the way different minerals form and the nutrients they require will help you know what to look for and allow you to successfully follow mineral veins. Here are three basic things to look for to increase your success:

• Clay– Clay has higher nutrients
• Trees– Trees require nutrients to grow. Look downhill and imagine where water would travel after a heavy rain.
• Mica– It’s super fine, shiny, and flaky and is often found in rocks that have other gemstones.

After you find a spot you want to search, it’s time to break out those shovels! As you discover promising spots, start filling your bucket with the dirt to sort through at the sluicing tent. Remember that if you didn’t bring a cart, you have to carry your bucket back, so don’t overfill it. 

Be careful when extracting rocks and minerals because some crystals break easily. And don’t ignore the rocks and stones! Remember that some of the good stuff looks like dirty rocks at first, and some rocks hold gemstones inside. When in doubt, bring it back and ask one of the employees at the tent   

Creeking for Gems at Emerald Hollow Mine

“Creeking” is the perfect activity when you need to cool down because it involves getting wet. For your best chance at finding crystals, you’ll need to go into the creek with your sluice box or sifter and trowel.

We had an easier time finding stones in the creek than while digging. Most likely because they ‘salt’ the upper portion of the creek behind the sluicing tent for educational programs. This means they purposefully put gemstones in that area for the kids in the education programs to find. 

Since the creek has flowing water, some of these stones get swept downstream (along with the crystals that naturally get washed down from the mountain) to the part where you, the public, are allowed to search. 

When looking for gemstones, imagine a stone getting carried downstream and look for the areas most likely to stop it from continuing down through the rushing water.  These would be places or ‘pockets’ in the creek around rocks and other crevices that the crystals could get stuck in. 

Once you find a spot, dig down several inches and sift through the sand and silt to see what you find. Feel free to move larger rocks around to make searching easier, but do this carefully. The creek is home to many animals that use these rocks as a home. Move them carefully so you don’t accidentally smash anyone, and then try to put them back where you found them so the animals can still use them safely.

You can either sift through your findings in the creek or at one of the picnic tables along the water. We tended to do a quick sift in the water before bringing it up to go through more carefully on land. Don’t forget to put anything you want to keep in a secure container. 

My brother found what he thinks was an emerald or super-rare Hiddenite. Unfortunately, he put it in his pocket, and it fell out before he got to shore to confirm what it was! We never found it again.

Sluicing at Emerald Hollow Mine

To sluice means “to wash or rinse freely with a stream or shower of water”. This is what you will be doing after you finish digging for minerals so you can see what you found. You’ll sit on a bench next to the ‘chute’ and slowly rinse your finds with the running water. Keep what you want, and let the rest be carried away. 

Make sure to get a description of what to look for when searching for your minerals before you toss any away. Many valuable stones like rubies and garnets (picture below) don’t look like they do in stores- they look like regular rocks at a quick glance. 

Hot Tip: Watch the chute for the rocks that people discard. We found some good stones that people threw away, not realizing what they had because they looked like plain rocks!

If you’d rather skip the hard labor of digging and carrying your buckets back, you can also buy a pre-stocked bucket. These buckets range in price from $7 to $1000 and are guaranteed to have all sorts of gemstones.  

Before you buy the one you want, read the descriptions of each type of bucket carefully. Each bucket type will come with specific gems. We decided to go with a surprise bucket because we wanted the experience and the chance to find some larger, ‘cooler’ stones like emeralds and rubies.

Visit Emerald Hollow Mine’s Lapidary

The lapidary is located near the parking lot, where you can get your gemstones turned into jewelry. You can also buy a piece that’s already made or repair an item you already own. They even have some rare pieces of Hiddenite for sale if you want something extra special (and expensive) to remember your trip by.

The lapidary is scheduled to be open from 1-6 pm daily. You can also call ahead to schedule an appointment if that time frame doesn’t work. It does have limited staffing, so I recommend calling ahead to confirm it’s open if you want to check it out.

Helpful Tips for Finding Gems at Emerald Hollow Mine

My first day at the mine in Hiddenite, NC I was so lost trying to figure out what to do to find any type of gemstone or crystal. There were so many places to search that I didn’t know where to begin. The videos on YouTube and onsite helped, but these were the tips that helped the most:

• Watch some YouTube videos before you go. They were super helpful in explaining what to look for.
• Keep an eye on the ground, especially on the way to and in the parking lot and equipment areas. You can find some nice gems that other people dropped and overlooked.
• Sit at the far back of the tent if you want to catch the discards of the other sluicers.
• Have an employee double-check your rocks before you throw them out and give you tips on what to look for. Be super friendly to them- they can save you from throwing away something great!
• Rubies, sapphire, and garnets look like plain dark rocks but are heavy. 
• Go at least twice- the first day was more of a learning experience. We were much more successful once we had a better idea of what we were doing.
• Go Creeking after a hard rain. The rain is more wash gemstones into the creek and can make them easier to find.

Tips for Bringing Your Dog to Emerald Hollow Mine

We took our 2 dogs to go gem mining at Emerald Hollow Mine in October and had the best time. Here are our best tips so you and your furry friends can have a successful trip:

• Make sure your pup is people and dog-friendly. The owners have dogs that are loose and live on-site. You will also be in close quarters with people and their dogs in the sluicing tent.  
• Keep your pets on a leash. Not only is it a rule, but there are a lot of hidden drop-offs in the woods, as well as wildlife. Spend your time searching for gemstones- not your dog. Bring a hands-free leash or a tie-out if you want to keep your hands free while you search.
• Update your dog’s microchip and tag information. Attach a Pet Travel ID Card to your dog’s harness or backpack. You want as many ways as possible for whoever finds your dog to be able to contact you. The easier, the better, which is why an updated tag or Pet Travel ID Card is helpful.
• The digging and creek areas have plenty of shade from trees. The sluicing tent is also shaded. This will help protect your dog from the heat of the sun, but it can still get humid if you go during the summer, so bring plenty of water.
• Bring a toy or chew to keep your dog busy if they get bored easily. 
• Bring a towel for them to lie down on and something to clean the dirt and clay off before they get back in your car. 
• There is not a lot of room to walk in the sluicing tent. Plan on keeping your dog on your lap, or get a spot at the back or very front of the tent so people don’t have to walk around or over your dog.
• Let your dog pick a spot! Our Husky Emma picked the place where we found all sorts of stones like amethyst. She is now our official rockhound!

Nearby Attractions to Emerald Hollow Mine:

For ideas of places to visit in or close to Emerald Hollow Mine, check out these stops:

Attractions near Emerald Hollow Mine:

• Hiddenite Art and Cultural Center
• North Carolina Transportation Museum

Dog-Friendly Attractions near Emerald Hollow Mine: 

• Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area
• Fort Dobbs State Historic Site

Charlotte and Ashville are also just an hour or two away if you want to rest your muscles between mining excursions.

Get Ready to Go Treasure Hunting with Your Pup!

Get ready to pack your bags and your four-legged friend for a unique adventure at Emerald Hollow Mine. Gem mining with your pup means you both will get to spend time outside, getting down and dirty while hunting for treasure you get to keep and making memories to last a lifetime! And who knows? You may discover that your dog has a natural calling as a rockhound!