🌿 Mount Ida Arkansas
Mount Ida Arkansas quartz crystals

Quartz Capital of the World

Crystal Mines Near Mount Ida

A cleaner directory of quartz digging stops, phone numbers, general hours, costs, and what to know before you go crystal hunting around Mount Ida, Arkansas.

Read the Full GuideFind Cabins

Crystal mine directory

Looking for where to dig? Start here.

This page is the quick directory version of the Mount Ida crystal guide. It gives visitors the basics: what each stop is, who it fits, general hours, known costs, and what to confirm before the drive.

For help choosing the right mine, packing for the day, bringing kids, or turning crystal digging into a full weekend, use the full Mount Ida crystal mining guide.

Call the mine before you go

MountIdaArkansas.org is an independent local tourism guide. We are not the mine office and cannot confirm same-day hours, weather closures, road conditions, reservations, prices, or digging conditions. Use this guide to plan, then contact the mine directly before driving out.

Crystal mining guide for Mount Ida Arkansas

Full planning guide

Not sure which crystal mine to pick?

The full guide breaks down family-friendly mines, serious public digs, primitive stops, Crystal Vista, what to bring, and how to build a simple Mount Ida weekend around crystal digging.

Read the Crystal Mining Guide

Crystal mine stops

Mount Ida area crystal digging directory.

Use these cards as a starting point, then call or check each mine’s current updates before driving out. Details are written carefully so visitors know the difference between a staffed mine, a rugged call-ahead dig, and a public forest rockhounding area.

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines

Best first stop

Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines

South of Mount Ida off Highway 27 and Owley Road
82 Wegner Crystal Ranch Road, Mount Ida, AR 71957
Phone: 870-867-2309
Email: wegner@ipa.net

A strong first choice for families, kids, and visitors who want a clearer, more organized crystal digging setup.

Hours

  • Open year-round Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
  • Crystal Forest Mine trucks leave at 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1:30 PM.
  • Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for sign-up, loading gear, and the safety meeting.

Cost

  • Crystal Forest Mine: $19 per person for two hours of onsite collecting.
  • If you leave on the 9:30 AM trip, extended Crystal Forest digging may be available at $38 for four hours or $57 for six hours.
  • Tailings Pile: all-day digging is available until 4:00 PM for a separate one-time fee. Check with Wegner for the current price.
Call 870-867-2309Website / updatesFull details
Avant Mining / Fisher Mountain

Best serious crystal stop

Avant Mining / Fisher Mountain

Fisher Mountain area near Mount Ida
11 Logan Gap Road, Mount Ida, AR 71957
Phone: 870-985-9988

A polished public dig and collector-friendly stop tied to the historic Fisher Mountain quartz area.

Hours

  • Shop hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
  • Public digging hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, weather permitting.

Cost

  • Public dig adults: $25.
  • Adults 60 and older: $20.
  • Kids 7 to 17: $10.
Call 870-985-9988Website / updatesFull details
Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine

Best rugged dig

Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine

Story, Arkansas, north of Mount Ida
Horseshoe Bend Road, Story, AR 71970
Phone: 870-867-0104

A primitive, come-prepared digging area for visitors who want a less polished crystal mining experience.

Hours

  • Call ahead before coming to dig.
  • Hours and access can change, and this stop should not be treated like a drop-in tourist attraction without confirming first.

Cost

  • Current fees were not clearly posted in the official Arkansas Tourism listing.
  • Call the mine directly for current digging prices, payment rules, and whether they are open that day.
Call 870-867-0104Website / updatesFull details
Crystal Vista Recreation Area

Public forest rockhounding

Crystal Vista Recreation Area

Ouachita National Forest, Gardner Mountain area
Trailhead off Owley Road, south of Mount Ida
Phone: 870-867-2101

A public forest stop with surface quartz collecting and a short hike, not a staffed commercial mine.

Hours

  • Check current Forest Service alerts, road conditions, and access before going.
  • The nearby Caddo-Womble Ranger District visitor center is listed as Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, closed federal holidays.

Cost

  • No fee was listed on the Forest Service Crystal Vista Trail page checked for this guide.
  • Check with the Forest Service for current rules, access, and any changes before planning around it.
Call 870-867-2101Website / updatesFull details
Avatar Crystal Mine

Primitive seasonal mine

Avatar Crystal Mine

Owley Road / Forestry Road W37 area near Mount Ida
Owley Road area, Mount Ida, AR 71957
Phone: 850-227-4814
Email: avatarcrystalmine@gmail.com

A smaller, primitive mine that online listings describe as seasonal and weather-dependent.

Hours

  • Recent online listings show Friday through Monday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
  • Often described as seasonal, roughly early March through late November, weather permitting.
  • Call or check Facebook before driving out.

Cost

  • Recent online listing for 2026 dig fees: adults $30.
  • Military, veteran, and law enforcement: $25.
  • Seniors 60 and older: $20.
Call 850-227-4814Website / updatesFull details
Twin Creek Crystal Mine

Working mine-style dig

Twin Creek Crystal Mine

Mount Ida area
Collier Springs Road area, Mount Ida, AR 71957
Phone: 870-867-4945 / 870-490-0672
Email: twincreekmine@yahoo.com

A hands-on crystal digging stop with more of a working-mine feel and details that should be confirmed directly.

Hours

  • Often listed online as 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but current hours should be confirmed directly.
  • Weather, mine work, and seasonal conditions may affect access.

Cost

  • Recent online reviews and listings often mention around $25 per person for digging.
  • Some older or secondary listings mention kids’ pricing, but visitors should confirm current fees directly with the mine.
Call 870-867-4945Website / updatesFull details

Before You Go

A few quick crystal digging notes.

Crystal digging is hands-on, outdoors, and weather-dependent. A little planning makes the day go a lot smoother.

Call the mine directly before driving out. Hours, prices, road conditions, and digging access can change.

Bring shoes and clothes that can get dirty, plus gloves, water, sunscreen, and something to carry crystals in.

Ask each mine what tools are allowed before bringing your own. Some sell or rent tools, and some do not allow power tools.

Bring cash. Rural cell service and card payment can be unreliable around some mine roads.

Use the full crystal mining guide if you need help choosing between family-friendly, serious, rugged, and public forest options.

Read Full GuideLake OuachitaPlaces to Stay

Plan a Full Mount Ida Crystal Mining Trip

After crystal digging, spend time at Lake Ouachita, stay in nearby cabins, explore local restaurants, scenic drives, and other outdoor stops around Mount Ida and the Ouachita Mountains.

Read the Crystal Mining Guide