Customer Reviews

Rockhounding Utah

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this book to be very helpful in finding rock-collecting sites in Utah. It has directions to the collecting sites, information about near by attractions, tools needed, elevations, driving conditions and best time of year to go. I use the book religiously when I'm out and about. I give it a 4 star rating, and could have been a 5 star rating had the pictures of the rock specimen been in color, instead of black and white =)

I found this book very useful in exploring the different sites in Utah. I have only been to a few sites but was not disappointed in the results. One should read the Forward/Intro section. It has good tips on the Utah and it's climate that literally could be a life saver.
The author has put a real effort in listing the different sites and given good directions. I like the site format including the elevation and the best time to collect. I used it to visit Utah in early March and petrified wood from sand creek. I have given the book a four star rating due to it's age. It was published in 1996 so it's seven years old at this writing. the Utah sites still seem to be intact compared to the sites in New Mexico and Colorado. As I have suggested in my other reviews I would like to see GPS Coordinates for Main turn offs and the initial starting points at a collecting site. The forest service/BLM has a habit of closing roads. and there are Vandals that deface signs right when you need them the most. I also use the GPS Data for mapping software at home before the trip. preplanning at home beats driving 10 miles of washboard and dust on the wrong road.

I found the book to be very useful in finding sites to look for rocks and fossils during a recent trip to Utah. The directions to the sites were clear, and advice on conditions helpful. All of the sites I visited (10-12)were as described and productive, particularly when viewed as jumping off points to explore. The only thing I would ask for are more sites and a wider variety of things to look for. Two weeks more of vacation would be nice, as well. While I'm asking, gas money and a mailer to avoid carrying 25 lbs. of rocks home on the plane...

This book is so popular with rockhounder's and has been used so extensively, that the sites depicted have been virtually picked clean. Readers should use this book as a general location reference and search elsewhere for collectable material.

I thought this book was just okay. It appears if it was written quite some time ago so a lot of the sites are sketchy and picked clean. I suggest that if you are a serious rockhound that you visit a university nearby and see if they can provide you with information. Honestly, experience is everything so find an old time rockhound and you are set.

About half way through a 2 month trip in our motorhome to Utah I got this book. It added a whole new dimension to our trip. We went places we would never have gone, and found beautiful rock samples to take home. For the most part the guide was up to date, but the opal mine and azurite mines were closed. The septarian nodlules were probably the most exciting find, but we also found agate, jasper, selenite crystals, and petrified wood.

This book is helpful in finding locations where one can look for minerals.
I would have liked a few more photos of the type of minerals to be found.
The maps and directions are good for someone who knows which minerals they
want to pursue.

I bought this book two summers ago, it has introduced me to my backyard like no other! And what a wonderful back yard it is. My son loves finding rocks and learning about rocks, and this book helps me plan little day trips with him. We learn a lot together and always have an interesting souvenir that didn't cost us anything, well except for the gas to get there. If you are new to Utah, or new to Rock Hounding, and those two should go together, they really should, this book is for you. William Kappele will introduce you to many nooks and crannies that you would have thought impossible. His directions are accurate. I have found myself lost a couple times, and always to find that was my fault for not reading closely enough. His introduction is great and his cautions should be heeded. This book, food, water, and a sufficient vehicle= plenty of cheap fun for the whole family. Estwing E3-22P 22-Ounce Rock PickHi-Tec Men's Altitude IV Hiking BootLortone 3A Lapidary Rock Gem Rotary 3 Lb. Tumbler NewEureka Apex 2XT Adventure 7' 5" by 4' 11" Two-Person Tent

This is a great book for someone like me that is just getting started looking for certain rocks. It has maps with written details on how to get to each area of interest. Includes photographs of some areas which is always a plus. Also includes points of interest (Historical/geographical) along the way or that are near the collection sites.

I live in southern Utah so this book has provided our family with many great weekend trips. If you are trying to find rocks/fossils to sell or perfect speciums some sites in the book have less to offer. As a family trying having nice inexpensive and education outings this book has been great. The directions are acurate and we have always found something at each site. We have found, fossils, agate, mica, pertifed wood to name a few.

We have been to to the free fossil site listed in this book and found some nice fossils. We went to the u dig it fossil mine that cost over $100 (plus travel expenses since it is 150 miles to a major city) for a family of 4 for 2 hours! and yes we found fossils quicker and they had some really nice ones, but it todays economy if you can't afford the pay site this book offers great directions to a free site.

I would recommend this book to familes that are visting Las Vagas and have a rental car. Las vegas can be hot and expensive for activites with kids. Within 2 hours you can drive to many of the sites and the weather is cooler, the rock finding free and it is a great break for a day!