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🌵 ECGMS Heads to Arizona – January 2026! 🌈We are excited to share our tentative plans for an unforgettable adventure to Arizona during the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, one of the largest and most magical gem events in the world!
🗓️ TENTATIVE Travel Dates:
January 21 – January 30, 2026
We’ll be exploring, sightseeing, and rockhounding across Arizona — from The Painted Desert & Petrified Forest to visiting Sedona, Jerome City area, down to Tucson and beyond. While we hope many of our members will join in on this adventure, please note:
👉 This is the schedule I personally will be following. You are welcome to join us for as little or as much as you’d like — or go off and explore on your own. Flexibility is the name of the game!
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🌄 Sedona Region (Basecamp)
🛏️ January 21 - 23
• Jan 21 Petrified Forest & Painted Desert (no digging, but absolutely breathtaking for exploration and photography)
• Jan 22-24 Coffee Pot Rock, Cathedral Rock, Sedona Airport for Sunsets are INSANE, can visit Oak Creek, Perkinsville (near Jerome) – Known for Agates
• Possibly hitting Salt Mines (Camp Verde area) – Pseudomorphs including Calcite and Aragonite after Glauberite
. Red Rock Crossing
• Optional Stops: Indian stands and roadside shops for Turquoise treasures
⛏️ January 24–25 – DIG DAYS!
Choose-your-own-adventure style (you can pick what calls to you!)
Potential dig locations include:
. Guided dig by Kelli at Payson AZ Digging for Payson Diamonds
Payson, AZ is a popular rockhounding spot where collectors can find Quartz, Amethyst, fossil shells, and fossil coral. There are plentiful sites out in the Arizona wilderness to collect. The area is similar to digging in Herkimer, but the ledge is a combination of sandstone and limestone. It can be hard digging, but is made easier by snow melt in the winter months. The weather is unpredictable, it may be warmer and sunny, or it could be snowing. Even if it’s snowing you can stay warmer by getting into a good hole and digging someone else’s old location. Tools needed are a small hand shovel, trowel, screwdriver, hammer, and small hand rake. You may also want a small sledgehammer or pickaxe to move hard rock (although technically not allowed, many collectors use them) Pockets can be found, but crystals can also be found in the dirt, and even on the surface. There are several locations for fossil digging, and prospecting new areas is also useful. It is a respectful practice to fill in your holes before moving on to another area.
There are many campsites around Diamond Point and the Mogollan rim, some of which offer stunning sunrise or sunset views. Diamond point is located about 25 minutes outside of the town of Payson, so if you plan to camp, plan to bring plenty of water, snacks/ food, a camp stove, or be ready to make a campfire. A good sleeping bag is also important to have as the weather can be unpredictable. There are several campgrounds in Payson itself, and Phoenix is about a 2 hour drive away. The tiny Tonto Village is the last point of Civilization before you enter the forest. They have a bar and restaurant with a small general store for basic needs. If you come prepared you will have a great time and are likely to leave with some great gems, and fossils! PS our New Camp looks like it will be in Mesa area. Check Map
You can go off on your own to the following if you wish.
• Red Cloud Mine – World-famous for Wulfenite
• Tiger Mountain – Barite and unique mineral specimens
• Saddle Mountain – Glowing Fire Agate
• San Carlos Apache Reservation – Home of natural Peridot (MUST obtain special permit)
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💎 January 26 – January 29 – GEM SHOW TIME!
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✨Whether you’re digging in the desert, treasure hunting through the aisles of a gem tent, or soaking in the beauty of Arizona’s painted skies, this trip is sure to spark your rockhound spirit.
If you’re planning to join, comment or message me so we can keep track of who’s coming. Feel free to book your own accommodations (I’ll be in Sedona first, then Tucson), and remember — this is all optional, no pressure, no rules, just rocks!
With crystal love,
Crystal Moon
East Coast Gem & Mineral Society
💎✨ Let’s Just Dig!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Sedona, Arizona, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
