Marilee's Rock Hound Report "Indian Flats Campground--A Great  Destination"
by Marilee Strech of Crossroads Treasures

If you live in the San Diego area and like to collect local gems and minerals, Indian Flats is great for a day trip or for an overnight stay.  There is a great Cleveland National Forest campground called Indian Flats just a few  miles from the little town of Warner Springs, CA.  The turnoff to the campground is located just before you reach the Warner Springs Gliderport on Hwy. 79, with a paved road the whole 7 miles to the campground.  It is a primitive campground with nice tree shaded sites, picnic tables, firepits, water and public toilets, but no electricity is available.  Because this is National Forest, the use fee is $5.00 for day use and $5.00 per night, payable on the honor system (put your money and provided envelope in the slot in the pipe!)

This road takes you right past the Cryogenie Mine where pink tourmaline, beryl and quartz is being mined at the present by Dana Gochenhour, the owner.  On weekends, you can call him at (714) 336-4467 to arrange a tour of the mine or to collect on the tailings pile.   As you continue on the road to the campground,  you will see many pegmatites and much evidence of prospect holes.  Look for a safe place to pull over if you want to try your hand at collecting, as the road is narrow and winding and you don't want to block the access.

 It is possible to collect solid black schorl, huge rusty garnets up to 2 inches in diameter and nice big feldspar crystals all in the same chunk of pegmatite.  I have personally collected  a nice end-terminated piece of shorl that is 2 "  long and 3/4" in diameter.  I also have a 50 lb. piece of pegmatite with an 8" long feldspar crystal impression on one side, as well as the crystal itself.  It has many schorl crystals shooting through it as well as a large 1" rusty garnet on one corner.  You might get lucky and find  yellow quartz, smoky quartz or beryl crystals in the area just before the campground, where a seasonal creek crosses under the roadbed.  There is another mine under claim called the Carmelita Mine on top of one of the peaks just above this creek.  Be sure you respect the claim boundaries while collecting in the creekbed.  

If you are looking for a nice quiet weekend with some good hiking and solitude along with your rockhound experience, this is the place to come.  The campground is located on the site of an old Indian village with grinding holes and  a seasonal stream complete with a waterfall in the rainy season.  There are beautiful wildflowers to be found as well--from cactus to manzanita, from white sage to California poppies. Be sure and bring your camera!

Marilee Strech has been an avid rock hound for over 10 years, traveling the southwest in search of unique rock and gemstone finds. She features all of her special finds including and rock, gem and mineral specimens and jewelry, in her shop called Crossroads Treasures, which is located in Santa Ysabel, which is just outside of Julian, in San Diego’s back country. For more about her rock hound adventures and her store – Click here.