Beach Rock Picking Agate Hunting
Black River Harbor Scenic Parkway

Black River Harbor Agate Beach
Lots of pretty rocks and a few agates can be found along the beach
of the Black River Scenic Recreation Area - Michigan Upper Peninsula

Black River Harbor's beach is one of our favorite Lake Superior Rock Hound beach. Lots of interesting rocks that make attractive gemstones for tumbling and there are a few agates to be found here as well. In fact this is where I found my first agate.

The Scenic Rec Area also has a nicely laid out USDA Forest Service campground with sites suitable for RVs and Tents. Other attractions include hiking trails and five attractive waterfalls along the Black River National Scenic River. See some waterfall pictures and learn more about Black River Harbor camping and recreational attractions here.

On the way to the Beach

You park at the picnic area parking lot and cross the river to the beach via the historic suspension bridge.

The North Country Trail runs adjacent to the river and crosses the suspension bridge near the mouth of the river. The trail goes by the eastern side of Rainbow Falls before turning east towards Porcupine Mountains State Park.

Hunting for Agates on the Beach

Our spring rock hound trip was made the Monday following the 2018 Mother's Day weekend. Some snow was still piled along the beach against the hillside. In the pictures below you can see the 2018 winter ice deposited lots of trees on the beach; we hoped some agates were among the deposits!

agate find

Jo shows off one of her Agate finds

Agates we found

Almost Agates or Agate Imposters we found

Two years ago, also in May, we also found some agates (see our photos here) along the beach and recorded a waterfall video from our hike to Rainbow Falls

Learning More about Identifying Lake Superior Beach Rocks Plus Finding and Polishing Agates

rock picking and agate hunting on paradise beach
See our Guides to the Best
Rock Picking Beaches on
Lake Superior

Recognizing & Identifying Beach Stones & Agates around Lake Superior

Part 2 - Recognizing Rocks & Agate Collected on Lake Superior Beaches.

Identifying True Agates from Agate Wanna-Be's.

Rock Tumbling Lake Superior Rocks & Gemstones

Tumbling and polishing Agates - Includes Agate pictures & some tips on using tumbling pellets

Lake Superior Agate Festival - Annual Festival of Lake Superior Rock Hounds

Pictures of Lake Superior Agates - Moose Lake Geology Interpretive Center

See our Guides to the Best Agate Picking Beaches around Lake Superior.

Books on Lake Superior Rocks and Agates

Lake Superior Rocks & Minerals: A Field Guide to the Lake Superior Area

Recommended by a SuperiorTrails friend & rock hound, this new guide has actual photographs of various rocks and minerals found on Lake Superior beaches. Co-author Bob Lynch is owner of Agate City Rocks and Gifts in Two Harbors Minnesota

DVD: How to Find Agates

Karen Brzys. Director, Gitchee Gumee Agate & History Museum, has created this comprehensive tutorial to finding agates. Includes over 750 photographs and diagrams.

Lake Superior Rocks & Minerals Field Guide

This new edition by Dan and Bob Lynch will help you identify up to 75 rocks and minerals you might find washed up on Lake Superior beaches. Has full color photographs to aid in identification.

Lake Superior Rock Picker's Guide

Here is another book recommended by a Superior Trails reader and rock hound who was able to identify over 50 rocks found on the beach using this guide by Kevin Gauthier and Bruce Mueller. Also included are tips for polishing the stones and rock. Kevin and Bruce also publish a similar guide for Lake Michigan rocks.

Agate Hunting Made Easy: How to Really Find Lake Superior Agates

My wife Jo found this agate hunters book while traveling in the UP and thought it would help her find her first Lake Superior Agate. It is full of tips for agate hunting (and rock picking) and has some very good color photographs of a number of agate variations as well as photos of the other kinds of rocks you'll find on Lake Superior beaches.

Rock Pickers Guide to
Lake Superior's North Shore

Sparky's guide covers what north shore beaches to comb, a bit of history on the formation of the various rocks found on beaches, and helpful information and pictures on identifying beach rocks and minerals.

Agate Identification Agates of Lake Superior

See more recommendations on guides and books on Lake Superior Rocks, Minerals & Agates