Crystal Creek
A family-friendly hike to a magical stream, filled with crystals from around the world!
The Crystal Creek Experience
A family-friendly crystal adventure
Crystal Creek is the perfect outdoor adventure for visitors with children, or for diggers who are looking for a guaranteed crystal-finding experience!
Hike through our enchanted forest to a shallow spring-fed creek just below our public dig site and fill a bag of crystals that you find in the water. Crystal Creek is filled with colorful crystal treasures from all around the world!
The Legend of Crystal Creek
Crystal Creek is filled with beautiful crystals and gems–many of which are not from around here! How did all these treasures find their way into the creek?
Legend has it that in the 1800s there was a lucky old prospector named One-Eyed Bill who spent his days mining for crystals and panning for gold just north of us in the Adirondack Mountains. Each winter, One-Eyed Bill would come down from the mountains and travel to valley towns to escape the cold. One winter, he was traveling through the forest that is now known as Diamond Mountain to make his way into town, and passed over the creek where you are standing. Unexpectedly, a huge thunderstorm rolled in and the water levels quickly began to rise! The prospector’s donkey slipped, nearly toppling over on the slippery rocks. One of the bags of crystals tied to the saddle split open and gems tumbled into the water! To this day, his mining finds can still be found in the water if you look closely!
What to Expect:
Getting to Crystal Creek requires a 15 minute forest hike from our check-in cabin/parking area
The stream is VERY shallow—perfect for splish-splashing but not for swimming. Kids can expect to get their shoes and hands muddy.
Closed-toed shoes are required for the hike to and from the creek. Water shoes are recommended for exploring the creek!
No digging required! Collect crystals by walking along the creek!
The entire collecting experience takes approximately a half hour to fill a bag with crystals.
Plan lunch! A picnic table is available nearby in the shade for you to enjoy a picnic after collecting crystals.
Extend the activity: Crystals may need a little washing after getting muddy in the creek. Offer your children a toothbrush and a bowl of soapy water for a “crystal wash” activity when you get home!
The Details: Plan Your Adventure
Fill a bag of crystals for $25
Crystal Creek is open for visitors 7 days a week!
Arrival Times: Morning (9 am) or afternoon (2 pm)
All ages are welcome! (Experience is recommended for ages 4 and up)
You may fill one bag of crystals for $25 (Diamond Mountain bags only)
The Crystal Creek experience requires an approximately 15 minute hike on a forest trail to get to the collecting site.
Shoes MUST be worn when walking on the trail and through the mine, however, shoes are not required once at the creek. (We recommend boots with tread for the hike, and water shoes for exploring the creek!)
No digging in the creek—surface collecting only
Crystal Creek admission is separate from mining admission and does not grant access to public digging areas.
Crystal Creek admission can be purchased as an add-on to Wilderness Dig admission, or as its own experience.
Want to go MINING for Herkimer diamonds? Purchase your Wilderness Dig admission here! ($100 for adults, $25 ages 13 and under)
