A mauve (purple) rock found in Eagle Rock, OR. Credit: Alison Jean Cole

As simple pleasures are gay and hiking is gay, it feels easy to declare that the sport of rockhounding is also a gay activity. And the Pacific Northwest is home to the pros. For this guide, I have collected some recommendations for where you might find beautiful rocks, and eventually build your own rainbow. Let a middle-aged lesbian author of a niche hobby guide show you the way. 

 

Alison Jean Cole is the author of A Rockhound’s Guide to Oregon & Washington, published by Mountaineers Books, 2025.