Today we're visi.. Here, we're going to explore a small portion of its 1.5 million acres.

For us today, it is a short hike and then it is all about Rock County.

Today I am meeting up with Eric and Heather, who are Rock County experts and outdoor adventure.

I caught up with Eric and Heather in the Anniversary Narrows, a flat canyon known for its smooth, winding sandstone walls that create a natural corridor through the desert landscape.

This hidden gem offers hikers a moderately challenging route featuring narrow passages and unique geological formations.

To reach this trail, take North Shore Road.

The trailhead is off a dirt road at mile marker 16 near the Anniversary Mine area.

It is important to note that road conditions can vary so a high clearance vehicle is recommended.

And tell me, what do you love about this area?

I really like the slot canyon hike that's just up at the mouth of this lodge.

It's absolutely beautiful.

It's only about a mile long, so it's an easy hike for kids or for people that may not want to do a longer, more challenging hike.

And it's just an amazing little slot canyon, if you like those.

And you can look up and see beauty, look down and see all these wonderful things down here, not just Rock County.

I had never heard about Rock County.

What is it?

Well, Rock County is where you go out into nature and you collect rocks and pretty much exactly what it says.

But what we do with our rocks is we turn them into jewelry and.

And we cut them and polished them, turn them into works of art.

How did you get into Rock County?

Well, I'm a lifelong jeweler.

I first learned from my grandpa and took jewelry in high school and college.

And we wanted to to cut our own rocks.

And we found, Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society, which is a nonprofit organization here.

And we learned, almost everything about rock counting and lapidary, which is cutting and polishing stones, through them.

And I did not know there was a society.

Now I do, and they also.

What else do they do?

You also have classes?

They do.

They have classes.

They have.. They have a large shop which Eric and I volunteer at.

Every other week.

And it has all the equipment that you need to cut your own rocks.

So there's also classes to teach you how to use all the things in the shop.

And then you can go through and decide what you want to do with this hobby.

There's a lot of resources there to be had.

Talk about what we can find here in this location.

And so this area in particular, is a claim called or car mine.

And it's, it's easy to access from Lake Mead National Recreation and I believe it's mile marker 1616 and, you just head down their anniversary road until you see the ore carved mine sign.

And here they have, some mostly agates, lilac.

Christmas tree I get, which has a red and green to it, bacon, egg and then bacon agate that looks like bacon and hence the name.

So for a newbie like me, a new rockhound, or like I said, I feel like now I feel as I'm learning more about it, I've been doing this since I was a little kid, but very inquisitive, always looking at things in rock.

And, what?

Should we be on the lookout?

We talked about something shiny, but it doesn't alway.. You know?

What I tell people is pick up what you l.. Yeah.

You know, it's a value to me.

Once I cut it and turn it into something that's beautiful.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Yes.

Pick up what you like.

I like sparkly, I like shiny, I like sometimes real bright colors.

Sometimes I like more muted colors.

I have a very a very wide palette that I like to work with.

I like that.

And how do you define that when it comes to what you feel.. of the red and green?

Again, and probably some Jersey specimens is what I'd be looking for h.. And the jersey is the crypto crystalline and it's sparkly.

It looks like glitter or like sugar on the top of the rock and it will catch your eye.

It's very pretty.

And that's another thing.

This is something to do with the family an.. There's so much going on and everybody's on their phone all the time to just come out here sometimes.

No cell service for sure, I love it.

It's a great thing for families with kids.

It is.

Any kid can come out here and they love.

I was like grandma always picking up rocks from the time I was tiny.

The gem Club.

I would say when we first joined the av.. was probably 70 something and we lowered it.

We we've brought a few people in my generation.

This is something that, you know, so many people and the diverse just to increase the the diversity of that organization.

It's a good thing.

Yeah.

And just you can sign.. Yeah.

$25 for a single person, $35 a .. It's a total bargain.

It really is.

And and they've been just a wonderful .. They do have a kids club.

So if you've got children it's it's a great company meetings.

And then there's the social aspect especially for the elderly folks has been and you see it, you can see a difference between the members and just the general, community, community and purpose and something they'll always look forward to and do.

Yeah.

And that's the beautiful.

And it keeps you sad because you're you're picking up rock.. Yeah.

I often joke I should have been.. All right.

That's why you're doing th.. So, I say I'm excited now that I got a little history behind all of this.

Let's go have some fun.

As far as the rocks.

Right.

We made our way to the Ord Carmine, which is a Southern Nevada gem and mineral society claim and open to the public.

Eric and Heather walk me through the tools of the rock building, trade me protection gloves, a small rock pick, or even a gardening shovel and this will help you unearth more hit and run.

You can also use a pig to break off small pieces of large stone.

A spray bottle with water.

Because what this does, Maria, is when you spray the rock, it gives you an idea of what it will look like polished, and it really brings those colors out.

So it gives you an idea of what it will look like as the finish.

And don't forget a bucket or bag to carry your fines here.

There are guidelines to follow when rock County here at or car no motorized tools or blasting everything you find needs to be hand carried out with the limit of 25 pounds.

I like carrying this.

Now.

This mining claim is all on the surface.

That means everything is at your feet, there is no shortage of rocks, and it's all a matter of finding what is pleasing to your eye.

We walked in, explored the mining area.

It was so much fun.

I was on a real life treasure hunt.

I felt like a kid.

You know, giving each of your finds a spray of water is a huge help.

It really does show the details and hidden beauty.

I found a few pieces.

Eric and Heather found some tears.

I can tell you I've had such a great time.

This one too, that Eric showed me a piece he polished from this mine.

Absolutely stunning.

This has been a wonderful day.

Oh, you guys, thank you.

Now I feel like I'm an honorary rockhound.

You know, I gave you a sticker before we leave it.

A sticker, and I have to get this.

Then you guys rock.

I'll take you.

You to be here.

Yay!

This has been so much fun.

I can tell you that rock hounding is a blast.

You're getting outdoors, hiking, exploring, and you get to take a super cool keepsake.

Plus a Lake Mead National Recreation Area is one of my favorite places.

I absolutely love it here.

Till next time, I'm Maria Silva.

Official rock calendar.

I love it.