The smoky quartz of the White Mountains is New Hampshire’s state gem, and Moat Mountain above Conway is the classic ground, with big glassy crystals from cavities in the granite, often alongside green amazonite feldspar. You DO need a permit to collect specimens here, whatever you may have read: the Forest Service requires a mineral collection permit for the Moat Mountain Mineral Site. It is free, you pick it up at the trailhead, and it covers one day at one site. Picking a loose rock up off the ground needs nothing, but the moment you disturb the surface you want that permit in your pocket. From West Side Road in Conway take Passaconaway Road 1.2 miles to High Street, a dirt road, past the gate at 1.4 miles, bear left at 1.7 and go 0.7 miles to the parking area; the site is a 0.9 mile hike in from there. PUBLIC with a free WMNF permit, hand tools only.
Smoky quartz, amazonite
Other places on the map within a couple of hours.
