Imagine the kids laughing on the dune, Grandma testing the tide app, and your DIY sifter showering sun-lit sand until a fiery orange agate pops into view. For less than the cost of a fast-food lunch, you can build that magic right at your Loon Lake campsite—and pack it flat inside the RV or trunk when the hunt is done.
Key Takeaways
• Build a sand sifter for less than one fast-food meal using scrap wood, PVC, or a 5-gallon bucket
• Buy all parts in Reedsport or Florence—no long detour needed
• Use ¼-inch (6 mm) fiberglass mesh and stainless screws to catch agates and stop rust
• Hunt November–April, two hours before low tide; limit is 1 gallon of agates per day
• Choose your style: 12-inch wooden frame for kids, fold-up PVC ring for RV space, or bucket sifter for photo flair
• Shake side-to-side, spritz with water, and scan every 15 minutes to find more stones without back pain
• Wear boots, watch sneaker waves, pack light, and carry out any trash you uncover
• Decorate sifters for easy ID, play treasure games, and sort finds together at night
• Enjoy extras: local rock shows, rinse stations at Loon Lake, dog-friendly beaches, and RV hookups on site.
• Want a screen-free activity that beats Minecraft? Grab a drill, not a joystick.
• Need a back-friendly tool that stows beside your folding chairs? We’ve got the fold-up hack.
• Dreaming of Insta-worthy “before/after” shots of driftwood chic gear? Keep scrolling.
From kid-safe wooden frames to PVC floaters that glide over tide pools, this guide shows you how to turn scrap lumber and pool noodles into treasure-making machines, plus the exact dunes, mesh sizes, and rinse stations that put Reedsport agates in your pocket—safely, cheaply, and in time for sunset selfies. Dive in; the next sparkle could be yours.
Reedsport-Area Agates: Small Stones, Big Thrill
Winter swells churn up fresh gravel bars, which makes November through April prime hunting season along the central coast. Aim to arrive two hours before the predicted low tide so you can work the newly exposed swash zone while the sun rises at your back and glare stays low. Check the surf forecast, keep one eye on sneaker waves, and print the collection limits page from the Official rockhounding guide so every member of your crew stays within the one-gallon daily rule.
Start at Bailey Beach for broad, gently sloped sand that’s stroller-friendly, then hop north to Big Creek’s pocket coves where darker basalt shingle concentrates heavier stones. If storms just passed, head a bit farther to Carl Washburne State Park and work the coarse line parallel to the bluff—fresh carnelian chunks often gleam there like lit coals. Forgot mesh or screws? Swing by Reedsport’s Ace Hardware or meet members of the Local geology club during their Saturday outreach; they love sharing tip-offs about newly exposed “pay streaks.”
Turn Treasure Hunting Into Memories
Gamify the search to keep every age engaged: award points for the first translucent agate, the weirdest fossil imprint, or the prettiest jasper swirl. Younger kids can bury “dummy” glass gems near the towel line and race timers to see who sifts them up first, giving them instant wins before tackling real gravel. Adults chasing Instagram gold can stage a time-lapse of the side-to-side shake, then mist the tray so color erupts on cue—all the makings of a scrolling-stopper reel.
Back at camp, turn a folding table into an impromptu lapidary lab by sorting finds under lantern light and voting on “stone of the day.” Rinse gear at the marina hose, line treasures on a labeled cookie sheet, and let Grandma jot stories in a field notebook so each gem has provenance. Round out the trip by penciling in January’s Yachats festival site on your calendar; seeing professional cutters transform beach pebbles into museum-ready cabochons will fire up the whole family to return next season and level up their haul.
Ready to trade screen glow for agate sparkle? Pack your homemade sifter, follow the tide, and let Loon Lake be your launchpad for every shake, rinse, and victory cheer. Our lakeside cabins, full-hookup RV sites, and cozy tent pads put you within an easy dawn drive of Reedsport’s best beaches—and back home in time for sunset campfires. Reserve your escapation basecamp at Loon Lake Lodge & RV Resort today, and turn those pocketfuls of Oregon treasure into lifelong family legends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the sifters be safe for little hands?
A: Absolutely—choose smooth cedar or sanded pine, pre-drill screw holes to prevent splitting, be sure all staples sit flush or are covered with a strip of duct tape, and finish the frame with a non-toxic sealer so even the youngest treasure-hunters can shake away without splinters or pinches.
Q: What mesh size works best for Oregon agates?
A: A quarter-inch (about six millimeters) mesh is the sweet spot; it’s tight enough to catch thumbnail-sized carnelians yet open enough to let lighter shell fragments fall through, saving you from sorting every pebble by hand.
Q: How much will a DIY sifter cost if I grab supplies near the resort?
A: Picking up one-by-three cedar, stainless screws, and a roll of fiberglass screen at Reedsport’s Ace Hardware usually runs $12-$15 per wooden frame, while a PVC float version with pool noodles lands around $18, keeping the project cheaper than a family pizza night.
Q: Can I build a collapsible version that fits my RV storage bay?
A: Yes—use ¾-inch schedule-40 PVC joined with wing-nut couplers; when unscrewed, the ring folds into a flat half-moon that tucks beside camp chairs or under the bed without hogging prime cargo real estate.
Q: Where exactly on the dunes or beach should we try our new sifters?
A: Bailey Beach, Big Creek Beach, and the low-tide line at Carl Washburne State Park all expose fresh gravel bars after storms; start two hours before low tide, work parallel to the water, and you’ll stay ahead of shifting sand while hitting the agate-rich “pay streak.”
Q: Are there spots to rinse agates and sandy gear back at Loon Lake Lodge?
A: The fish-cleaning station by the marina has a hose spigot perfect for sluicing stones and washing mesh; just swish bigger gravel in a bucket first so you don’t clog the drain, then let gear air-dry on the dock rails.
Q: Do we need to pay any day-use or parking fees for a quick beach hunt?
A: Guests staying at Loon Lake Lodge and RV Resort pay no extra day-use fee on site, while county beaches like Bailey and Big Creek are free but Washburne State Park asks for a standard Oregon State Parks parking pass, available at the kiosk for $5.
Q: Are dogs welcome while we hunt and sift?
A: Leashed pups are allowed at all three recommended beaches and around the dunes; remember water for them, keep paws clear of sharp basalt ledges, and give them a rinse at the lodge’s hose before they dive onto your RV cushions.
Q: What if our group wants to build multiple sifters for a scout or classroom project?
A: Pre-cutting the wood and mesh turns the process into a quick assembly line, so a team of two adults can supervise 10–12 kids and finish that many sifters in about 90 minutes, with bulk lumber and screen for the batch running roughly $90 total.
Q: Any tips for older rockhounds with limited mobility on shifting sand?
A: Big Creek’s gentle slope and nearby paved pull-out minimize trudging, and a lightweight PVC float sifter tows along the shallow swash zone so you can stand upright and shake instead of hunching over a shovel.
Q: Which local stores carry the parts if I forgot something?
A: Ace Hardware in Reedsport stocks cedar, screws, and mesh, Les Schwab often has free inner-tube strips for flotation, and McKay’s Do-it Center in Florence carries pool noodles plus PVC; all sit within a scenic 45-minute loop of the lodge.
Q: Can we stain or paint the sifter for an Instagram-worthy look?
A: Definitely—waterproof acrylics in bright hues help kids spot their gear, while a quick graywash stain and jute-wrapped handles give couples that rustic-chic vibe that pops in sunset photos without harming the mesh.
Q: What are Oregon’s legal limits on taking agates?
A: State rockhounding rules allow you to collect up to one gallon of agates per person per day and three gallons per year, so bring a marked container, stay within the limit, and you’ll head home legal and loaded with sparkle.
Q: Does Loon Lake offer dump stations and full-hookup sites for our RV?
A: Yes—the resort’s central dump station and multiple full-hookup pads with 30/50-amp service mean you can empty tanks, recharge gadgets, and still have room to store a pile of freshly washed agates.
Q: How long does it take to build a basic wooden sifter?
A: From first cut to final coat of sealer, a single 12-inch wooden frame takes about 25-30 minutes of hands-on time, making it an easy morning project before you hit the dunes in the afternoon.