WELCOME TO FONDA MOUNTAIN

Experience Herkimer Diamond Mining

There’s nothing quite like finding a Herkimer Diamond yourself. At Fonda Mountain, you’ll experience the excitement, beauty and adventure of real mining firsthand.

Dig. Discover. Experience Fonda Mountain.

Spend the day getting your hands dirty, uncovering incredible Herkimer Diamonds and experiencing the excitement of real mining from the ground up.

Miner digging for Herkimer diamonds at Fonda Mountain

Dig Into Fonda Mountain

Get hands-on and experience the excitement of mining for remarkable Herkimer Diamonds yourself.

Family digging for Herkimer diamonds at Fonda Mountain

Discover Something Extraordinary

Search for incredible Herkimer Diamonds and experience the thrill of uncovering crystals hidden underground.

Discovering Herkimer diamond crystals at Fonda Mountain

Experience Something Truly Unique

Spend the day immersed in an authentic mining adventure unlike anything you’ll experience anywhere else.

A New Mountain. Extraordinary Discoveries.

Fonda Mountain may be new, but it’s already making waves in the Herkimer Diamond community. Bringing together passionate people with decades of knowledge and experience, the mountain is producing remarkable crystals and quickly earning a reputation as an exciting new destination for Herkimer Diamond mining.

Digger with silver hair sitting in a dig hole holding a small crystal, with a red bucket behind her

Glassy Herkimer diamond with sharp faceted points against a blue-gray background

Three members of the Fonda Mountain team taking a selfie in front of an excavator

Hand holding a large smoky Herkimer diamond with stepped faces in front of a flower garden

Woman and teenage boy in work gloves smiling from a freshly dug hole in the woods

Close-up of a smoky Herkimer diamond with stepped, terraced faces held up against the sky

View from the seat of a small excavator digging into red-brown ground at Fonda Mountain

Sunlight streaming through tall trees in the woods around Fonda Mountain

Large golden-brown Herkimer diamond cluster held in a hand

Come Dig with Liz of Herkimer Diamonds

Known throughout the Herkimer Diamond community, Liz brings years of hands-on mining experience and a passion for sharing what she knows. At Fonda Mountain, you’ll have the opportunity to dig alongside Liz, learn how to read the ground, work crystal pockets and discover what makes Herkimer Diamond mining so addictive.

Mining Experience Pricing

Bring the whole family and spend the day together digging, exploring and discovering Herkimer Diamonds at Fonda Mountain. It’s a hands-on adventure everyone can be part of.

Adults

Spend the day digging, exploring and experiencing Herkimer Diamond mining firsthand at Fonda Mountain.

Ages 17 & Up
$120

Young Miners

Young miners can spend the day digging, exploring and experiencing Herkimer Diamond mining firsthand.

Ages 11–16
$60

Little Miners

Little miners can join the adventure, dig alongside their family and experience Fonda Mountain firsthand.

Ages 10 & Under
FREE

Gift Certificates

Give the Gift of a Dig

Treat someone to a Herkimer diamond dig at Fonda Mountain. A Fonda Mountain gift certificate is the perfect gift for rockhounds, families and anyone who loves a day outdoors. It can be used toward any future booking and never expires.

Buy a Gift Certificate

Planning Your Visit

Planning your visit to Fonda Mountain? Here are answers to a few common questions to help you prepare. If you have any additional questions, feel free to call or email us.

What are Herkimer Diamonds?

Herkimer Diamonds are naturally formed, double-terminated quartz crystals known for their exceptional clarity and distinctive shape. Despite the name, they aren’t actual diamonds, but they are prized by collectors around the world.

What should I bring for my dig?

Bring a shovel, pickaxe, pry bar, hammer, chisel, screwdriver, root clippers, gloves and safety glasses. We also recommend packing a lunch and plenty of water for the day.

How long is the mining experience?

Your Fonda Mountain mining experience is a full-day adventure, giving you plenty of time to dig, explore and search for your own Herkimer Diamonds.

Can children participate?

Absolutely. Fonda Mountain is a hands-on experience for families. Children ages 11–16 are $60, children 10 and under are free, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

What happens if I need to reschedule?

All bookings are non-refundable, but if you can’t make your scheduled dig, you can reschedule for another available date.

News from the Mountain

Blog

Discover Fonda Mountain: A Unique Herkimer Diamond Digging Experience in New York

October 27, 2026•No Comments•

Looking for a place to dig for your own Herkimer diamonds in New York? Fonda Mountain is a crystal-digging destination in Fonda, New York, where every visitor can find and keep their own treasures.

Smiling woman with gray hair and glasses sitting in a dig pit holding a crystal

Blog

How to Find More Herkimer Diamonds: Tips for Your Dig Day

October 21, 2026•No Comments•

Some diggers seem to have a knack for it. They kneel down, scrape for a few minutes and come up …

Close-up of a smoky Herkimer diamond with glassy faces and rainbow reflections against a blue-gray background

Blog

What Are Herkimer Diamonds? Types and Features Diggers Find

October 21, 2026•No Comments•

Ask anyone who has spent a day digging in the Mohawk Valley and they’ll tell you: the first time you …

Experience Herkimer Diamond Mining

Dig. Discover. Experience Fonda Mountain.

Dig Into Fonda Mountain

Discover Something Extraordinary

Experience Something Truly Unique

A New Mountain. Extraordinary Discoveries.

Come Dig with Liz of Herkimer Diamonds

Mining Experience Pricing

Adults

Young Miners

Little Miners

Give the Gift of a Dig

Planning Your Visit

News from the Mountain

Discover Fonda Mountain: A Unique Herkimer Diamond Digging Experience in New York

How to Find More Herkimer Diamonds: Tips for Your Dig Day

What Are Herkimer Diamonds? Types and Features Diggers Find

Have questions? Get in touch!