🪨 Gold
Native gold nuggets, flakes, and dust found in streams and ancient riverbeds. Popular states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Arizona, and Georgia for recreational gold panning.
Best Places to Find Gold
Gold Basin
Kingman, Arizona · BLM Land
BLM gold prospecting area. Known for fine gold deposits. Popular area for metal detecting and gold panning.
Lynn Creek
Lake Havasu City, Arizona · BLM Land
BLM placer gold area. Recreational gold panning in washes and dry gulches. Seasonal access depending on weather.
Gold Bug Mine
Tarryall, Colorado · Fee Dig
Historic gold mining area turned fee-dig operation. Pan for gold and explore the old mine workings in the beautiful Tarryall Valley.
Fairplay Gold Panning
Fairplay, Colorado · Public Land
Historic gold panning area in South Park. Several creeks and placer claims open to recreational gold panning.
Garnet Ghost Town Gold
Garnet, Montana · BLM Land
Ghost town area with gold panning and garnet collecting in streams. Historic mining district open to recreational prospecting.
Alabama Gold Panning (Clear Creek)
Wedowee, Alabama · Public Land
Recreational gold panning in the Clear Creek area. Alabama's gold belt was historically productive. Pan in streams on public lands.
Alaska Gold Panning (Nome Area)
Nome, Alaska · Public Land
Historic gold beaches of Nome. Recreational gold panning on public beaches. Gold, garnets, and occasional jade.
Dahlonega Gold Panning
Dahlonega, Georgia · Fee Dig
Site of America's first major gold rush (1828). Several fee-panning operations in the area. The Dahlonega Gold Museum tells the story.
Homestake Gold Mine Area
Lead, South Dakota · Public Land
Historic Homestake Mine area for recreational gold panning in nearby creeks. The Sanford Lab tour is worth visiting.
Cosby Creek Gold Panning
Cosby, Tennessee · USFS Land
Great Smoky Mountains National Forest creeks for recreational gold panning. The area was historically mined for gold in the 1800s.
Hog Mountain
Alexander City, Alabama · Fee Dig
Historic gold mining area NE of Alexander City in Tallapoosa County. Known for gold, pyrite, galena, and other sulfide minerals. Old mines and prospec...