Recreational Mining Sites

Nugget detecting

This is a listing of areas open to the public where you can search for valuable minerals in the United States. Many of these locations are free of charge. Others are private mines that charge a fee and yet others are club sites that require club membership. The locations listed are places where you mine the material at the source yourself. If the material is stockpiled or otherwise collected for you the site will be listed on the Parks, Tours, & Other Attractions page.

The main goal for this section is to get on-site reviews, photos, and other first hand information from anyone that has visited these sites. If you have a review of a mining location, have a new site to suggest, or have pictures or additional comments on sites already listed here please email the webmaster@recminer.com with your information. Please indicate whether you want your contribution credited or kept anonymous. If your site has been listed here, and recreational mining IS NOT allowed, please notify the webmaster@miner.com to have it deleted.

Alaska

Bertha Creek Panning Area - In Chugach National Forest south of Anchorage.
Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Site - On Glenn Highway east of Palmer.
Chicken Gold Camp (Fee) - Gold panning, recreational mining and a real bucketline dredge at Chicken, Alaska!
Cripple River (Fee) - The GPAA operation near Nome.
Crow Creek Mine (Fee) - Near Girdwood south of Anchorage. Possibly Alaska's most popular recreational mining site.
Faith Creek Camp (Fee) - Pan and sluice for gold near Fairbanks.
Ganes Creek Gold (Fee) - World class nugget hunting locale near McGrath in Interior Alaska.
Hatcher Pass Public Use Area - Scenic recreational mining area along the Little Susitna River.
Independence Mine State Historical Park - Gold panning at historic old mine.
Hope Mining Company (Fee) - Mining at Resurrection Creek near Hope.
Moore Creek Mine (Fee) - New metal detecting, suction dredging, and highbanking operation.
Nome Beach - The famous gold beaches of Nome, Alaska.
Nome Creek - 60 miles north of Fairbanks, 4 mile stretch of creek open to hand mining methods.
Paradise Valley (Fee) - Metal detect for gold nuggets in Alaska's Brooks Range.
Petersville Recreational Mining Area - Remote but road accessible site north of Anchorage.
Sixmile Creek Panning Area - In Chugach National Forest south of Anchorage.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve - Gold pans only!
RV Tips - A trip planning guide from the State of Alaska for highway travelers.

Arizona

Lynx Creek Mineral Withdrawal Area - Gold panning and metal detecting for gold.

Arkansas

Crater of Diamonds State Park (Fee) - The largest diamond ever found in North America was found here. Maybe you can find one larger yet!
Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine (Fee) - Dig your own quartz crystal in an operational crystal mine in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains.

California

Auburn State Recreation Area - Search for gold on two forks of the American River.
Columbia State Historic Park (Fee) - Various fee panning opportunities.
Keyesville Recreational Mining Area - Pan, sluice, dredge and dry wash for gold.
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park - Gold panning along Humbug Creek.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park - Gold panning along the American River.
Plumas County - Various gold panning opportunities.
South Yuba River State Park Project - "Hands and pans" only.

Colorado

Phoenix Gold Mine (Fee) - Pan for gold at Trail Creek near Idaho Springs.

Idaho

Emerald Creek Garnet Area (Fee) - Look for rare star garnets, found in only two places on earth.

Oregon

Cow Creek Recreational Gold Panning Area - A 1,300 foot segment is withdrawn from private mining claims to offer recreational gold panning opportunities.
Medford District BLM - Gold panning and suction dredging.
Quartzville Recreational Mining Corridor - Recreational mining near Salem.
Rogue River National Forest, Applegate Ranger District - Several recreational gold panning areas.
Sharp’s Creek Recreation Area - Panning, dredging, and more.

Montana

Gold Panning at the Alta Ranch (Fee) - Pan for gold below old mining camp.
Libby Creek Recreational Gold Panning Area - Pan gold at old hydraulic gold mine.
Montana Gold Panning Trip (Fee) - We can't promise that you will get rich, but we will guarantee that you will find color (flour, flakes, and maybe even a small nugget).

North Carolina

Carolina Emerald Mine & Vein Mountain Gold Camp (Fee) - Look for gold and emeralds.
Mountain Creek Gold Mine (Fee) - Gold nuggets up to 1/2 ounce have been found here.
Sheffield Mine (Fee) - Look for rubies and sapphires!

Utah

American Fork Canyon

Australia

Doug Stone Expeditions (Fee) - Metal detect for gold in the Australia outback!
Fossicking and Gold Panning in the Northern Territory - Search for gold, gemstones, crystals and semi precious stones.
Queensland Fossicking Guide - Online book with information and maps to Queensland fossicking sites.

Canada

Eureka Gold Panning Adventures (Fee) - Gold pan in the famous Klondike gold rush country.
Free Claim #6 - This gold claim is situated “6 above Discovery Claim” on historic Bonanza Creek, in the Klondike Area. It was staked by F. Ladouceur in October, 1896, not long after the famous discovery about half a mile downstream. The Klondike Visitors Association now maintains the claim and visitors are welcome to pan for free and keep the gold that they find.
Goldbottom Mine Tour (Fee) - Pan along Gold Bottom and Hunker Creeks.
Klinker Opal Property (Fee) - Dig your own opals near Vernon, B.C.

Italy

Biella Gold Prospectors Association - Purpose is to promote and spread the hobby of panning for gold in Italy.

New Zealand

Gold Fossicking Areas - Sixteen areas have been set aside in the South Island where anyone can freely enjoy recreational gold mining without the need for a mining permit.
Where to Find Gold in New Zealand - Public fossicking areas in New Zealand.

Scotland

Scottish Gold (Fee)- The gold found will have lain untouched and unseen since time began! Panners have been finding gold here since the sixteenth century and your day will introduce you to the skills that they used.

Switzerland

The Swiss Gold Prospectors Association - Goals are the support and promotion of the gold prospecting hobby in Switzerland.