Gold Prospecting in Arizona: 256 Mapped Locations
Arizona has 256 documented gold locations — panning creeks, placer ground, and historic districts, and the best-known are Abner Grp, Abril Mine, and Adits and Shaft. Every location below is mapped with GPS coordinates, and 5 are on public-access land.
Top gold locations in Arizona
All gold locations in Arizona
- Armour — BLM/Public Lands
- Arroyo — BLM/Public Lands
- Azurite Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Badger Hall Group — Forest Service
- Baltis — BLM/Public Lands
- Bannie — Forest Service
- Bay State — BLM/Public Lands
- Best Bet — BLM/Public Lands
- Best Bet Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Big Four — BLM/Public Lands
- Big Johnny - Little Johnny Claims — BLM/Public Lands
- Big Lead Mine — Forest Service
- Big Lode — BLM/Public Lands
- Big Six — Forest Service
- Big Three Group — Forest Service
- BiMetal Gold Mine — Public Access
- B-J 1-3 — BLM/Public Lands
- Black Hawk, Iron Dike, and King Gps — BLM/Public Lands
- Black Hawk Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Black Mountain — BLM/Public Lands
- Black Rock Canyon — BLM/Public Lands
- Bland — BLM/Public Lands
- Blue Knob Nos 30, 31, 32 Prospects — BLM/Public Lands
- Bonanza Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Booby & Mohawk Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Boriana — BLM/Public Lands
- Boriana Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Bouse Gold and Copper Co — BLM/Public Lands
- Bouse Gold-Copper Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Buck Haven — Forest Service
- Bullion Mine Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Burney — Forest Service
- Busted Track — BLM/Public Lands
- Buzzworm — BLM/Public Lands
- Camelback Gold and Silver — Forest Service
- Camp Creek Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Carlsbad #2 — BLM/Public Lands
- Cashier Mine — BLM/Public Lands
Showing 50 of 256 — every location appears on the map above.
How to identify gold — and how to pan for it
Real gold keeps its buttery-yellow color in sun and shade — turn the pan and it gleams steadily, while mica flashes bright then goes dark. It's soft: a knife point dents it without shattering it, and it streaks yellow on unglazed porcelain. Pyrite is the classic imposter — brassy, brittle, and it crumbles to a greenish-black powder under a blade where gold smears. Weight settles any doubt: gold is roughly 19 times denser than water and sinks straight to the bottom of the pan.
To pan, dig from the lowest material you can reach — the bottom of the gravel, on top of bedrock, inside bends and behind boulders where the current slows. Fill the pan, submerge it, break up the clay, and rake out the big rocks. Then swirl with the pan tilted away from you, letting the light gravel wash over the lip a little at a time. Gold rides at the very bottom with the black sand — when you're down to a spoonful of concentrate, swirl gently in an inch of water and watch the tail of the black sand for color.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I pan for gold in Arizona?
We map 256 documented gold locations in Arizona — the best-known are Abner Grp, Abril Mine, and Adits and Shaft. Use the map above to find panning and prospecting sites with GPS coordinates — then verify land status and any active mining claims before you dig.
Is gold panning legal in Arizona?
Recreational panning with hand tools is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal use. State lands, waterways, and motorized equipment (dredges, high-bankers) have state-specific rules — check the managing agency for the exact site. On an active mining claim, the gold belongs to the claimant.
How do I know if a spot in Arizona is already claimed?
Active mining claims are public record with the BLM. Pro members can see every active claim on our maps, colored by type — placer claims (pannable ground) in green — with claimant names, synced weekly from BLM records.
Where does gold collect in a stream?
Inside bends where the current slows, behind boulders, in bedrock cracks, and wherever black sand concentrates. Gold is ~19x denser than water — it drops out wherever the water loses energy. Sample several spots before committing to one.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Location data compiled and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. How we verify sites. Always confirm current land status, active claims, and regulations before you dig.