Gold Prospecting in Washington: 159 Mapped Locations
Washington has 159 documented gold locations — panning creeks, placer ground, and historic districts, and the best-known are 48-55 Prospect, Aaron, and Ackerlund Prospect, Ackerlund Farm. Every location below is mapped with GPS coordinates, and 22 are on public-access land.
Top gold locations in Washington
All gold locations in Washington
- Bell and Crown — Forest Service
- Bell and Crown Prospect — Forest Service
- Billygoat — Forest Service
- Black Jack Prospect — Forest Service
- Blewett Camp — Forest Service
- Blinn — Forest Service
- Blue Bird — Forest Service
- Blue Bonnet — Forest Service
- Blue Bonnet Prospect — Forest Service
- Brooks — BLM/Public Lands
- Brooks — BLM/Public Lands
- Brush Prairie — Public Access
- Caledonia — Forest Service
- Caledonia — Forest Service
- Camas — Public Access
- Campbell — Forest Service
- Carl Sanstrom — BLM/Public Lands
- Cascade — Forest Service
- Century 21 — Forest Service
- Chewelah Consolidated — Forest Service
- Chinook — Forest Service
- Clarkston — Public Access
- Cleveland Mine — Forest Service
- Columbia River — Public Access
- Consolidated — Forest Service
- Darrington — Public Access
- Dolphin — Forest Service
- Edna R — Forest Service
- Elizabeth Gold Hill — Forest Service
- Empire Claims — BLM/Public Lands
- Eureka — Forest Service
- Eureka — Forest Service
- Ewell — Forest Service
- Family — Forest Service
- Florence Rae — Forest Service
- Forest Hope — Forest Service
- Frick Tungsten — Forest Service
- Goat Creek — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 159 — 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 Washington?
We map 159 documented gold locations in Washington — the best-known are 48-55 Prospect, Aaron, and Ackerlund Prospect, Ackerlund Farm. 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 Washington?
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 Washington 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.