Gold Prospecting in Wyoming: 76 Mapped Locations
Wyoming has 76 documented gold locations — panning creeks, placer ground, and historic districts, and the best-known are Albany Mine, Annie Mine, and Atlantic City. Every location below is mapped with GPS coordinates, and 6 are on public-access land.
Top gold locations in Wyoming
All gold locations in Wyoming
- Centennial Mine — Forest Service
- Centennial Ridge District — Forest Service
- Cliff Mine — Forest Service
- Colorado Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Columbine Mine — Forest Service
- Copper Chief Gold Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Copper Prince Mine — Public Access
- Cuprite Mine — Forest Service
- Davis Claim (placer) — Forest Service
- Diana Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Douglas Creek Placer Mining District — Forest Service
- Douglas Mine — Forest Service
- Dreamland King Group — Forest Service
- Duchess Mine — Forest Service
- East Fork, Big Goose Creek Mine — Forest Service
- Elk Creek — Forest Service
- Empire Mine — Forest Service
- Encampment District — Forest Service
- Fall Creek Placer — Forest Service
- Free Gold Claim — Forest Service
- Gertrude — Forest Service
- Gold Coin Prospect — Forest Service
- Gold Crater Mine — Forest Service
- Golden Crown Mining Syndicate — Forest Service
- Gros Ventre Nos. 1-16 Group — Forest Service
- Hidden Treasure Mine — Forest Service
- Hoodoo Claim — Forest Service
- Independence Mine — Forest Service
- Independence Placer — Forest Service
- Island City Group Prospect — Forest Service
- Jelm Mountain District — BLM/Public Lands
- Junk Creek Prospects — BLM/Public Lands
- Kansas Group Mine — Forest Service
- Kentucky Derby Mine — Forest Service
- Keystone Mining District — Forest Service
- King Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Kirwin Mine — Public Access
- Kurtz-Chatterton Mine — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 76 — 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 Wyoming?
We map 76 documented gold locations in Wyoming — the best-known are Albany Mine, Annie Mine, and Atlantic City. 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 Wyoming?
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 Wyoming 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.