Alaska is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after destinations for prospectors. With stunning landscaped and rich gold deposits, taking a trip here might offer you hours of outdoors fun. At the same time, if you know where to head to, your prospecting trip can turn out pretty successful as well!
The best locations to pan gold in Alaska are Nome Creek – White Mountains Recreation Area, the Dalton Highway, Caribou Creek, Hatcher Pass Public Use Area, Petersville Recreational Mining Area, Fairbanks – El Dorado Gold Mine, Hope – Resurrection Creek, Girdwood – Crow Creek Mine, Juneau, and Bachelor Creek.
Before heading to one of the locations on the list, you should know that not all areas are suitable for all prospectors, and some legalities do apply. Read on to start planning your next prospecting trip!
Table of Contents
Why Gold Prospecting in Alaska?
Alaska has been at the pinnacle of the global gold rush for decades, but this activity is not only in the State’s past. Today, Alaska’s stunning territories and landscapes still attract thousands of prospectors each year, all fascinated by the chance of bringing home their treasure.
However, finding gold in Alaska is not among the easiest of tasks, especially as most mines have been the preferred destination for gold hunters for decades. While it is still possible to retrieve enough gold to make your trip profitable, prospectors should not assume that gold can be found anywhere on the State’s territory.
Equipment and Skills
With the large variety of day tours offered all across the State, it is possible for any novice or hobbyist just to follow an expert guide to the heart of the Alaskan tundra. Here you will be supplied with the equipment you need, and you will receive coaching during the panning process.
However, it is also possible for an expert prospector to attempt to search an area on their own, yet the legalities that we will see in the last section apply, in this case. However, not all types of prospecting equipment are allowed.
In most areas and territories, you will be able only to use:
- Gold pans
- Shovels
- Pry bars
- Picks
- Sluice boxes (only if manually operated and fed)
If you are willing to use other materials, you might need to consider applying for a permit from the local authorities before your trip. Additionally, in the only State’s Parks which are open to all recreational mining activities (Chugach and Kenai Peninsula State Parks), a prospector must limit its equipment to one pan, one shovel, and one sluice box (3 feet or 1m in length, 15in or 40cm in width).
Additionally, in national parks and preserves, you will only be allowed to use a hand-held pan for sampling, but not digging is permitted. In any case, the use of motorized equipment and chemicals is prohibited for all recreational prospectors.
Ten Best Locations for Gold Panning in Alaska
Now that you have a deeper knowledge of what is allowed and what is not on the Alaskan territories, you should check out what locations will yield better chances of finding gold on your prospecting outing.
Nome Creek in White Mountains Recreation Area
Undoubtedly one of the most scenic locations for your next prospecting trip is Nome Creek, nestled at the core of the White Mountains Recreational Area. This location is reachable with just under one hour’s drive from Fairbanks, AK.
Once there, you can expect to marvel at the beauty, scenery, and idyllic surroundings of the one-million-acre National Recreational Area. While known to be one of the major hotspots in the world for gold prospecting, the area also offers other outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, and wildlife viewing.
In summer, the main activity here is gold-panning along Nome Creek. The nearby Nome Creek roads provide several campgrounds and hiking trails. Alternatively, you could opt to use the 12 public-use log cabins sprinkled across the Recreational Area.
If you decide to start your gold prospecting trip from Nome Creek, you should know that the area boasts a vibrant history of mining and prospecting. Older mining sites such as the Maze are still visible and have somewhat changed the landscape of the site.
If you are looking for pre-defined trails to follow while gold prospecting, here are some of the best ones in the area:
- Table Top Mountain Trail
- Quartz Creek Trail
- Nome Creek valley
- Beaver Creek National Wild River
Lastly, when deciding to prospect in Nome Creek, it is crucial to keep in mind that the area is extremely remote and isolated, so prospectors should have camping and wilderness skills that can help them enjoy this experience.
The Dalton Highway
The Dalton Highway is one of the locations that are not as often taken into consideration for hobbyists’ prospecting activities. However, the road stretch is over 414 miles long (666km) and cuts through the rich Prudhoe Bay.
The highway was built during the 1970s. Today, it unravels through the rolling hills of the Yukon Forest and the Arctic Circle, reaching over through the North Slope and the Arctic Ocean. While it is not one of the most touristy areas in Alaska, you can find several public lands in which any prospector is allowed to pan for gold.
If you are planning a prospecting road trip across the Dalton Highway, it is essential to notice that you will not find cafes, malls, or service stations along the way. Since you will also not find phone service and internet connections, a little planning and preparedness are essential to attempt this length of the journey.
However, there are several camping grounds sprinkled across the stretch of road, along with rest areas and visitor centers.
Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area
Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area is located just off the Glenn Highway. Just south of the Caribou Creek, look for the signs for this recreational area and follow them along. While this location is not the richest in Alaska, it is a gold-bearing area, and therefore a visit here can result in a profitable outcome.
However, aside from having the chance of carrying a pan and shovel, this location is one of the most impressive examples of Alaskan natural beauty in the area. Therefore, you can enjoy hikes around the Creek’s trail and walks in the surrounding.
When panning for gold in the Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area, you should look for a spot where the current is not as fast as it usually is, ideally in the inside of the curvature of the Creek. Additionally, not the whole land in this area is open for recreational gold prospecting or panning.
When planning a trip here, it is essential to remember that only pedestrian traffic is allowed on the trails, which means that if you were planning to drive an ATV, you might need to find other prospecting locations. You will be able to find rest areas and service stations along the way, but you should consider the fitness level of the prospectors when attempting this steep trail.
Other activities to enjoy along the way are :
- Hiking
- Walking
- Picnicking
- Fruit picking
- Wildlife and flower viewing.
Hatcher Pass Public Use Area
The Hatcher Pass Management Area includes 300,000 acres of mountains, hills, and twirling trails. The climb to the nearby Talkeetna Mountain Range summit will take you through a steep hike, which rises over 6,000ft (1828mt) above the valley level. With several glaciers and summers, the geology of this area is ideal for gold prospectors to try their luck.
While the area is of outstanding natural beauty, it is also extremely accessible through a short 20 minutes drive from Anchorage through paved roads.
However, when deciding to set up your prospecting operations here, it is essential to keep in mind that not all the Management Area is accessible to gold hunters. Indeed, it is a mix of state and borough lands, including private terrains and properties.
Before starting to pan for gold, it is recommendable to get in touch with the local authorities to find out whether the location you had in mind to analyze is accessible for prospecting activities.
Petersville Recreational Mining Area
The Petersville Recreational Mining Area is dedicated to visitors and residents practicing their prospecting and gold mining skills. In this area, no mining claims can be filed any longer, a regulation that prevents conflicts among prospectors.
This Recreational Area is situated just off Peters Creek and accessible through Petersville Road. Some unpaved roads and steep climbs characterize this stretch of the way, but it will also offer visitors some of the views over the landscape.
In the Petersville Recreational Mining Area, every prospector is allowed to perform several activities, such as:
- Recreational gold panning
- Mineral prospecting
- Mining through portable equipment, such as pan, shovel, and earth augers
- Mining through motorized equipment such as dredges and pumps will require the prospector to demand a special permit before the operation. This permit can be acquired through a formal request to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G).
Fairbanks – El Dorado Gold Mine
Fairbanks, a locality right at the heart of central Alaska, is also one of the best-known locations for gold panning and prospecting in the State. The wild territories of this gold-bearing area also boast some of the most renowned attractions in the State. A trip to this part of Alaska is unmissable for both prospectors and non-prospectors.
In this area, you will choose several locations to conduct your prospecting activities, most of which is public land open to prospectors.
However, it is worth considering that the area is so rich in gold that many sections of the land are already claimed. You can’t freely prospect for gold in these sections, but you can sign up for one of the several tours that take place here.
Among the most famous mining areas in Fairbanks is the El Dorado Gold Mine and Gold Daughters, which offers daily tours and an overview of Alaska’s mining history.
Hope – Resurrection Creek
Located at the heart of the Kenai Peninsula, Hope is a small town of just over 200 people and a few kilometers away from Anchorage. Here, you can take part in day-long tours in one of the many gold mines in the area, such as the Indian Valley Mine.
However, if you prefer to carry out your prospecting activities alone and immersed in nature, you could opt to head to the abundant Resurrection Creek. Here you will have the chance to pan for gold at your schedule and without the need to acquire additional permits.
Hope also represents one of the easiest day-trips prospectors can undertake from Anchorage. However, with such limited time at your disposal to search for gold, you will want to know that:
- you should head toward the campsite, a quarter of a mile above the footbridge.
- Alternatively, search around the information sign, which is located along the creek bank.
Girdwood – Crow Creek Mine
This small resort town in the heart of Alaska is also home to one of the most famous gold mining hydraulic operations, Crow Creek Mine. By visiting this mine, you can learn about the mining history of the place and admire the ancient buildings and rare mining equipment.
Additionally, by taking a walk in the surroundings of this location, you will discover gardens, hiking trails, and magnificent scenery. To pan for gold, you might be required to sign up for one of the mine’s tours.
Juneau – Gold Salmon Bake Tour
If you prefer to stay within reach of the facilities that a town can offer or are on tight timeframes, the capital city of Alaska, Juneau, boasts a rich mining history. Founded by a prospector that came to look for gold, today, it offers all sorts of panning and adventure tours that are perfect for entire families to have fun outdoors.
Alternatively, you might consider the unique Gold Salmon Bake tour, which includes a traditional feast just in the style of the Southeast Alaskan rainforest.
Bachelor Creek
Bachelor Crees is another perfect location for prospectors looking at learning the art of panning or refining their skills. This locality is set at just 80 miles (128km) north of Fairbanks. If you are looking for a panning option that will not require you to acquire several permits, the whole area is open for panning, prospecting through sluice boxes, and using small dredges.
Legalities
Recreational gold mining in Alaska represents the ultimate experience for many expert prospectors and beginners alike. However, not all areas are open to gold prospecting activities.
Firstly, it is essential to understand that recreational prospecting and panning is allowed on most public territories in Alaska, yet some restrictions will apply.
However, if you are willing to prospect in an area privately owned or already claimed for mining purposes, you must obtain written permission from the owner before starting your activities. In this category also fall Alaska native villages and private corporation land.
While these might seem clear instructions at first, it is not easy to determine where it is possible and allowed to prospect on Alaskan territories. Yet, understanding whether you are allowed to conduct your activities in a specific area of land is paramount to staying within the boundaries imposed by the State’s law.
Therefore, any prospector should check the status of the land they wish to prospect for gold before starting their activities. For this step, you might need to get in touch with the federal Bureau of Land Management.
This governmental body will supply you with all the maps, information, and statistics regarding the status of a specific portion of land. Naturally, it is the prospector’s responsibility to pinpoint the location in which they will prospect.
In summary, before starting your prospecting or panning activity in a location in Alaska, you will need to find out whether the land:
- Is public
- Is open for mineral entry
- Has no legal claims
- Has specific restrictions in place of which you should be aware
- Can be prospected through all equipment
If you wish to prospect in another prospector’s claim, you will need to have his or her permission before starting. Keep in mind that it is not unlikely for these permits to be refused, so have a second location you could prospect in mind.
Ultimately, prospectors should keep in mind that some specific public and private land can be panned. The cost of this activity varies, from being free of charge to $50.
Conclusion
There is no better place than Alaska if you have been thinking about undertaking the ultimate prospecting trip. With its several gold mining locations, thousands of acres of public land, incredible scenery, this State is likely to leave an excellent impression on the whole family. However, before you decide on what part of the State to go, you should keep in mind that some locations are preferable for expert prospectors. Indeed, Nome Creek and the Dalton Highway are remorse sites that might require you to be better prepared than sign up for a tour near Juneau.