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You\u2019re not alone, people have been chasing gold, digging for diamond<\/a> and gemstones for hundreds of years in rivers, streams, mountains, mines, and wherever else they saw signs of those little shiny gold nuggets.<\/p>\n So much so that gold prospecting still attracts thousands each year, and the U.S. Forest Service<\/a> even provides public guidelines for recreational gold panning on federal lands.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re looking for a fun outdoor hobby or hoping to strike it rich by finding and selling gold<\/a>, gold panning is an exciting way to explore nature and potentially make some money.<\/p>\n In this guide, I\u2019ll share the top spots in the U.S. where you can pan for gold and a few tips to increase your chances of finding it.<\/p>\n If you are one of those affected by the \u201cFever\u201d, here are some of the best places you can still pan for gold<\/a> in the U.S.<\/p>\n The Alta Ranch is a beautiful place about 4 hours south of Glacier National Park. It is the ultimate place for gold prospecting.<\/p>\n According to the site, around the turn of the last century, Alta was a thriving little gold mining town with about 500 residents.<\/p>\n Although the town doesn\u2019t officially exist anymore, you can still hunt for gold in the active placer gold mine a few miles upstream of the Alta Ranch.<\/p>\n You can rent a cabin if you like to stay a few days. And besides gold panning, there are also lots of other activities you can do.<\/p>\n Here are some of the activities you can enjoy, according to the site:<\/p>\n This makes for an excellent family vacation.<\/p>\n And who knows, maybe you\u2019ll find enough gold to pay for your whole vacation.<\/p>\n Aside from skiing, Colorado is also a good place for finding something of value.<\/p>\n Goldstrike Colorado Gold Adventures\u00a0offers planned guided field trips with all the trimmings. These trips guarantee that you can find something during your adventure.<\/p>\n There are quite a number of scenic, historic locations for your trip which will allow you to keep what you\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n These guided tours can cost $100 per day for adults, $75 for half a day visits for adults, $50 for children below 14 years of age. You can book trips all year round.<\/p>\n Wanna see Mount Rushmore and pan for gold at the same time?<\/p>\n Then you wanna go to South Dakota!<\/p>\n Although the gold rush of South Dakota\u2019s Black Hills started in 1876 when deposits were discovered in Deadwood creek, the Big Thunder gold mine was discovered about 19 years later in 1892.<\/p>\n The two men credited with discovering it were W.B. Krupp and J.A. Engle., two German immigrant miners, who originally named it Gold Hill Lode.<\/p>\n Most parts of the Black Hills are covered as public land, and panning in this area is open to anyone who wants to explore its waters.<\/p>\n How much will it cost?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, it depends on where you want to go panning.<\/p>\n You can either rent or bring your own panning equipment.<\/p>\n You can find out more by visiting their official website.<\/p>\n Aside from looking at unbelievable scenery and wildlife when in Alaska, you might also want to take a shot at panning for gold.<\/p>\n And the Crow Creek Gold Mine makes this extremely easy and fun.<\/p>\n They were even featured in an episode of the \u201cAmerica\u2019s Toughest Jobs\u201d show.<\/p>\n They offer different packets for families, individuals, groups, etc.<\/p>\n The rate varies.<\/p>\n For example, if you want to pan the creek, it costs $10 for children aged seven and under, $15 for seniors, and all others will need to pay $20 per day.<\/p>\n While walking along Little Meadow Creek in 1799, Conrad Reed saw something gleaming in the water.<\/p>\n It was a shiny, gold substance that turned out to be a 17-pound gold nugget.<\/p>\n This event was recorded as the first authentic gold claim in the United States.<\/p>\n And you know the best part?<\/p>\n You can still find gold there!<\/p>\n There is no admission fee, however, you do have to pay to pan for gold.<\/p>\n The fee for panning is $3 plus taxes per person. They do offer group rates as well.<\/p>\n Gold panning is permitted from 9 am to 4 pm.<\/p>\n And according to the site, the gold panning season starts on April 1st and ends on October 31.<\/p>\n The mine is about 20 miles outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/p>\n If you like to find other valuable materials while hunting for gold, the Alabama Gold Camp is one of the best places for camping<\/a> and finding gold.<\/p>\n You pay a flat fee of $5 (children under 11 get for free), and that allows you to pan and sluice for gold.<\/p>\n Prospectors have reported finding garnet, citrine, and even fossils besides gold.<\/p>\n They also offer \u201ccamping\u201d packages.<\/p>\n Camping rates start with $5 a day for \u201cprimitive\u201d camping and go all the way to $30 per day for RV hookups.<\/p>\n Choosing where to pan for gold in California is a common problem. The place is just brimming with gold mining history<\/a> and extraordinary finds.<\/p>\n Sutter\u2019s claim is more known, but you may want to consider going south to Jamestown, CA. which isn\u2019t that far from Yosemite National Park.<\/p>\n They offer a few different guided panning tours. And as you can imagine, prices differ.<\/p>\n A 5-hour excursion costs $25 or $50 if you are to include the rent of equipment.<\/p>\n For an inexperienced family, instruction, equipment along with a 5-hour excursion will cost $160.<\/p>\n The Appalachian region of North Georgia was the site of an American gold rush back in 1928.<\/p>\n Hunting for gold on this land has been going on for almost 200 years already.<\/p>\n The good news is there is still gold to be found there.<\/p>\n One of the best places to do that is the Consolidated Gold Mine.<\/p>\n They offer two different rates:<\/p>\n Believe it or not, there are places where you can pan for gold and other valuable minerals for free.<\/p>\n These are usually public parks and designated lands as well as old and abandoned mines.<\/p>\n There are free gold mining places in almost every state in the United States as well as in many other countries.<\/p>\n To find a list of free places to pan for gold (both in America and a few other countries) check out the Public Mining Sites List<\/a> on DetectorProspector.com. Keep in mind that their list also contains places that aren\u2019t free but you can find out by visiting the sites they linked to.<\/p>\n Panning for gold in a land not owned by you is a serious business and it has a lot of rules and regulations you need to abide by.<\/p>\n
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\n\n<\/div>\nWhere Can I Go Gold Panning?<\/h2>\n
1. Alta Ranch, MT<\/h3>\n
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2. Colorado Gold Adventures, CO<\/h3>\n
3. Big Thunder Gold Mine, SD<\/h3>\n
4. Crow Creek, AK<\/h3>\n
5. Reed Gold Mine, NC<\/h3>\n
6. Alabama Gold Camp, AL<\/h3>\n
7. Jamestown, CA<\/h3>\n
8. Consolidated Gold Mine, GA<\/h3>\n
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Where Can I Pan for Gold for Free?<\/h2>\n