Alaska has more public places to pan for gold than any other state. The Chugach National Forest on the Kenai Peninsula, state recreational mining areas north of Anchorage and BLM land in the Interior all set aside creeks where anyone can pan, and fee mines such as Crow Creek let beginners try with guidance.
| Best free places | Resurrection, Sixmile, Bertha and Crescent creeks (Chugach NF); Petersville and Caribou Creek; Jack Wade Creek (BLM) |
|---|---|
| Fee mine | Crow Creek Mine near Girdwood |
| Equipment | Pans, hand tools and hand-fed sluices on the Chugach |
| Best season | June to September |
| Not allowed | Panning on mining claims; hydraulic or earth-moving equipment; most national park units |
Kenai Peninsula: Chugach National Forest
The Forest Service and BLM guide to recreational gold panning on the Kenai lists public panning reaches on Resurrection Creek near Hope, Sixmile Creek, Bertha Creek and Crescent Creek. Pans and hand-fed sluice boxes are allowed; hydraulic mining and earth-moving equipment are not. Respect active mining claims, which are marked on the forest’s maps.
State recreational mining areas
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources manages recreational mining areas where light portable equipment is allowed without a claim, including the Petersville Recreational Mining Area, Caribou Creek off the Glenn Highway and Hatcher Pass.
Interior and BLM land
BLM manages Jack Wade Creek in the Fortymile country, and the Nome Creek Valley in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, where vehicle access near some gravel pits is currently restricted.
Fee mines
Crow Creek Mine near Girdwood offers panning in a historic gold camp, with gear and instruction.
When to go
June to September, when creeks are free of ice. Spring runoff is high and fast; late summer brings lower water and easier panning.
Rules to know
- National parks and preserves allow little or no panning; check each unit.
- Some state parks allow panning only for short periods.
- Never pan on someone else’s mining claim.
Questions
Where can you pan for gold for free in Alaska?
At public panning areas on Resurrection, Sixmile, Bertha and Crescent creeks in the Chugach National Forest, state recreational mining areas such as Petersville and Caribou Creek, and BLM sites such as Jack Wade Creek.
What equipment is allowed for recreational gold panning in Alaska?
On the Chugach National Forest, gold pans, hand tools and hand-fed sluice boxes. Hydraulic mining and earth-moving equipment are not allowed.
When is gold panning season in Alaska?
Roughly June through September, when creeks are ice-free.
Back to the Alaska rockhounding guide · Rules by land type
Official sources
- BLM Alaska State Office: casual-use panning rules, mining claims and closures on BLM land.
- Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys: placer and lode gold reports for Alaska.
- USGS Mineral Resources Data System: historical gold mines and placer records.