Where to find gold in Alaska
Good news: there's still gold to find in Alaska. We've mapped 3,366 places where gold has been recorded, all on public land open to prospecting. 2,388 of them have no active mining claim: grab your pan and go, with hand tools you don't need anyone's permission. 978 are on someone's mining claim, so ask the claim holder before you dig at those.
See all 3,366 spots on the Alaska map
How to read the map
- Green: public land, no active claim. Go ahead with your pan and hand tools, no permission needed.
- Yellow: public land with an active mining claim. Ask the claim holder before you dig.
Many recorded sites are old mines. Shafts, tunnels and bad air can kill: never go inside. Prospect in the creek and on the surface, and use common sense out there. See our terms.
Questions we often get
Where can I go gold prospecting in Alaska?
We haven't found a place in Alaska set up for visitors yet, but there's still plenty to explore on your own. In Alaska, stick to the public areas set aside for recreational gold prospecting: almost everything outside them is somebody's claim.
Are the gold sites in Alaska under mining claims?
Some are. Every spot we map in Alaska is on public land open to prospecting, but 978 of the 3,366 fall inside an active mining claim. A claim means someone holds the mineral rights there, so you need their permission to dig. The other 2,388 have no active claim: those you can work with hand tools, no permission needed.
Are there gold prospecting clubs in Alaska?
We haven't listed one in Alaska yet. Check back soon: we're adding clubs state by state.