Where to find gold in California
Good news: there's still gold to find in California. We've mapped 6,164 places where gold has been recorded, all on public land open to prospecting. 3,709 of them have no active mining claim: grab your pan and go, with hand tools you don't need anyone's permission. 2,455 are on someone's mining claim, so ask the claim holder before you dig at those.
See all 6,164 spots on the California 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 California?
We haven't found a place in California set up for visitors yet, but there's still plenty to explore on your own. On the map you'll find 3,709 spots on public land with no active mining claim, where you can go with hand tools without asking anyone.
Are the gold sites in California under mining claims?
Some are. Every spot we map in California is on public land open to prospecting, but 2,455 of the 6,164 fall inside an active mining claim. A claim means someone holds the mineral rights there, so you need their permission to dig. The other 3,709 have no active claim: those you can work with hand tools, no permission needed.
Are there gold prospecting clubs in California?
We haven't listed one in California yet. Check back soon: we're adding clubs state by state.