Where to find gold in Montana
Good news: there's still gold to find in Montana. We've mapped 2,275 places where gold has been recorded, all on public land open to prospecting. 1,411 of them have no active mining claim: grab your pan and go, with hand tools you don't need anyone's permission. 864 are on someone's mining claim, so ask the claim holder before you dig at those.
See all 2,275 spots on the Montana 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 Montana?
We haven't found a place in Montana set up for visitors yet, but there's still plenty to explore on your own. On the map you'll find 1,411 spots on public land with no active mining claim, where you can go with hand tools without asking anyone.
Are the gold sites in Montana under mining claims?
Some are. Every spot we map in Montana is on public land open to prospecting, but 864 of the 2,275 fall inside an active mining claim. A claim means someone holds the mineral rights there, so you need their permission to dig. The other 1,411 have no active claim: those you can work with hand tools, no permission needed.
Are there gold prospecting clubs in Montana?
We haven't listed one in Montana yet. Check back soon: we're adding clubs state by state.