Where to find gold — legally. Plain, data-backed guides to prospecting in the United States: where the gold is by state, how mining claims work, and how to know whether the ground under your feet is open. Free, like the rest of AdAurum.
California
Where to Prospect for Gold in California (Legally) California's Mother Lode still holds gold. Here's where you can legally pan and prospect — the famous rivers, public lands, recreational areas, and how to check claims first.
Read guide Nevada
Where to Prospect for Gold in Nevada (Legally) Nevada is the richest gold state in the U.S. and mostly public land. Learn where to legally prospect — famous nugget-detecting districts, dry placer areas, and what 'open' BLM land really means.
Read guide Arizona
Where to Prospect for Gold in Arizona (Legally) Arizona is a top state for nugget detecting and dry washing, with a free public recreational panning area. Here's where to legally prospect, plus gear and claim tips for the desert.
Read guide How-to
How to Read a BLM Mining Claim Confused about mining claims? Learn placer vs lode claims, how to spot claim markers in the field, how to check claim status in BLM records, and how to tell if public land is open to prospecting.
Read guide Colorado
Where to Prospect for Gold in Colorado (Legally) Colorado's high country still gives up placer and lode gold. Here's where you can legally pan and prospect — the famous rivers and mining districts, public recreational areas, and how to check claims first.
Read guide Idaho
Where to Prospect for Gold in Idaho (Legally) Idaho is full of public land and historic placer ground. Here's where to legally prospect — the Boise Basin, the Salmon River country, famous gold creeks, and how to check claims and dredge rules first.
Read guide Oregon
Where to Prospect for Gold in Oregon (Legally) Oregon has two great gold regions — the southwest around the Rogue and the eastern Blue Mountains. Here's where to legally prospect, plus the state's strict dredging rules and how to check claims.
Read guide Montana
Where to Prospect for Gold in Montana (Legally) Montana's gold gulches built the state. Here's where to legally prospect — Last Chance Gulch, Alder Gulch, the famous rivers, plus where beginners can pan and how to check claims first.
Read guide Washington
Where to Prospect for Gold in Washington (Legally) Washington's central Cascades hold real placer and crystalline gold. Here's where to legally prospect — the Liberty and Swauk districts, famous creeks, and how to handle the state's strict dredge rules.
Read guide Georgia
Where to Prospect for Gold in Georgia (Legally) Georgia hosted America's first major gold rush at Dahlonega, and the gold is still there. Here's where to legally prospect in the Southeast — fee-dig mines, public creeks, and how private land changes the game.
Read guide How-to
How to Pan for Gold (Step by Step) New to gold panning? Learn the gear you need, how to find gold-bearing gravel, and a simple step-by-step panning technique that gets color in your pan — plus how to find legal ground to try it.
Read guide 