Idaho Gold Locations

The places listed below are user submitted gold prospecting locations. Things change over time - these places may or may not still be open. Be sure to fill your holes, pick up your trash and don't trespass. We are losing good spots all the time.

We really need more info on this state! If you know of any other prospecting locations in this or surrounding areas, please fill out this form. What we need here are fairly specific places like "downstream from where Highway 20 crosses Dry Creek". There are lots of books that say something like "The gold belt runs through ABC & XYZ Counties" or "Gold has been found in ABC River and some of its tributaries". That really doesn't say much about where YOU can find gold, private property issues or Forest Circus rules etc. Please use this form only for suggesting fairly specific places to be added to this page where new prospectors or folks visiting from other areas have a good chance of finding gold. Thank you

Name: Email:

State:County: 

Fairly specfic place where folks can find gold:

From Jan Harkness
There are 40 miles of the S. Payette River in Idaho that are "open" for panning. It is also open for dredging with the proper permits from NFS and Idaho authorities. I don't think there is need of a permit if you are just panning. I do know that no highbanking is allowed. Anyone wanting to do a lot of panning or dredging should check in with the Boisie NF Ranger Station at Lowman, Idaho. They are most helpful. Happy Hunting!

From Dean Twitchell
Try the Yankee Fork off the Salmon river near Stanley, Idaho. Ihave found very light color in some tributaries on south bank of Snake River above American Falls..Another would be in Butte County along Little Lost River. Also in idaho, (southern & eastern part) I have found no nuggets, only flakes.Sincerely and Happy Trails.

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