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
From Mike McLaughlin
Lincoln
County
I've have done real well at Libby Creek over the past year. With a little
work, you can find good color in the banks to the south of the parking area.
Good luck to all and may you find some color.
From Erwin Johnson
The Libby Ranger District has a panning area on Libby Creek
that is open to the public. I spent a few hours there, and did find color.
This is panning only - no sluices or rockers. There is a nice campground nearby
at Howard Lake. The lake has good fishing also (sometimes).
From Rick L. Grams
I've been prospecting the southern part of MT for about 5 years. I haven't
found any great amounts, but here are a few places that show promise:
South
of Livingston MT about 38 miles is an old mining "town" called
Old Chico. You have to drive past Chico Hot Springs to get there. I always
find 3-4 flakes
per
pan anywhere along to creek back in there. There is a gold deposit
on top of the mountain and gold from this deposit can be found on both sides
of the mountain.
I also tried the drainage that flows to West Fork of Mill
Creek, but be careful, the forest service personel gave me a hard time up Mill
Creek two years ago.
There is another great area at Confederate Gulch near Canyon
Ferry Lake, close to Helena MT, but there's lots of claims in this area.
From Michael Funk
Libby creek
has a public panning site that can be somewhat productive. I always go away
with
a little Au and am hoping to find some nuggets soon!Good luck and keep the
faith.
From No Name
East of Helena MT on East side of Canyon Ferry Lake is a place called Confederate
Gulch. Mostly patented but they don't mind recreational miners. Great camping
spots.
From Paul Fauth
I and my brother in law have been prospecting in the Little rockies in north
central Montana. This area is open to the public and is fairly accessable
for panning and highbanking. There is a motel and cabins for rent as
well as camping areas. For beginners and for more information cantact
John Calile at the Zortman Motel and Garage at (406) 673-3160. John
has claims and will take beginners and show them the basics of panning will
also accommedate
groups.
From Rick L. Grams
I've been prospecting the southern part of MT for about 5 years. I haven't
found any great amounts, but here are a few places that show promise. South
of Livingston
MT about 38 miles is an old mining "town" called OLD CHICO, you have
to drive past CHICO HOT SPRINGS to get there. I always find 3-4 flakes per
pan
anywhere along to creek back in there. There is a gold deposit on top of the
mountain and gold from this deposit can be found on both sides of the mountain.
I also tried the drainage that flows to WEST FORK of MILL CREEK, but be careful,
the forest service personel gave me a hard time up MILL CREEK two years ago.
There is another great area at CONFEDERATE GULCH by Canyon Ferry Lake, close
to Helena MT, but there's lots of claims in this area.
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