Where to Find Gold in a River

Gold is not spread evenly through a river. It collects in certain spots and skips others. The good news is that the rule behind every good spot is simple. This guide explains that rule, the places it points to, the signs worth looking for, and the rules about where you are allowed to dig. This Field Guide is written with Randy DeNucci, who has panned California creeks since he was 13, more than 55 years.

Why does gold collect in some spots and not others?

Because gold is so heavy that it drops out the moment the water slows down. Fast water can carry gold along. Wherever the current loses speed, the gold falls out first and the lighter sand and gravel keep moving. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management put it this way in their guide to recreational gold panning: the best places are where rough, fast water turns into slower water.

High water does the rest. The U.S. Geological Survey explains that during floods the whole bed of the stream, sand, gravel and boulders alike, gets stirred up, and gold sinks down through it. That is why gold in a stream is often found on or near bedrock, and why a band of richer gravel, called a pay streak, often lies close to the bottom.

Where should you look for gold in a river?

Read the river for places where the water slows. These are the spots official guides point to again and again.

The inside of bends

When a river curves, the water on the outside of the bend runs fast and the water on the inside slows down. Gravel and gold drop out on the inside, building a gravel bar. Oregon's state geologists call these point bars and list them among the best gold traps.

The upstream end of gravel bars

The head of a gravel bar, the end that faces upstream, is where heavy material drops first. The Forest Service and BLM note that fine gold collects there and is renewed every year by spring runoff. Oregon's state geologists add that heavy sands settle at the upstream end of bars along with the pebbles.

The downstream side of boulders

A big boulder makes a pocket of calm water right behind it, in the little eddy on its downstream side. Gold and black sand drop into that pocket. Check under and around large rocks.

Below rapids, falls and in deep pools

Water that has just rushed over rapids or a small fall loses speed as it spreads into the pool below. Gold settles where it slows. Deep pools are worth a look for the same reason, though they are often hard to reach.

Cracks in bedrock

Where bedrock shows through the streambed, its cracks and hollows work like the riffles in a sluice, trapping gold as it moves. The Forest Service and BLM suggest scooping out and panning the material from these spots. Our guide to crevicing for gold covers working them.

Not every crack is worth the effort. Oregon's state geologists warn that where a stream runs over smooth bedrock, high water tends to scour the potholes and cracks clean. The exception is a pothole jammed with boulders, where the sand packed between them can be very good.

Clay layers

Gold does not always make it all the way to bedrock. A hard layer of clay within the gravel can stop it partway down. Panners call this false bedrock, and the Forest Service describes Alaska creeks where gold sits on clay as well as on bedrock.

Old high-water deposits

As rivers cut down over time, they can leave old gravel deposits stranded above the present stream, called bench placers. These can hold gold, but they sit in banks and hillsides, and many land managers do not allow digging into banks. Digging into a bench may be against the rules where you are, so check before you dig anywhere above the waterline.

What are the signs of gold in a river?

There is no sure sign, but a few clues are worth following. The best one is history. California's state geologists say your best chance of finding gold is in areas already known to have produced it, and Oregon's state geologists give the same advice: go where gold has been found before.

Black sand is another clue. It is heavy like gold and settles in the same places, which is why the USGS says prospectors look for gold where black sand has gathered. It is a good sign that you are in the right kind of spot, but not a promise of gold. Our guide to gold in black sand explains what it does and does not tell you.

Exposed bedrock and clay layers are the third clue, since that is where gold tends to stop.

When is the best time to look?

When the water is low. Low water exposes more of the gravel bars and bedrock, and makes them easier to reach. The Forest Service and BLM guide, written for Alaska, names spring, early summer and just before freeze up there. Oregon's state geologists note that in summer, when streams are low, sampling is easy, but when a stream runs bank full there is little you can do besides dig out the sand between boulders along the edge.

Can you pan for gold in any river?

No. Whether you can pan depends on who owns or manages the land, not on the river. The Bureau of Land Management's guide Can I Keep This? says you may prospect for gold with hand tools such as pans on most BLM land, but gold found on a mining claim belongs to the claim holder. Claims are not always marked, so check the BLM's online claim records before you start.

Rules also differ by place. California banned suction dredging, but its Department of Fish and Wildlife says the ban does not apply to panning or other non-motorized recreational mining. National Forests in North Carolina are stricter than most: stream banks may not be disturbed, you work only in the streambed with a pan edge or small trowel, and every hole must be filled right away. Our gold panning page covers BLM land, national forests, parks and private land in more detail.

How do you work a river safely and leave it in good shape?

Dig only in the loose, open gravel of the active stream, never into the banks. Cut banks can collapse without warning. Put boulders back where they were, fill your holes, and try not to send mud downstream. River water is often cold, so wear insulated boots and gloves. In dry country, watch the sky, since a flash flood can fill a dry wash fast. Stay out of old mine tunnels and shafts, and tell someone where you are going.

What next?

Once you have picked a spot, our guide on how to pan for gold takes you through each step, from filling the pan to finding the gold in the black sand.