Old geology maps plus land status homework.
GoldPanMap is the authoritative educational guide to recreational gold panning and prospecting on public waters and lands around one honest truth: gold is where it was 150 years ago. We teach placer deposition physics, stream reading, and legal public panning areas.
The Core Truth
"Gold is where it was 150 years ago: modern prospecting is old maps plus land status homework, not luck."
Research & Guidance Hubs
Select a category for in-depth regulations, checklists, and field guides.
Where to Pan
Public recreational gold panning areas, designated forest service zones, and historical creeks.
View Category Guides →State Guides
Gold bearing streams and regulations in California, Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, and more.
View Category Guides →Panning Technique & Gear
Fluid stratification, classification screens, riffled pans, snuffer bottles, and sluice boxes.
View Category Guides →Mining Claims & Legality
Unpatented placer claims, mineral withdrawals, and avoiding claim-jumping violations.
View Category Guides →Placer Geology
Inside bends, bedrock crevices, gravel bar drop-outs, and flash flood concentrations.
View Category Guides →Interactive Diagnostic Tools
Free client-side decision helpers and calculators with zero registration walls.
Stream Drop-Zone & Bedrock Reading Helper
Analyze stream bends, boulder drop-outs, and bedrock orientation to find placer gold traps.
Launch Tool →State Public Panning Rules & Permit Checker
Check motorized dredge bans, pan-only restrictions, and seasonal spawning closures.
Launch Tool →Starter Prospecting Gear Budget Calculator
Recommended equipment tiers from a $25 pan set to a full non-motorized river sluice kit.
Launch Tool →