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Where to Find Gold in North Carolina

20 mapped gold rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 16 counties. Recreational gold panning is allowed on much BLM and Forest Service land. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.

Map of 20 gold rockhounding spots in North Carolina

Gold by county in North Carolina

Counties ranked by number of gold spots in our database.

Every gold spot in North Carolina

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Anson CountyWhite Store RoadAnson County34.9570, -80.1227Public
WadesboroMoore's Lake RoadAnson County34.9356, -80.0594Public
Grandmother MountainGrandmother Mountain LaneAvery County36.0632, -81.8432Public
Cane CreekLower Brush Creek RoadBuncombe County35.4715, -82.4476Public
Brown MountainTrail 1Burke County35.9260, -81.7606Public
Reed Gold MineReed Mine RoadCabarrus County35.2852, -80.4665Public
Caswell CountyPage RoadCaswell County36.4310, -79.3772Public
Little Snowbird MountainsFS 304Cherokee County35.2367, -83.8703Public
Davidson CountySilver Hill RoadDavidson County35.7057, -80.1995Public
HilliardstonRex PlaceFranklin County36.0838, -78.2917Public
Nash & Franklin CountiesNC 561Franklin County36.1956, -78.0135Public
Clubb MountainAlexis Lucia RoadGaston County35.4014, -81.0817Public
Crowder's MountainBackside TrailGaston County35.2326, -81.2749Public
CatawbaWest Lewis Ferry RoadIredell County35.7121, -80.9919Public
South Muddy CreekFalling Creek DriveMcDowell County35.6056, -81.8714Public
Black Ankle MineWilliamson RoadMontgomery County35.4914, -79.8104Public
EldoradoCoggins Mine RoadMontgomery County35.4824, -80.0228Public
Gold HillSaint Stephens Church RoadRowan County35.5128, -80.3437Public
Sandy Level ChurchMamie Hamilton RoadRutherford County35.4486, -81.8581Public
Blowing RockWadkins RoadWatauga County36.1451, -81.6768Public

Gold in North Carolina FAQ

Where can I find gold in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 20 gold spots in North Carolina, spread across 16 counties. The strongest concentration is in Anson County.
Is collecting gold legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like gold is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in North Carolina, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.
What is the best gold location in North Carolina?+
Anson County has the most gold spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.

Other states for gold

Other minerals to find in North Carolina

Hunt gold in North Carolina on the map

Open RockHoundR for live land overlays, weather, geology, and saved spots.

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