Erickson Gold Panning Area: Rockhounding in Regional District of Central Kootenay, British Columbia

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Regional District of Central Kootenay

Province

British Columbia

Nearest road

Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway)

Postal code

V0B 1K0

Coordinates

49.10020, -116.45191

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground and access before you head out.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots in Canada sit on Crown land or public foreshore where casual hand collecting is generally allowed in reasonable amounts for personal use. Confirm posted rules and local bylaws before you dig.

Access note: Provincial panning reserve of 50 ha on the Goat River at Erickson. You do not need a Free Miner Certificate. Use a hand pan and hand shovel only: no metal detectors, sluices or dredges. The province's map shows private land on both banks, so ask the owner before you cross it to reach the river.

Collecting rules in Canada are set provincially and by land owner. Crown land and many public beaches allow casual hand collecting, while provincial and national parks are off-limits. Confirm the rules for this site before you dig.