Kennedy River Panning Reserve: Rockhounding in Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, British Columbia

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District

Province

British Columbia

Nearest road

Highway 4 (Pacific Rim Highway)

Coordinates

49.13151, -125.42263

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 187 ha on the lower Kennedy River beside Highway 4, from the river mouth on Kennedy Lake to just past Boulder Creek. You do not need a Free Miner Certificate. Use a hand pan and hand shovel only: no metal detectors, sluices or dredges. Only the Crown land inside the boundary is open, so check the province's map.

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.