Princeton Panning Reserve: Rockhounding in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Province

British Columbia

Nearest road

Old Hedley Road

Postal code

V0X 2W0

Coordinates

49.46415, -120.50765

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: Large provincial panning reserve of 1,048 ha covering Princeton and the river through town, where placer gold and platinum have been found. You do not need a Free Miner Certificate. Use a hand pan and hand shovel only: no metal detectors, sluices or dredges. Much of the land inside the boundary is private on the province's map, so pan from Crown riverbank and ask before you cross private lots.

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.