Kingston: Gold Prospecting in Shoshone County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

Kingston is a mapped rockhounding spot in Shoshone County, Idaho. Reported finds include arsenopyrite, gold, pyrite, stibnite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Shoshone County
State: Idaho
Nearest road: Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
Postcode: 83850
Coordinates: 47.55653, -116.24309

Geology at Kingston

This spot sits on Alluvial deposits, mapped as sand and gravel that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: Alluvial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: sand and gravel
Elevation: 2,270 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Kingston

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, KELLOGG station (5 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — Emerald Creek
Idaho Geological Survey
Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Kingston

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Kingston.

Across the state line from Kingston

Kingston is close enough to the Idaho border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Kingston FAQ

Where is Kingston?+

Kingston is in Shoshone County, Idaho, at 47.55653, -116.24309. Nearest road: Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Kingston?+

Kingston is reported to produce Arsenopyrite, Gold, Pyrite, Stibnite.

Is collecting allowed at Kingston?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Kingston?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Kingston?+

The most comfortable months at Kingston are March to October.

How do I get to Kingston?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 47.55653, -116.24309 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.

More rockhounding in Idaho

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Open Kingston on the map

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