Prichard: Gold Prospecting in Shoshone County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

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

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Shoshone County
State: Idaho
Nearest road: Crescent Drive
Coordinates: 47.65553, -115.98107

Geology at Prichard

This spot sits on Alluvial deposits, mapped as sand and gravel that formed within roughly the last 12,000 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: < 1 Ma (Holocene)
Rock types: sand and gravel
Elevation: 2,410 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 Prichard

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PRICHARD 3 ESE station (3 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 Prichard

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

Gold Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Prichard.

Across the state line from Prichard

Prichard 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.

Prichard FAQ

Where is Prichard?+

Prichard is in Shoshone County, Idaho, at 47.65553, -115.98107. Nearest road: Crescent Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Prichard?+

Prichard is reported to produce Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Prichard?+

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 Prichard?+

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 Prichard?+

The most comfortable months at Prichard are March to October.

How do I get to Prichard?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 47.65553, -115.98107 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Crescent Drive.

More rockhounding in Idaho

See all 115 Idaho spots →

Open Prichard on the map

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