Gold near Bellingham, WA
12 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Bellingham report gold. The closest is Hamilton, about 28 miles out (36 min drive).
Recreational gold collecting means panning placer gravels where moving water has concentrated heavy flakes and the occasional nugget, or working the dumps of historic lode districts.
Map of 12 gold collecting spots within 150 miles of Bellingham, Washington
Closest gold spots to Bellingham
- HamiltonSkagit County, Washington28 mi · 36 min driveHematite, Gold
- Granite FallsSnohomish County, Washington52 mi · 1 hr 6 min driveGold
- DarringtonSnohomish County, Washington53 mi · 1 hr 7 min driveGold
- SultanSnohomish County, Washington67 mi · 1 hr 24 min driveGold
- Gold BarSnohomish County, Washington71 mi · 1 hr 29 min driveGold
- Pasayten WildernessWhatcom County, Washington79 mi · 1 hr 38 min driveGold, Pyrite
Every gold spot within 150 miles of Bellingham
Sorted by distance from Bellingham. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HamiltonSouth Skagit Highway | Skagit County | 48.5171, -121.9679 | Public | |
| Granite FallsParadise Lane | Snohomish County | 48.0717, -121.9713 | Public | |
| DarringtonEast Fir Street | Snohomish County | 48.2520, -121.5941 | Public | |
| SultanTrout Farm Road | Snohomish County | 47.8803, -121.8296 | Public | |
| Gold BarMother's Day Trail | Snohomish County | 47.8566, -121.7101 | Public | |
| Pasayten WildernessForest Road 5400-700 | Whatcom County | 48.7313, -120.7499 | Public | |
| Money CreekMoney Creek Road | King County | 47.6995, -121.4678 | Public | |
| Shi Shi BeachShi Shi to Ozette River Beach Travelway | Clallam County | 48.2748, -124.6807 | Public | |
| Ozette RiverHoko Ozette Road | Clallam County | 48.1578, -124.6731 | Permission | |
| Columbia RiverHidden Lane | Chelan County | 47.8695, -119.9122 | Public | |
| LibertyForest Road 9718-801 | Kittitas County | 47.2697, -120.6316 | Public | |
| American RiverState Route 410 | Yakima County | 46.9767, -121.1788 | Public |
Gold near Bellingham FAQ
Where can I find gold near Bellingham?+
12 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Bellingham report gold. The closest is Hamilton in Skagit County, roughly 28 miles away (36 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Bellingham?+
11 of the 12 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible. Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land with limits set by the local field office; national parks and most state parks are closed to collecting. Confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
Do I need a permit to pan for gold?+
Hand panning is generally allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land that is not under an active mining claim, with no permit needed for pans and hand tools. Sluices and dredges fall under state rules and often do need permits. Check claim maps before working a creek: panning someone's claim is theft.
How far from Bellingham do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 28 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 137 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Bellingham
Gold near other cities
Hunt gold around Bellingham with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR shows these spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, weather, and a log for your finds.
