Gold near Coos Bay, OR
10 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Coos Bay report gold. The closest is Sixes River Recreation Area, about 39 miles out (49 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 10 gold collecting spots within 150 miles of Coos Bay, Oregon
Closest gold spots to Coos Bay
- Sixes River Recreation AreaCurry County, Oregon39 mi · 49 min driveGold, Agate, Jasper
- Cow Creek Gold Panning & Rockhounding AreaDouglas County, Oregon48 mi · 1 hr driveGold, Agate, Jasper
- Island Creek Day Use AreaDouglas County, Oregon49 mi · 1 hr 1 min driveGold
- Old MinesJosephine County, Oregon63 mi · 1 hr 19 min driveArsenopyrite, Azurite, Calcite
- Althouse CreekJosephine County, Oregon93 mi · 1 hr 57 min driveAgate, Garnet, Gold Nugget
- Streams around Oregon CavesJosephine County, Oregon96 mi · 2 hr driveAgate, Chalcedony, Gold
Types of gold reported near Coos Bay
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Gold9
- Gold Nugget1
Every gold spot within 150 miles of Coos Bay
Sorted by distance from Coos Bay. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixes River Recreation AreaSixes River Road | Curry County | 42.8045, -124.3077 | Check locally | |
| Cow Creek Gold Panning & Rockhounding AreaCow Creek Road | Douglas County | 42.8296, -123.6180 | Check locally | |
| Island Creek Day Use AreaCow Creek Road | Douglas County | 42.9124, -123.4812 | Public | |
| Old MinesGalice Road | Josephine County | 42.5693, -123.5953 | Permission | |
| Althouse CreekBeebe Drive | Josephine County | 42.1126, -123.5389 | Permission | |
| Streams around Oregon CavesCaves Highway | Josephine County | 42.1077, -123.4085 | Permission | |
| Shelly Creek & Monkey Creek MinesForest Route 18N17 | Del Norte County | 41.9618, -123.8020 | Public | |
| Happy Camp Jade MinesSouth Indian Road | Siskiyou County | 41.8766, -123.4602 | Public | |
| Quartzville Recreational Mining Corridor | Linn County | 44.5575, -122.4166 | Public | |
| Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek BridgeQuartzville Drive | Linn County | 44.5654, -122.4096 | Check locally |
Gold near Coos Bay FAQ
Where can I find gold near Coos Bay?+
10 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Coos Bay report gold. The closest is Sixes River Recreation Area in Curry County, roughly 39 miles away (49 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Coos Bay?+
4 of the 10 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 Coos Bay do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 39 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 122 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Coos Bay
Gold near other cities
Hunt gold around Coos Bay 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.
