Gold near Knoxville, TN
22 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Knoxville report gold. The closest is Montvale Springs, about 22 miles out (28 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 22 gold collecting spots within 150 miles of Knoxville, Tennessee
Closest gold spots to Knoxville
- Montvale SpringsBlount County, Tennessee22 mi · 28 min driveGold
- Little Snowbird MountainsCherokee County, North Carolina50 mi · 1 hr 3 min driveChloritoid, Ottrelite, Garnet
- UnakaCherokee County, North Carolina55 mi · 1 hr 9 min driveStaurolite, Agate, Epidote
- DucktownPolk County, Tennessee69 mi · 1 hr 26 min driveAzurite, Chalcopyrite, Garnet
- CopperhillPolk County, Tennessee71 mi · 1 hr 29 min driveAzurite, Chalcopyrite, Garnet
- Akin MountainUnion County, Georgia80 mi · 1 hr 40 min driveGold, Kyanite
Types of gold reported near Knoxville
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Gold21
- Gold Sulfides1
Every gold spot within 150 miles of Knoxville
Sorted by distance from Knoxville. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
Gold near Knoxville FAQ
Where can I find gold near Knoxville?+
22 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Knoxville report gold. The closest is Montvale Springs in Blount County County, roughly 22 miles away (28 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Knoxville?+
21 of the 22 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible, and 1 is a fee-dig site where you pay for access and keep your finds. 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 Knoxville do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 22 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 129 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Knoxville
Gold near other cities
Hunt gold around Knoxville 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.
