Gold near Salt Lake City, UT
19 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Salt Lake City report gold. The closest is Farmington mining district, about 16 miles out (19 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 19 gold collecting spots within 150 miles of Salt Lake City, Utah
Closest gold spots to Salt Lake City
- Farmington mining districtDavis County, Utah16 mi · 19 min driveAzurite, Chalcopyrite, Gold
- Santaquin & Silver Lake mining districtsUtah County, Utah20 mi · 25 min driveActinolite, Andradite, Argentite
- Bear GulchSalt Lake County, Utah24 mi · 30 min driveGold
- Snake Creek near Heber CityWasatch County, Utah25 mi · 31 min driveGold
- Strawberry MineMorgan County, Utah26 mi · 32 min driveGold, Silver, Copper
- OphirTooele County, Utah33 mi · 41 min driveGalena, Gold, Pyrite
Types of gold reported near Salt Lake City
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Gold18
- Lode Gold1
Every gold spot within 150 miles of Salt Lake City
Sorted by distance from Salt Lake City. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
Gold near Salt Lake City FAQ
Where can I find gold near Salt Lake City?+
19 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Salt Lake City report gold. The closest is Farmington mining district in Davis County County, roughly 16 miles away (19 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Salt Lake City?+
19 of the 19 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 Salt Lake City do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 16 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 139 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Salt Lake City
Gold near other cities
Hunt gold around Salt Lake City 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.
