Gold near Seattle, WA
14 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Seattle report gold. The closest is Sultan, about 30 miles out (38 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 14 gold collecting spots within 150 miles of Seattle, Washington
Closest gold spots to Seattle
- SultanSnohomish County, Washington30 mi · 38 min driveGold
- Gold BarSnohomish County, Washington34 mi · 42 min driveGold
- Granite FallsSnohomish County, Washington36 mi · 45 min driveGold
- Money CreekKing County, Washington41 mi · 51 min driveGold
- DarringtonSnohomish County, Washington56 mi · 1 hr 10 min driveGold
- HamiltonSkagit County, Washington65 mi · 1 hr 21 min driveHematite, Gold
Every gold spot within 150 miles of Seattle
Sorted by distance from Seattle. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SultanTrout Farm Road | Snohomish County | 47.8803, -121.8296 | Public | |
| Gold BarMother's Day Trail | Snohomish County | 47.8566, -121.7101 | Public | |
| Granite FallsParadise Lane | Snohomish County | 48.0717, -121.9713 | Public | |
| Money CreekMoney Creek Road | King County | 47.6995, -121.4678 | Public | |
| DarringtonEast Fir Street | Snohomish County | 48.2520, -121.5941 | Public | |
| HamiltonSouth Skagit Highway | Skagit County | 48.5171, -121.9679 | Public | |
| American RiverState Route 410 | Yakima County | 46.9767, -121.1788 | Public | |
| LibertyForest Road 9718-801 | Kittitas County | 47.2697, -120.6316 | Public | |
| Pasayten WildernessForest Road 5400-700 | Whatcom County | 48.7313, -120.7499 | Public | |
| Columbia RiverHidden Lane | Chelan County | 47.8695, -119.9122 | Public | |
| Ozette RiverHoko Ozette Road | Clallam County | 48.1578, -124.6731 | Public | |
| Shi Shi BeachShi Shi to Ozette River Beach Travelway | Clallam County | 48.2748, -124.6807 | Public | |
| Brush PrairieNortheast 149th Street | Clark County | 45.7312, -122.5729 | Public | |
| CamasSouthwest 6th Avenue | Clark County | 45.5760, -122.4375 | Public |
Gold near Seattle FAQ
Where can I find gold near Seattle?+
14 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Seattle report gold. The closest is Sultan in Snohomish County County, roughly 30 miles away (38 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Seattle?+
14 of the 14 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 Seattle do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 30 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 140 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Seattle
Gold near other cities
Hunt gold around Seattle 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.
