Gold Panning and Prospecting 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.
Every gold spot within 150 miles of Seattle
SultanSnohomish County, Washington · 30 mi awayPublic access · Gold- Gold BarSnohomish County, Washington · 34 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Granite FallsSnohomish County, Washington · 36 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Money CreekKing County, Washington · 41 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- DarringtonSnohomish County, Washington · 56 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- HamiltonSkagit County, Washington · 65 mi awayPublic access · Hematite, Gold
- American RiverYakima County, Washington · 69 mi awayPublic access · Gold
Best spotLibertyKittitas County, Washington · 83 mi awayPublic access · Gold- Pasayten WildernessWhatcom County, Washington · 107 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Pyrite
- Columbia RiverChelan County, Washington · 114 mi awayPublic access · Gold
Ozette RiverClallam County, Washington · 115 mi awayPermission required · Gold- Shi Shi BeachClallam County, Washington · 118 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Iridosmine, Platinum
- Brush PrairieClark County, Washington · 130 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- CamasClark County, Washington · 140 mi awayPublic access · Gold
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, 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?+
13 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 Panning and Prospecting 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.
