Gold Panning and Prospecting near Yakima, WA
15 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Yakima report gold. The closest is American River, about 41 miles out (51 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 Yakima
American RiverYakima County, Washington · 41 mi awayPublic access · Gold
Best spotLibertyKittitas County, Washington · 47 mi awayPublic access · Gold- Money CreekKing County, Washington · 88 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Columbia RiverChelan County, Washington · 92 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Gold BarSnohomish County, Washington · 103 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- SultanSnohomish County, Washington · 108 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Brush PrairieClark County, Washington · 116 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- CamasClark County, Washington · 117 mi awayPublic access · Gold
Nespelem to Coulee DamDouglas County, Washington · 122 mi awayPermission required · Gold- Granite FallsSnohomish County, Washington · 123 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- DarringtonSnohomish County, Washington · 125 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Snake RiverGarfield County, Washington · 140 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Pasayten WildernessWhatcom County, Washington · 148 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Pyrite
- HamiltonSkagit County, Washington · 149 mi awayPublic access · Hematite, Gold
- Lyman LakeOkanogan County, Washington · 150 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Quartz
Gold near Yakima FAQ
Where can I find gold near Yakima?+
15 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Yakima report gold. The closest is American River in Yakima County, roughly 41 miles away (51 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Yakima?+
14 of the 15 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 Yakima do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 41 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 150 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Yakima
Gold Panning and Prospecting near other cities
Hunt gold around Yakima 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.
