Best spot

Little River: Gold Prospecting in Lamoille County, Vermont

Updated July 2026

Little River, which drops from the hills above Stowe into the Waterbury Reservoir, is an aptly named Vermont gold stream with fine flour gold in its gravels. Little River State Park and the reservoir give it rare public-land access for panning. The setting inside the Mount Mansfield forest block makes it a pleasant day trip. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Little River photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Waterbury Reservoir on the Little River, a Vermont gold stream, seen from Little River State Park, Vermont.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Lamoille County
State: Vermont
Nearest road: Cemetery Street
Postcode: 05672
Coordinates: 44.47132, -72.67911

Geology at Little River

This spot sits on Ottauquechee Formation - carbonaceous phyllite member, mapped as phyllite that formed roughly 540 to 485 million years ago. Gold in metamorphic belts like this is typically tied to quartz veins and shear zones, with placer color in the creeks that cut them.

Mapped unit: Ottauquechee Formation - carbonaceous phyllite member
Age: 540–485 Ma (Cambrian)
Rock types: phyllite
Elevation: 700 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Little River

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 77°F in midsummer and 25°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 3°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MORRISVILLE-STOWE STATE AP station (5 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Little River

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Gold Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Little River.

Across the state line from Little River

Little River is close enough to the Vermont border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Little River FAQ

Where is Little River?+

Little River is in Lamoille County, Vermont, at 44.47132, -72.67911. Nearest road: Cemetery Street.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Little River?+

Little River is reported to produce Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Little River?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Little River?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Little River?+

The most comfortable months at Little River are April to October.

How do I get to Little River?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.47132, -72.67911 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Cemetery Street.

More rockhounding in Vermont

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Open Little River on the map

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