Brush Prairie: Gold Prospecting in Clark County, Washington

Updated June 2026

Brush Prairie is a mapped rockhounding spot in Clark County, Washington. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Clark County
State: Washington
Nearest road: Northeast 149th Street
Postcode: 98606
Coordinates: 45.73120, -122.57292

Geology at Brush Prairie

This spot sits on alluvium, mapped as sand and gravel that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: alluvium
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: sand and gravel
Elevation: 190 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 Brush Prairie

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 46°F in winter to 79°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BATTLE GROUND station (4 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Washington Geological Survey (DNR)
Stonerose Interpretive Center — Visit & rules
BLM Spokane District
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Brush Prairie

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 Brush Prairie.

Across the state line from Brush Prairie

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

Brush Prairie FAQ

Where is Brush Prairie?+

Brush Prairie is in Clark County, Washington, at 45.73120, -122.57292. Nearest road: Northeast 149th Street.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Brush Prairie?+

Brush Prairie is reported to produce Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Brush Prairie?+

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 Brush Prairie?+

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 Brush Prairie?+

Brush Prairie is workable year-round.

How do I get to Brush Prairie?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.73120, -122.57292 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Northeast 149th Street.

More rockhounding in Washington

See all 92 Washington spots →

Open Brush Prairie on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.