Gold Panning & Tours

There's still gold in those Alaska hills — and streams and beaches. If you thought the miners from the Alaska Gold Rush era got all the gold, think again. You can still find "color" — traces of gold — if you know where to look, and some private miners are still sluicing or panning away in search of that elusive fortune. Make the most of your visit by first exploring the history of Alaska's early gold rush communities in local museums, then bellying up to water troughs for your own Alaska gold panning experience. Bonus: you get to keep whatever you find.

Most gold panning tours start out with a history of Alaska’s gold rush and some lead you on guided tours that explore historical gold rush equipment and artifacts. Tour guides will then give an overview of how to seek your own fortune by outfitting you with the proper gear and leading you to prime gold panning spots on creeks or at sluice boxes.