| Open to the Public |
| This is a listing of areas open to the public where you can search for valuable minerals in the United States. Many of these locations are free of charge. Others are private mines that charge a fee and yet others are club sites that require club membership. |
|
| Alaska | |
| Chicken Gold Camp | (Fee) - Gold panning, recreational mining and a real bucketline dredge |
| Cripple River | (Fee) - The GPAA operation near Nome. |
| Crow Creek Mine | (Fee) - Possibly Alaska's most popular recreational mining site. |
| El Dorado Gold Mine | Two hour mining tour near Fairbanks. |
| Faith Creek Camp | (Fee) - Pan and sluice for gold near Fairbanks. |
| Ganes Creek Gold | (Fee) - World class nugget hunting locale near McGrath in Interior Alaska. |
| Hope Mining Company | (Fee) - Mining at Resurrection Creek near Hope. |
| Independence Mine | Gold panning at historic old mine. |
| Indian Valley Mine | Historic mine location on Turnagain Arm. |
| Kennicott Historic Landmark | Once the largest copper mine in the world. |
| Moore Creek Mine | (Fee) - New metal detecting, suction dredging, and highbanking operation. |
| Nome Beach | The famous gold beaches of Nome, Alaska. |
| Nome Creek | 60 miles north of Fairbanks, 4 mile stretch of creek open to hand mining methods. |
| Paradise Valley | (Fee) - Metal detect for gold nuggets in Alaska's Brooks Range. |
| Wrangell-St. Elias Park | Gold pans only! |
| Arizona | |
| Bisbee Mining Museum | Once known as The Queen of the Copper Camps. |
| Lynx Creek | Gold panning and metal detecting for gold. |
| Arkansas | |
| Crater of Diamonds | (Fee) - The largest diamond ever found in North America was found here. |
| Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine | (Fee) - Dig your own quartz crystal in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains. |
| California | |
| Auburn State Recreation Area | Search for gold on two forks of the American River. |
| Columbia State Historic Park | Various fee panning opportunities. |
| Empire Mine State Historic Park | The Empire Mine is the site of the oldest, largest, and richest gold mine in California. |
| Hauser Geode Beds | The Hauser Geode Beds are located south west of Blythe off of Interstate 10 |
| Keyesville Mining Area | Pan, sluice, dredge and dry wash for gold. |
| Malakoff Diggins Park | Gold panning along Humbug Creek. |
| Marshall Gold Discovery Park | Gold panning along the American River. |
| Millennium Inc. | a.k.a. GEMS of PALA |
| Opal Hill Mine | Quest For Fire At Opal Hill Mine |
| Plumas County | Various gold panning opportunities. |
| Roaring Camp Mining | Roaring Camp Mining Company in the California Mother Lode |
| South Yuba River Project | "Hands and pans" only. |
| Strike It Rich Adventures | Gold panning and mine tours. |
| Colorado | |
| Phoenix Gold Mine | (Fee) - Pan for gold at Trail Creek near Idaho Springs. |
| Georgia | |
| Consolidated Gold Mines | Consolidated Gold Mine in Dahlonega was the site of America’s first gold rush. |
| Dahlonega Gold Museum | The Dahlonega Gold Museum, located in the old Lumpkin County Courthouse. |
| Crisson Gold Mine | Pan for gold and gems |
| Gold’n Gem Grubbin | Mine for gold and gem stones |
| Idaho | |
| Emerald Creek Garnet Area | (Fee) - Look for rare star garnets, found in only two places on earth. |
| Oregon | |
| Medford District BLM | Gold panning and suction dredging. |
| Quartzville Mining Corridor | Mining near Salem. |
| Rogue River National Forest | Several gold panning areas. |
| Sharp’s Creek Area | Panning, dredging, and more. |
| Montana | |
| Gold Panning at Alta Ranch | (Fee) - Pan for gold below old mining camp. |
| Libby Creek Gold Panning Area | Pan gold at old hydraulic gold mine. |
| World Museum of Mining | 44 acre museum with over 50 structures to explore in Butte, Montana. |
| Nevada | |
| Royal Peacock Opal Mines | Renowned for spectacular black fire opals. In the Virgin Valley of Northern Nevada |
| New Jersey | |
| Sterling Hill Mining Museum | An underground zinc mine in Northwestern New Jersey that is open for tours. |
| North Carolina | |
| Carolina Emerald Mine | (Fee) - Look for Emeralds |
| Heather Grove Gold & Gem | Gold & gem panning |
| Vein Mountain Gold Camp | (Fee) - Look for gold |
| Mountain Creek Gold Mine | (Fee) - Gold nuggets up to 1/2 ounce have been found here. |
| Thermal City Gold Mine | The gold that is found here is in its natural state where nature has deposited it! |
| Sheffield Mine | (Fee) - Look for rubies and sapphires! |
| South Dakota | |
| Black Hills Mining Museum | Exhibits and activities, gold panning, in Lead, location of the Homestake Gold Mine. |
| Wade's Gold Mill & Mining | You can use some of the same placer gravel that is being put through the mill. |