Urban Prospecting! 10 Places where Gold is Found near a Major City

When we envision. a gold prospector, we think of a crusty old miner venturing deep into the wilderness with his donkey, loaded with prospecting gear. Here were are in the 2020s, and the fact is that many of the major gold deposits are located right near major metropolitan areas.

Listed below are 10 cities that are near major gold deposits. While much of this gold is now long-gone, experts say that there are still major untapped gold deposits in these areas that are yet to be found…

1. San Francisco, California

During the California Gold Rush of the 19th century, San Francisco became a major hub for gold prospectors. Some of the main mining towns nearby include Coloma, Jamestown, Angels Camp, Grass Valley and Nevada City. There is plenty of gold remaining in those same areas.

San Francisco was the main supplier to the miners of the California Gold Rush.

2. Denver, Colorado

Denver’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains has led to gold discoveries in many of the nearby waterways. The Clear Creek Canyon is a public access that you can still find gold. Cherry Creek runs right through town and still has gold in it. The same can be said for the South Platte River. Take a drive up to Idaho Springs and you will find considerable mining activity.

There is gold literally within the city limits of Denver. You can pan the banks of the South Platte River or Cherry Creek and still find small specks of gold.

3. Charlotte, North Carolina

The Reed Gold Mine, located near Charlotte, was the site of the first documented gold discovery in the United States, sparking the nation’s first gold rush. Many other mines would eventually become established in the area including the Howie Gold Mine and St. Catherines Gold Mine.

4. Portland, Oregon

While Portland itself isn’t in the heart of gold country, there are several areas nearby where you can find gold. The Molalla River has gold. A few hours south is Quartzville Creek, which is even richer. Both have public access for recreational gold panning. Go north into Washington and find gold on the South Fork of the Lewis River.

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5. Juneau, Alaska

Alaska’s capital city, Juneau, has seen gold discoveries in nearby creeks and rivers, including the famous Gold Creek. The town was primarily a lode mining area. The mountains surrounding the town area rich with gold.

6. Helena, Montana

Helena, the state capital of Montana, is surrounded by historic gold mining districts. In fact, the town itself is literally built on top of rich gold deposits. Last Chance Gulch, which is now part of the old downtown section of Helena, had some of the richest gravel in Montana!

Bucket line dredge in Last Chance Gulch north of Helena. Part of downtown Helena is sits atop some of these very same gravels.

7. Boise, Idaho

Prospectors have found gold in several rivers near Boise, including the Boise River and its tributaries, making it a popular destination for recreational prospecting. The area around Idaho City was the richest gold mining region in Idaho. Both Grimes and Mores Creek have very rich gold deposits that you can still pan.

8. Las Vegas, Nevada

While Las Vegas is known for its entertainment and casinos, gold can also be found in nearby desert areas, attracting adventurous prospectors. El Dorado Canyon was one such area. Searchlight, Nevada was a very rich mining district south of Vegas. Many prospectors in this area go down to Arizona and prospect across the border in Mohave County.

Searchlight is about 1 hour south of Las Vegas. This was a major gold mining district. Most of the gold was lode gold and men would tunnel underground following the rich veins.

9. Dahlonega, Georgia

Dahlonega was the site of the first major gold rush in the United States, many years before the California Gold Rush. The area still offers opportunities for recreational gold panning. The Consolidated Gold Mine is open to the public, and visitors can take underground mining tours. Many of the creeks and rivers of this area will produce gold. Chestatee River and Yahoola Creek are two area near town that are known mining areas.

10. Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is a major mining hub for Alaska. There are some exceptionally rich mining districts within a 200 mile radius of Fairbanks, but even closer there are some very rich mines. The Fort Knox Mine is a massive mine just outside of Fairbanks. Many creeks have gold, including Goldstream Creek, Cleary Creek, Pedro Creek, and Ester Creek. There are also placer deposits along the Chena River.