Gold & Minerals rockhounding sites in Washington

Placer gold, pyrite, copper minerals, and general ore-mineral localities open to casual collecting.

38 gold & minerals destinations in Washington.

Rockhounding sites in Washington — gold & minerals: 38 spots in our directory. Sort live from your phone with near me, or browse all U.S. gold & minerals rockhounding sites and the Washington state page.

Guides & hubs: Washington rockhounding guide · Rockhounding near Seattle — Walker Valley day trips · Agates in the USA — Ellensburg blue beds · Geodes near me — Walker Valley & PNW

Gold & Minerals collecting in Washington

Placer gold, pyrite, copper minerals, and general ore-mineral localities open to casual collecting.

We currently document 38 gold & minerals collecting sites in Washington. Each listing includes original descriptions, visitor notes, and last-updated dates when available.

What to know before you collect

Gold & Minerals destinations in Washington vary widely in access, season, and legality. Some are official recreation areas; others are informal gravel bars. Read the access and safety sections on each listing — never assume collecting is allowed without checking current signage.

For trip planning beyond this filter, browse the full Washington state page, our guides, or use near me to sort by distance from your location.

How we research listings · Report a correction · Safety disclaimer

Aaron — gold rockhounding site near King, WA

GoldWA

Aaron

Aaron is a documented mineral site in King, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesKing

American River — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

American River

American River is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Apex — gold rockhounding site near Chelan, WA

GoldWA

Apex

Apex is a historic mining site in Chelan, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesChelan

Blinn — gold rockhounding site near Chelan, WA

GoldWA

Blinn

Blinn is a historic mining site in Chelan, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesChelan

Brush Prairie — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Brush Prairie

Brush Prairie is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Camas — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Camas

Camas is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Clarkston — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Clarkston

Clarkston is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Columbia River — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Columbia River

Columbia River is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Copper King Mine — mineral rockhounding site near Washington, WA

MineralWA

Copper King Mine

Copper King Mine is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Chalcopyrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Darrington — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Darrington

Darrington is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Deer Lake — mineral rockhounding site near Washington, WA

MineralWA

Deer Lake

Deer Lake is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Pyrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Edna R — gold rockhounding site near Kittitas, WA

GoldWA

Edna R

Edna R is a mineral prospect in Kittitas, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesKittitas

Elk — mineral rockhounding site near Stevens, WA

MineralWA

Elk

Elk is a mineral prospect in Stevens, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Galena.

Fee variesStevens

Ewell — gold rockhounding site near Kittitas, WA

GoldWA

Ewell

Ewell is a mineral prospect in Kittitas, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesKittitas

Family — gold rockhounding site near Kittitas, WA

GoldWA

Family

Family is a mineral prospect in Kittitas, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesKittitas

Gold Creek — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Gold Creek

Gold Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Granite Falls — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Granite Falls

Granite Falls is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Hansen Creek Opal Mine — mixed minerals rockhounding site near Washington, WA

Mixed mineralsWA

Hansen Creek Opal Mine

Hansen Creek Opal Mine is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Mixed minerals. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Harley — gold rockhounding site near Snohomish, WA

GoldWA

Harley

Harley is a mineral prospect in Snohomish, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesSnohomish

Holden Mine — mineral rockhounding site near Chelan, WA

MineralWA

Holden Mine

Holden Mine is a historic mining site in Chelan, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Copper, Galena, Gold, Molybdenite, Nickel, Pyrite.

Fee variesChelan

Horseshoe Basin District — mineral rockhounding site near Washington, WA

MineralWA

Horseshoe Basin District

Horseshoe Basin district is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Chalcopyrite, Galena. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Iowa Claims — mineral rockhounding site near Snohomish, WA

MineralWA

Iowa Claims

Iowa Claims is a historic mining site in Snohomish, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Copper, Galena, Gold, Molybdenite, Silver, Sphalerite.

Fee variesSnohomish

Liberty — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Liberty

Liberty is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Lyman Lake — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Lyman Lake

Lyman Lake is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold, Quartz crystals. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Marcus — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Marcus

Marcus is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Mary Ann Creek — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Mary Ann Creek

Mary Ann Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Money Creek — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Money Creek

Money Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

My Cousin Ella, My Grandmother, And Me At The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park In 2010. — gold rockhounding site near WA, WA

GoldWA

My Cousin Ella, My Grandmother, And Me At The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park In 2010.

My cousin Ella, my grandmother, and me at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in 2010. is a documented rockhounding destination in WA. Collectors visit for placer gold, pyrite, black sand and related material. Access rules and land ownership vary — confirm current status with the managing agency or landowner before collecting.

Fee variesWashington

Nespelem To Coulee Dam — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Nespelem To Coulee Dam

Nespelem to Coulee Dam is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Osoyoos Lake — mineral rockhounding site near Washington, WA

MineralWA

Osoyoos Lake

Osoyoos Lake is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Copper minerals, Pyrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Ozette River — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Ozette River

Ozette River is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Pasayten Wilderness — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Pasayten Wilderness

Pasayten Wilderness is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold, Pyrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Shi Shi Beach — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Shi Shi Beach

Shi Shi Beach is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold, Iridosmine, Platinum. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Snake River — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Snake River

Snake River is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold placer. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Spokane, Washington — mixed minerals rockhounding site near Washington, WA

Mixed mineralsWA

Spokane, Washington

Spokane, Washington is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Mixed minerals. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Steele — gold rockhounding site near Snohomish, WA

GoldWA

Steele

Steele is a mineral prospect in Snohomish, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesSnohomish

Sultan — gold rockhounding site near Washington, WA

GoldWA

Sultan

Sultan is a documented mineral occurrence near WA. Reported specimens include Gold. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesWashington

Welman — gold rockhounding site near Snohomish, WA

GoldWA

Welman

Welman is a mineral prospect in Snohomish, Washington, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Gold.

Fee variesSnohomish