Stay informed with important Rules for gold panning, treasure hunting, and land use. Learn the regulations that protect you and the environment.
The gold panning laws in Washington allow recreational hand panning on most public land without a state permit, but motorized equipment in waterways is heavily regulated. Washington has extensive national…
The gold panning laws in California are more complex than in any other state. California is where the 1849 Gold Rush began, and it remains one of the most productive…
The gold panning laws in New York present one of the most unusual regulatory situations in the country. Under Public Lands Law Section 81, all deposits of gold and silver…
The gold panning laws in Massachusetts are murky on public land but generally allow hand panning in public waterways with non-motorized equipment. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) prohibits…
The gold panning laws in Ohio allow recreational hand panning without a state permit on most public lands, provided the activity is non-commercial and causes minimal environmental impact. The Ohio…
The gold panning laws in Hawaii are among the most restrictive in the country, and the geology makes the point academic. Hawaii's volcanic islands are composed almost entirely of basaltic…
The gold panning laws in Kansas do not include a statewide recreational prospecting permit or general license system. Kansas state parks prohibit digging holes and removing geological formations. There is…
The gold panning laws in the United States are not governed by a single federal law. They are a patchwork of federal land management rules, state environmental regulations, and local…
The gold panning laws in Nebraska are not governed by any state-level recreational prospecting statute. Nebraska has no dedicated gold panning permit, no DNR prospecting program, and no regulations specifically…
The gold panning laws in Illinois are restrictive on state land but allow limited recreational panning on the Shawnee National Forest. Illinois is not a gold state. There are no…
