The gold panning laws in New Hampshire are more restrictive than many prospectors expect. Hand panning does not require a state permit under RSA 482-A:3, but you must have written permission from the riverbed landowner before you start. Most riverbeds in New Hampshire are privately owned, even though the water itself is state property. Sluice boxes and suction dredges require a separate permit from the NHDES Wetlands Bureau, and shovels are not allowed for digging in streambeds or banks. Only gold pans and small trowels may be used without a dredging permit.
The White Mountain National Forest has its own rules. Gold panning requires a free annual permit from any Forest Service District Office, and equipment is limited to gold pans and small hand trowels. Sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges, and all mechanized equipment are prohibited under the 2005 Forest Plan. New Hampshire state parks prohibit mineral collecting with hand tools or mechanized equipment unless a special use permit is granted.
Despite the strict rules, New Hampshire has a genuine gold prospecting history. A small gold rush occurred in the 1860s in Grafton County, and placer gold can still be found in rivers and streams across the northern and western portions of the state. This guide covers the regulations, locations, and tips you need. If you are new to the hobby, check out our getting started with gold panning guide.
TL;DR
- Hand panning: No state permit required under RSA 482-A:3, but you must have written permission from the riverbed landowner. You may scoop gravel with the pan itself; shovels are not allowed.
- Sluice boxes and dredges: Require a Recreational Mineral Dredging Permit from the NHDES Wetlands Bureau. Fee is $25 for residents, $50 for non-residents. Permit expires at year end.
- White Mountain National Forest: Free annual gold panning permit from any District Office. Only gold pans and small trowels allowed. Sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges, and mechanized equipment are all prohibited.
- State parks and DRED properties: Mineral collecting with hand tools or mechanized equipment is prohibited without a special use permit (Res 7301.21).
- Riverbed ownership: Riverbeds in New Hampshire are generally private property. Written landowner permission is required by statute for both panning and dredging.
- Gold type: Mostly fine specks and flour gold. Small nuggets have been reported but are rare.
Lode (Quartz Veins) and Glacial Placer
~2,000 Ounces Documented (1864-1878)
Ammonoosuc District (Grafton County)
No State Permit (Landowner Permission Required)
$25 Resident / $50 Non-Resident (NHDES)
Free Permit, Hand Pans Only
Gold Panning Laws and Regulations in New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s gold panning regulations come from a combination of state statute (RSA 482-A), state administrative rules (Res 7301), and White Mountain National Forest management policies. The key distinction is between simple hand panning (no state permit needed) and any equipment beyond a gold pan (permit required). Riverbed landowner permission is required for all prospecting activities, regardless of equipment.
State Law: RSA 482-A (Fill and Dredge in Wetlands)
Under RSA 482-A:3, XI, any person who engages in panning only does not need a permit. “Panning” is defined as activities associated with the manual search for minerals in a riverbed without the use of motorized equipment. Scooping gravel with a gold pan is allowed. Shovels are not allowed for digging in streambeds or stream banks. A small trowel may be used for scooping sediment into the pan.
Any person who wishes to use a sluice box, rocker box, or suction dredge must obtain a Recreational Mineral Dredging Permit from the NHDES Wetlands Bureau. The permit application fee is $25 for New Hampshire residents and $50 for non-residents. The permit expires at the end of the calendar year in which it is issued. Operations that exceed small motor mineral dredging also require a mining permit from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources under RSA 12-E.
The state retains the right to prohibit panning and mineral dredging at certain times or in certain locations when the activity would be detrimental to the public interest, including for environmental and wildlife protection.
Riverbed Ownership and Landowner Permission
This is the single most important rule for New Hampshire prospectors. Under RSA 482-A:3, XI(f), any person who intends to engage in any panning or dredging activity must first obtain written permission from the riverbed landowner. In New Hampshire, riverbeds are generally private property, even though the water flowing over them is a state resource. Failure to get permission puts you in violation of trespassing laws, and any gold you find legally belongs to the landowner.
Identifying the riverbed owner requires checking county tax maps and deed records. In many cases, landowners on both sides of a stream own to the center of the streambed. Some sections of major rivers have public access points (boat ramps, fishing access sites), but public access to the water surface does not automatically grant the right to disturb the riverbed for mineral extraction.
White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest covers approximately 800,000 acres, mostly in north-central New Hampshire. Gold panning requires a free annual permit, available from any White Mountain National Forest District Office. The permits are available year-round. Persons 18 and older must carry the permit while panning.
Under the 2005 White Mountain National Forest Plan, only hand tools are allowed for recreational gold panning. Sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges, and all mechanized equipment are prohibited. A small trowel or similar digging tool for scooping sediment into a gold pan is the maximum allowed. Most gold panning activity occurs on the Pemigewasset Ranger District on the west side of the forest.
Wilderness areas within the forest are more restricted. Possession of a metal detector is prohibited in designated Wilderness Areas. Contact the District Office for current area-specific restrictions.
State Parks and DRED Properties
Under New Hampshire Administrative Rule Res 7301.21, mineral exploration and collecting using mechanized equipment or hand tools is not permitted on DRED properties (state parks, geologic sites, natural preserves, historic sites) unless permission has been granted by special use permit. Mineral collecting is also prohibited at geologic sites, natural preserves, historic sites, and at elevations above tree line. For specifics, see Chapter Res 7301.19 through 7301.21.
Equipment Restrictions
| Equipment | Private Land (With Permission) | White Mountain NF (With Free Permit) | State Parks / DRED Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Pan | Allowed, no state permit | Allowed with free permit | Prohibited without special use permit |
| Small Trowel | Allowed for scooping | Allowed for scooping sediment | Prohibited without special use permit |
| Shovel | Not allowed in streambeds or banks | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Sluice Box / Rocker Box | NHDES dredging permit required | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| Suction Dredge | NHDES dredging permit required | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| Metal Detector | With landowner permission | Prohibited in Wilderness Areas | Check individual park rules |
For gear suited to New Hampshire’s restrictive rules, see our best tools for gold panning roundup.
Best Locations for Gold Panning in New Hampshire
Gold in New Hampshire is concentrated in the northern and western parts of the state, with the most productive areas in Grafton County and northern Coos County. Both lode and placer gold occur here. The lode gold is found in quartz veins with sulfide minerals like pyrite, and the placer gold was concentrated in streams by both natural erosion and glacial transport. For more detail, see our page on whether there’s gold in New Hampshire. Always get written landowner permission before panning.
- Wild Ammonoosuc River (Grafton County) – The single most popular gold panning location in New Hampshire. Gold can be found from its headwaters in the White Mountain National Forest downstream to where it empties into the Ammonoosuc River near the town of Bath. The stream’s surrounding areas were the site of New Hampshire’s 1860s gold rush. Fine to small placer gold is found in gravel bars and bedrock crevices. Portions are within the WMNF (free permit, pan only); portions outside the forest may allow sluicing with an NHDES permit and landowner permission.
- Ammonoosuc River (Grafton County) – The main Ammonoosuc drains much of western New Hampshire into the Connecticut River. Placer gold is found along the river, especially near Bath, Lisbon, Lyman, Monroe, and Littleton. The source is small lode deposits scattered through the surrounding hills. The NH Geological Survey identifies the Ammonoosuc Gold District, centered on Lyman, Monroe, and Bath, as the state’s most productive gold area.
- Tunnel Brook, Benton (Grafton County) – A tributary within the White Mountain National Forest with documented gold. WMNF free permit required; pans and trowels only. The town of Benton has a population under 400, so crowding is not a problem.
- Baker River (Grafton County) – Drains into the Pemigewasset River (Merrimack River system). Gold has been reported near Warren, Wentworth, and Rumney. The point where the Baker drains into the Pemigewasset is particularly productive. Parts are within the WMNF; parts are outside. Verify land status and ownership. Public access exists along Route 118 east of Warren village.
- Salmon Hole Brook, Lisbon (Grafton County) – Flows into the Ammonoosuc River at Sugar Hill Station, north of Lisbon. Placer gold deposits have been reported. Mostly private land; landowner permission required.
- Mill Brook, Landaff (Grafton County) – Drains into the Ammonoosuc River. The stretch from its confluence upstream to Chandler Pond has produced placer gold. Private land; permission required.
- Indian Stream, Pittsburg (Coos County) – In the Great North Woods region of far northern New Hampshire. Flows into the Connecticut River. Gold has been reported in glacial deposits in the area. Remote and less pressured than Grafton County streams.
- Perry Stream, Pittsburg (Coos County) – Drains into the Connecticut River upstream of Lake Francis and below First Connecticut Lake. Another northern Coos County gold producer. Very remote.
- Swift Diamond River (Coos County) – In northern Coos County near the town of Second College Grant. Gold has been reported. Remote and difficult to access.
- Androscoggin River, Berlin Area (Coos County) – A major river beginning in Errol, NH and flowing 178 miles to Maine. The Swift River in Maine (a tributary) has produced some of New England’s best gold, suggesting the Androscoggin carries lode gold. The area around Berlin is the most commonly prospected section.
Gold Prospecting History in New Hampshire
Gold was known in New Hampshire as early as the colonial period, but the state’s first documented gold activity came in the mid-1800s. After news of the California Gold Rush spread, New Englanders went looking in their own hills and found both lode and placer gold in the mountains of Grafton County.
In June 1866, J. H. Barratt discovered gold in a stone wall on the Dodge farm in Lyman, which led to the discovery of a gold-bearing quartz vein. The Dodge Gold Mining Company was formed, and by 1869 the mine had produced $16,000 worth of gold. Several small mines operated around Bath and the mouth of the Wild Ammonoosuc River during the 1860s and 1870s. Records from the Philadelphia Mint show approximately 2,000 ounces of raw gold were shipped from the area between 1864 and 1878.
Smaller gold finds were also made at the Diamond Ledge in Ossipee and at scattered locations across the state. The state geologist C. H. Hitchcock identified the Ammonoosuc Gold District in his 1878 “Hitchcock Atlas of New Hampshire Geology,” centering it on the towns of Lyman, Monroe, and Bath.
The excitement was short-lived. New Hampshire’s gold was not present in the quantities being discovered in the western United States, and most mining operations closed within a few years. No commercial-scale gold mining has ever been sustained in the state. Today, recreational panning remains active, particularly in the Ammonoosuc drainage and the White Mountain National Forest, where the NH Geological Survey notes that “hard work can probably produce traces of gold from many streams in the state.”
Tips for Gold Panning in New Hampshire
- Get written landowner permission first. This is required by state statute (RSA 482-A:3, XI(f)), not just good manners. Riverbeds are private property in New Hampshire. Check county tax maps to identify the landowner, then get written permission before you touch the streambed. Without it, you are trespassing and any gold you find belongs to the property owner. For more on permits and permissions, see our guide.
- Leave the shovel at home. New Hampshire does not allow shovels for digging in streambeds or stream banks for panning purposes. Scoop gravel with the gold pan itself, or use a small trowel. This is strictly enforced in the White Mountain National Forest, where only pans and small trowels are permitted under the 2005 Forest Plan.
- Get your WMNF permit before heading out. The White Mountain National Forest requires a free annual gold panning permit. Pick one up at any District Office (Pemigewasset, Saco, or Ammonoosuc/Passumpsic). The permit spells out the rules and confirms where panning is allowed. See our beginner techniques for making the most of pan-only prospecting.
- Focus on bedrock crevices. Most New Hampshire gold is fine specks and flour. To find the best concentrations, look for exposed bedrock in streams and work the crevices with a crevice tool or trowel. Gold settles into cracks and stays put while lighter material washes downstream. This is the most productive technique under New Hampshire’s equipment restrictions.
- Work the Grafton County rivers for best results. The Ammonoosuc River drainage (including the Wild Ammonoosuc, Tunnel Brook, Mill Brook, and Salmon Hole Brook) is the state’s most documented gold-bearing area. Streams west of the White Mountains that drain toward the Connecticut River are the most favorable. The Baker River is also productive.
- Pan slowly and carefully. New Hampshire gold is smaller than what you find in western states. Use a slow, deliberate spiral panning technique and finish with a snuffer bottle. A gold panning kit with a spiral pan and snuffer bottle is recommended for fine gold recovery.
- Check if you are inside or outside the WMNF boundary. The rules change significantly. Inside the forest: free permit, pans and trowels only, no sluice boxes. Outside the forest: no federal permit needed, but you may use a sluice box or dredge with an NHDES permit and landowner permission. The Baker River near Warren, for example, has sections both inside and outside the forest boundary.
- Try northern Coos County for solitude. Indian Stream, Perry Stream, and the Swift Diamond River in the Great North Woods region are less pressured than the Grafton County rivers. Gold has been reported in glacial deposits throughout the area. Access can be remote, so prepare accordingly.
- Look for black sand and sulfide minerals. New Hampshire gold often occurs with pyrite and other sulfide minerals. Black sand concentrates are a good indicator. If you are finding heavy black sand but no gold, you are in the right geological environment; try moving upstream or working bedrock more carefully.
- Join a local mineral club. New Hampshire has several active mineral clubs that organize field trips, share location knowledge, and can help with landowner contacts. The GPAA does not have a dedicated New Hampshire chapter, but New England prospectors connect through online forums and regional groups.
Resources for New Hampshire Prospectors
- NH Geological Survey – Gold in New Hampshire (GEO-1) – Official state fact sheet on gold occurrences, regulations, panning rules, and the Ammonoosuc Gold District.
- RSA 482-A:3 – Excavating and Dredging Permit; Certain Exemptions – Full text of the state statute governing recreational mineral panning and dredging permits.
- White Mountain National Forest – Gold Panning and Mineral Collecting – USFS page with WMNF gold panning permit details, allowed tools, and designated mineral collecting areas.
- NHDES Wetlands Bureau – Agency that issues Recreational Mineral Dredging Permits and enforces wetlands regulations under RSA 482-A.
- Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) – National organization with New England membership. Claims access and regional information.
Conclusion
The gold panning laws in New Hampshire require more planning than in many western states but still allow recreational prospecting. Hand panning with a gold pan and small trowel is legal without a state permit, as long as you have written permission from the riverbed landowner. Sluice boxes and suction dredges require an NHDES Recreational Mineral Dredging Permit ($25 resident/$50 non-resident). The White Mountain National Forest offers the best public-access option, with free annual gold panning permits, though equipment is limited to pans and trowels only.
New Hampshire’s gold is real but modest. The Ammonoosuc Gold District in Grafton County produced documented gold from lode mines in the 1860s and 1870s, and fine placer gold can still be found in streams across the northern and western parts of the state. For more on gold-bearing locations, see our best places to pan for gold in America guide, and check out our best gold panning kits for fine gold recovery.
Check out the laws in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Montana, or browse our full gold panning laws by state directory.
Frequently Asked Questions – Gold Panning in New Hampshire
Do I need a permit to pan for gold in New Hampshire?
Not a state permit for hand panning only. Under RSA 482-A:3, panning (defined as the manual search for minerals without motorized equipment) does not require a permit. However, you must have written permission from the riverbed landowner. If you want to use a sluice box, rocker box, or suction dredge, you need a Recreational Mineral Dredging Permit from the NHDES Wetlands Bureau ($25 resident, $50 non-resident). The White Mountain National Forest requires a separate free annual gold panning permit.
Can I use a shovel when gold panning in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire regulations prohibit using shovels to dig in streambeds or stream banks. You may scoop gravel using the gold pan itself or a small trowel. This restriction applies statewide on both public and private land. In the White Mountain National Forest, only gold pans and small trowels are allowed under the 2005 Forest Plan.
Who owns the riverbeds in New Hampshire?
In most cases, the adjacent private landowners own the riverbed to the center of the stream. The water flowing over the bed is a state resource, but the soil, gravel, and minerals in the bed belong to the landowner. Written landowner permission is required by RSA 482-A:3, XI(f) before panning or dredging on any riverbed in the state.
Is gold panning allowed in the White Mountain National Forest?
Yes, with a free annual permit from any WMNF District Office. Equipment is limited to gold pans and small trowels. Sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges, and all mechanized equipment are prohibited. Most gold panning activity occurs on the Pemigewasset Ranger District. Metal detectors are prohibited in designated Wilderness Areas.
Where is the best place to find gold in New Hampshire?
The Wild Ammonoosuc River near Bath is the most popular and historically productive location. Other good areas include the main Ammonoosuc River, Tunnel Brook in Benton, the Baker River near Warren, and Indian Stream in northern Coos County. The NH Geological Survey identifies the Ammonoosuc Gold District (Lyman, Monroe, Bath) as the state’s primary gold area.
How much gold can I expect to find in New Hampshire?
Be realistic. Most New Hampshire gold is very fine specks, sometimes barely visible to the naked eye. Pearl-sized nuggets have been reported but are rare. The NH Geological Survey says “hard work can probably produce traces of gold from many streams in the state.” This is a hobby for the experience, not a path to wealth.
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Ryan Conlon is the founder of Pan for Treasure.
A lifelong gold panning enthusiast, he created this site to help beginners learn the ropes and share practical tips from his own time on the creek. [email protected]