Top Alaska Rockhounding Dig Sites

Located in the southwest part of the Talkeetna Mountains, Hatcher Pass is a well-known historic gold mining area and paradise for rockhounds and hikers alike. The area combines stunning mountain scenery with opportunities to discover a variety of minerals, from quartz crystals and garnets to traces of silver, gold, and copper.

What You Can Find: Gold (rich mining history), Copper specimens, Clear and milky Quartz crystals, Deep red Garnets in metamorphic zones. The Independence Mine State Historical Park provides educational context and guided experiences.

Best Locations: Independence Mine (historic site with park staff guidance), Fishhook Creek (garnet hunting), Little Susitna River (fossils and gems), Matanuska River (agates and petrified wood), and Willow Creek Mining Area (gold deposits).

Best Time to Visit: Summer months offer the best daylight for extended exploration. Rivers swell in spring, while summer provides optimal visibility when snow melts reveal hidden specimens.

Explore Hatcher Pass

Established in 1896, Crow Creek Gold Mine in the Chugach Mountains is one of Alaska's most famous and accessible historic mining sites. This privately-managed property offers visitors the chance to pan for gold, explore scenic creek beds, and walk through preserved historic buildings from Alaska's gold rush era.

What You Can Find: Gold flakes and small nuggets (formed from upstream quartz veins), small Quartz crystal specimens, and Muscovites in surrounding areas. Each prepared bag contains 5-6 pieces of gold, ensuring everyone finds something special.

Experience: Pay-to-dig site with all equipment provided, guided instruction, historic buildings to explore, and scenic trails. The Crow Creek River flows directly through the property, providing authentic gold panning opportunities.

Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall when weather is mild and stream flows are ideal for gold panning. Creek gravels are replenished each season.

Visit Crow Creek

Located between Front Street and the Bering Sea, Nome Beach has been famous since the late 1800s for its rich gold deposits. This renowned location offers rockhounding, beachcombing, and gold panning opportunities while providing a chance to experience Alaska's gold rush history along the Arctic coast.

What You Can Find: Gold flakes in beach sands and tidal gravels (295,000 ounces produced historically), Driftwood and Sea glass (refined by ocean currents), Marine fossils from ancient seas, and Quartz crystals with jasper stones and agates near Rock Creek Mine.

Best Locations: Nome Beach (both west and east ends for recreational mining), Anvil Creek Stream (site of Alaska's largest gold nugget find), and Rock Creek Mine area (now closed but good for quartz crystals).

Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall offers favorable weather conditions and manageable water levels ideal for gold panning and beachcombing.

Discover Nome Beach

Located within the Brooks Range in northwestern Alaska, the Jade Mountains offer one of North America's richest jade deposits. This remote area, surrounded by forests, rivers, and creeks, provides a unique opportunity to collect Alaska's official state gem, though strict regulations and challenging access require careful planning.

What You Can Find: High-quality Jade (formed from jadeite and nephrite through metamorphic processes), Nephrite in various colors from creamy to green, Quartz crystals, and Serpentine. The area produces some of the finest jade specimens in North America.

Best Locations: Kobuk River (primary source of smooth jade specimens), Jade Creek (12-mile stream flowing into Kobuk River), and Shungnak area (historically tied to jade cutting and trading). Note: Some jade mountains are not accessible to the public.

Access & Regulations: Extremely remote location requiring flights from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Bettles, then authorized air taxis. Strict laws require permission from Kobuk Valley National Park. Roads are not accessible.

Learn About Jade Mountains