How to Pan for Gold in Idaho

Imagine finding gold. Now imagine that you panned it yourself! Gold panning in Idaho is a prospector’s dream. Not only is Idaho a great place to visit, the Rocky Mountains within it have some of the best areas in the country if you’re looking to pan for gold. If you are a beginner, there are a few things you should know before you start.

Instructions

1. Find somewhere to stay. If you’re not from Idaho and only vacationing, find a hotel or inn that has gold panning packages. Most have tours and guided panning areas for you to visit. If you are not new to the area, you will need to find out public areas for panning since you can’t legally pan on private property without the property owner’s permission.

2. Once you are ready to start panning, you should observe some simple rules of the land. Always refill your holes that you have made. Always take any trash you have made with you when you leave. Never did a hole within two shovel lengths near another prospector. Always observe local, state and federal rules within the area you are prospecting in Idaho.

3. To pan for gold you will need a standard gold pan, which is 16 inches in diameter, made of sheet iron and approximately 2 ½ inches deep. If you have children or find it easier to use a smaller pan, there are 8- to 14-inch pans that you can choose as well.

4. Washing gold by panning is one of the most popular techniques to use when panning for gold; filling your pan level with your dirt or gravel material is how you start. You will then submerge the pan in water that is preferably about 6 to 10 inches deep. Very carefully stir the contents of your pan, using both hands so that all of your material is wet. After this is done you will now shake your pan gently to move the lighter materials to the top of your pan. You will then tilt your pan so that less dense material can make its way to the edge of you pan and be easily seen. You will need to repeat this process multiple times until light surface layers are washed away.

5. If you find any gold, you can remove it and place it into a protective vial until it is to be cleaned and sold or taken as a souvenir. You are never to use dangerous chemicals used to test gold unless you are a qualified person, and even then, they are to be used well away from streams, rivers and lakes in the state of Idaho.

Tips & Warnings

• Find guided gold panning in Idaho if you are new to gold prospecting.

• Always observe private property rules and never use someone's property without their permission.