First, look for a "gold trap" — a place along the stream where the current slows down enough for gold to settle. Gold can settle on the downstream sides of boulders and logs or in bends or curves in the stream. Many panners time their outings to coincide with winter snow melt or following a big storm. The thought is that Mother Nature may have loosened the gold lodged in high places and now it's flowing downstream and getting stuck in spots where you can reach it.

Keep in mind that all the shiny stuff in your pan may not be gold. Pyrite, known as "fool's gold," and mica are both brassy in color. If any gold-colored flecks float on the water, it's a sure sign it's NOT real gold. Don't get discouraged. Keep practicing, and sooner or later that flash in your pan will be the real deal!

Learn step-by-step techniques for how to pan for gold.

Gold can be found in many forms— nuggets, wire, tiny lumps called "pickers" or flat flecks and feather-shaped crystals. But no matter the size or type, having the right equipment and practicing good techniques makes learning how to pan for gold much easier, more profitable, and lots more fun!

Gold is heavier than most gravel found in streams, so that's why it can be collected in a gold pan when the right techniques are used. Assuming you already own a gold pan or two and know the location of a gold-bearing stream or other area, all you need is an optimistic attitude and practice to get good at hand panning.

Plastic gold pans are recommended for most folks, especially beginners. Plastic has significant advantages over the older metal pans— they are lighter, don't rust, nor do they conflict with the use of a magnet. Most pans are 10 to 18 inches in diameter at the top, with the sides sloping at roughly 30 to 45 degrees. The exact size is not all that critical as long as it's comfortable for YOUR hand and allows you to shake the pan so that the gold settles downward and allows you to wash the lighter material off the top. After all the lighter materials have been removed, only the heavy concentrates will remain in pan— and with practice, you'll see a gleam of gold at the bottom!


Learn step-by-step techniques for how to pan for gold.