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Gold panning in Maine

Where to pan for gold in Maine, the official public panning areas, and the rules for each kind of land. Our map of Maine draws on 163 gold records: old mines, prospects, placer claims and lab-tested stream samples.

Official public panning areas in Maine

These places are set aside or managed for recreational panning, from the managing agency's own pages. Rules change: check the source before you go.

Coos Canyon (Swift River), Byron

City, Town of Byron (Land for Maine's Future project, sponsored by the Bureau of Parks and Lands)

What's allowed: Hand panning is allowed without a state permit as long as stream banks are not disturbed and no unlicensed discharge is created.

Source: official page, checked 2026-11-04

Gold areas in Maine

PlacerPro covers Maine's known gold country:

Downeast (Blue Hill and Hancock County mines, Washington, Waldo, Knox)
Penobscot County
Western mountains (Swift River, Sandy River: Oxford, Franklin, Somerset)

Which creeks in Maine are worth your time? PlacerPro rates every creek best chance, worth a look or long shot, and shows public land, active mining claims and the rules on one map that works offline.
Try the Maine map free for 7 days

Gold panning rules in Maine

Almost all of this land is private. Get the owner's written permission before you pan, dig or detect, and use legal access to reach the water. Old mines are private property and can be dangerous: stay out of shafts.
Maine: the land under streams is private, and any gold belongs to the landowner, so get permission first. Hand panning needs no state permit if you don't disturb the banks. Motorized prospecting is allowed only June 15 to September 15, with the owner's written permission, never in closed waters (salmon and brook trout habitat, Class AA waters and the DEP / LUPC closed lists), with 7 hp or less, a dredge hose of 4 inches or less and a sluice of 10 square feet or less.
State parks and public lands: ask the manager before collecting anything.

A summary from official sources, not legal advice. Confirm with the land manager before you dig.

Common questions

Where can I pan for gold in Maine for free?

Maine has 1 official public panning area listed below, from agency sources. Beyond those, panning is usually allowed on open public land (national forest and BLM) that isn't covered by a mining claim, and on private land with the owner's permission.

Do I need a permit to pan for gold in Maine?

Hand panning usually needs no permit on open public land, but the rules depend on who manages the land and what tools you use. Sluices, highbankers and dredges often need permits. The rules for Maine are below.

How do I find gold-bearing creeks in Maine?

Gold washes downstream from where it eroded out of the rock, so the best creeks drain old mining districts and gold-bearing rock. PlacerPro rates every creek in Maine's gold country from old mine records, USGS lab samples and geologic maps, and shows public land and active claims.