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Gold panning in New Hampshire

Where to pan for gold in New Hampshire, the official public panning areas, and the rules for each kind of land. Our map of New Hampshire draws on 38 gold records: old mines, prospects, placer claims and lab-tested stream samples.

Official public panning areas in New Hampshire

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.

Tunnel Brook

U.S. Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest, Pemigewasset Ranger District

What's allowed: Gold panning with a pan and a small trowel only, with a free permit (anyone 18 or older); sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges and mechanized equipment are prohibited.

Fee: Free permit, valid for the calendar year, from any WMNF district office

Source: official page, checked 2026-11-04

Wild Ammonoosuc River (national forest section)

U.S. Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest, Pemigewasset Ranger District

What's allowed: Gold panning with a pan and a small trowel only, with a free permit (anyone 18 or older); sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges and mechanized equipment are prohibited.

Fee: Free permit, valid for the calendar year, from any WMNF district office

Source: official page, checked 2026-11-04

Gold areas in New Hampshire

PlacerPro covers New Hampshire's known gold country:

White Mountains (Wild Ammonoosuc, Grafton, Carroll, Coos)

Which creeks in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire map free for 7 days

Gold panning rules in New Hampshire

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.
White Mountain National Forest (blue outlines): panning needs a free permit (everyone 18 and over; from any district office, good for the calendar year). Pans and small hand trowels only: sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges and motorized equipment are not allowed. The Wild Ammonoosuc River is the best-known spot.
New Hampshire: dredges, pumps and other motorized equipment in a stream need approval from the NH Department of Environmental Services.
State parks: ask the park 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 New Hampshire for free?

New Hampshire has 2 official public panning areas 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 New Hampshire?

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 New Hampshire are below.

How do I find gold-bearing creeks in New Hampshire?

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 New Hampshire's gold country from old mine records, USGS lab samples and geologic maps, and shows public land and active claims.