Gold Panning in California

1 verified location for gold panning in California. Each page includes exact permit requirements, restrictions, and what to know before you go.

1 Allowed

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Allowed

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

California, El Dorado·Gold panning

Recreational gold panning is allowed at the site where the California Gold Rush started — but only on the east side of the American River across the Mount Murphy Road bridge, and with hands and a pan as the only legal tools.

  • Panning is confined to the east side of the American River, across the Mount Murphy Road bridge — not the historic west-bank townsite where the museum and mill replica stand.
  • Hands and a gold pan only. Under 14 CCR § 4611(e) the gold pan is the sole tool exception to the no-tools rule for rockhounding in a state park unit — no shovels, trowels, sluices, highbankers or dredges.