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Sandy River at New Sharon: Gold Prospecting in Franklin County, Maine

Check locallyBest spot3 mineralsFranklin County, MaineUpdated July 2026
Minerals reported
3
Elevation
320 ft
Best months
April to November

The Maine Geological Survey lists the Sandy River from Avon to New Sharon as open to recreational gold prospecting, one of the few reaches where even motorized methods are allowed. The gold is fine placer flour gold carried in the river's black sand, with garnet and magnetite among the heavy concentrates. The state maintains a free public boat access on the river off Route 2. Reported finds include gold, garnet, magnetite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Confirm rules before collecting

State
Maine
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Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Confirm rules before collecting

Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting, federal, state, and tribal rules differ.

Access note: Use the free state boat access on the Sandy River off Route 2 just inside the New Sharon line. Pan from within the public water without disturbing the banks, which are privately owned, and no permit is needed for hand panning.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Sandy River at New Sharon

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 79°F in midsummer and 28°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, NEW SHARON station (3 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Sandy River at New Sharon

This spot sits on Sangerville Formation, Anasagunticook member, mapped as metasandstone that formed roughly 445 to 435 million years ago. In sedimentary country like this, any placer gold is typically recycled from older gravels, concentrating again in modern stream beds.

Mapped unit
Sangerville Formation, Anasagunticook member
Age
445–435 Ma (Llandovery)
Rock types
metasandstone
Elevation
320 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified:

Found at Sandy River at New Sharon

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Sandy River at New Sharon.

Across the state line from Sandy River at New Sharon

Sandy River at New Sharon is close enough to the Maine border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Sandy River at New Sharon FAQ

Where is Sandy River at New Sharon?+
Sandy River at New Sharon is in Franklin County, Maine, at 44.62062, -70.06526.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Sandy River at New Sharon?+
Sandy River at New Sharon is reported to produce Gold, Garnet, Magnetite.
Is collecting allowed at Sandy River at New Sharon?+
Confirm rules before collecting. Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting, federal, state, and tribal rules differ. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
What tools should I bring to Sandy River at New Sharon?+
A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.
When is the best time to visit Sandy River at New Sharon?+
The most comfortable months at Sandy River at New Sharon are April to November.
How do I get to Sandy River at New Sharon?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 44.62062, -70.06526 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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