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Ninemile Creek: Gold Prospecting in Missoula County, Montana

Updated June 2026

Ninemile Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Missoula County, Montana. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Map showing Ninemile Creek in Missoula County, Montana

Quick details

Access
Public area
State
Montana
Nearest road
Ninemile Road

Geology at Ninemile Creek

This spot sits on Alluvial deposits, mapped as sand and gravel that formed within roughly the last 12,000 years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit
Alluvial deposits
Age
< 1 Ma (Holocene)
Rock types
sand and gravel
Elevation
3,350 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.

Best time to visit Ninemile Creek

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 34°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ALBERTON station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

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.

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 Ninemile Creek

Each chip 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 Ninemile Creek.

Across the state line from Ninemile Creek

Ninemile Creek is close enough to the Montana border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Ninemile Creek FAQ

Where is Ninemile Creek?+
Ninemile Creek is in Missoula County, Montana, at 47.13574, -114.51897. Nearest road: Ninemile Road.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Ninemile Creek?+
Ninemile Creek is reported to produce Gold.
Is collecting allowed at Ninemile Creek?+
Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
What tools should I bring to Ninemile Creek?+
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 Ninemile Creek?+
The most comfortable months at Ninemile Creek are March to October.
How do I get to Ninemile Creek?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 47.13574, -114.51897 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Ninemile Road.

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