Gold Panning and Prospecting near Bishop, CA
20 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Bishop report gold. The closest is Basalt, about 45 miles out (57 min drive).
Recreational gold collecting means panning placer gravels where moving water has concentrated heavy flakes and the occasional nugget, or working the dumps of historic lode districts.
Every gold spot within 150 miles of Bishop
BasaltEsmeralda County, Nevada · 45 mi awayPublic access · Copper, Gold, Lead +2- Esmerelda CountyEsmeralda County, Nevada · 60 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Lead, Platinum +2
- TokopEsmeralda County, Nevada · 63 mi awayPublic access · Copper, Gold, Lead +2
Best spotGoldfieldEsmeralda County, Nevada · 69 mi awayPublic access · Alum, Pyrite, Quartz +6
MinaMineral County, Nevada · 69 mi awayCheck locally · Copper, Gold, Lead +3- AuroraMineral County, Nevada · 70 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Silver
- Lone MountainEsmeralda County, Nevada · 70 mi awayPublic access · Copper, Gold, Lead +2
- TonopahNye County, Nevada · 81 mi awayPublic access · Copper, Gold, Lead +4
- ThorneMineral County, Nevada · 87 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Lead, Silver +1
- BeattyNye County, Nevada · 92 mi awayPublic access · Cinnabar, Opalite, Copper +5
- GabbsNye County, Nevada · 107 mi awayPublic access · Copper, Gold, Silver +3
- Broken HillsNye County, Nevada · 119 mi awayCheck locally · Gold, Lead, Silver
- Mt. SiegelDouglas County, Nevada · 121 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Platinum
- GardnervilleDouglas County, Nevada · 124 mi awayCheck locally · Gold, Silver, Copper
- BuckskinDouglas County, Nevada · 124 mi awayPublic access · Copper, Gold, Palladium +1
- Sand SpringsChurchill County, Nevada · 132 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Silver
- EastgateChurchill County, Nevada · 134 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Lead, Silver
- Best spotEl Paso MountainsKern County, California · 137 mi awayPublic access · Agate, Opal, Jasper +2
- GenoaDouglas County, Nevada · 139 mi awayPublic access · Copper, Gold, Silver +1
- Silver CityLyon County, Nevada · 148 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Iron, Platinum
Gold near Bishop FAQ
Where can I find gold near Bishop?+
20 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Bishop report gold. The closest is Basalt in Esmeralda County, roughly 45 miles away (57 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Bishop?+
17 of the 20 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible. Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land with limits set by the local field office; national parks and most state parks are closed to collecting. Confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
Do I need a permit to pan for gold?+
Hand panning is generally allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land that is not under an active mining claim, with no permit needed for pans and hand tools. Sluices and dredges fall under state rules and often do need permits. Check claim maps before working a creek: panning someone's claim is theft.
How far from Bishop do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 45 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 148 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Bishop
Gold Panning and Prospecting near other cities
Hunt gold around Bishop with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR shows these spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, weather, and a log for your finds.
