Gold Panning and Prospecting near Coos Bay, OR
10 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Coos Bay report gold. The closest is Sixes River Recreation Area, about 39 miles out (49 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 Coos Bay
Sixes River Recreation AreaCurry County, Oregon · 39 mi awayCheck locally · Gold, Agate, Jasper- Cow Creek Gold Panning & Rockhounding AreaDouglas County, Oregon · 48 mi awayCheck locally · Gold, Agate, Jasper +1
Island Creek Day Use AreaDouglas County, Oregon · 49 mi awayPublic access · Gold- Old MinesJosephine County, Oregon · 63 mi awayPermission required · Arsenopyrite, Azurite, Calcite +6
- Althouse CreekJosephine County, Oregon · 93 mi awayPermission required · Agate, Garnet, Gold Nugget +5
- Streams around Oregon CavesJosephine County, Oregon · 96 mi awayPermission required · Agate, Chalcedony, Gold +3
- Shelly Creek & Monkey Creek MinesDel Norte County, California · 99 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Arsenopyrite
Best spotHappy Camp Jade MinesSiskiyou County, California · 110 mi awayPublic access · Jade, Gold, Serpentine +1- Best spotQuartzville Recreational Mining CorridorLinn County, Oregon · 122 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Agate, Jasper +1
- Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek BridgeLinn County, Oregon · 122 mi awayCheck locally · Gold, Quartz, Calcite +7
Types of gold reported near Coos Bay
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Gold9
- Gold Nugget1
Gold near Coos Bay FAQ
Where can I find gold near Coos Bay?+
10 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Coos Bay report gold. The closest is Sixes River Recreation Area in Curry County, roughly 39 miles away (49 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Coos Bay?+
4 of the 10 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 Coos Bay do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 39 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 122 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Coos Bay
Gold Panning and Prospecting near other cities
Hunt gold around Coos Bay 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.
