Gold Panning and Prospecting near Florence, SC
20 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Florence report gold. The closest is Haile Gold Mine, about 51 miles out (1 hr 4 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 Florence
Haile Gold MineLancaster County, South Carolina · 51 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Pyrite, Quartz- WadesboroAnson County, North Carolina · 54 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Anson CountyAnson County, North Carolina · 56 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Calcite, Garnet +5
- Flat CreekLancaster County, South Carolina · 58 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Pyrite, Sericite
- Uwharrie MountainsMontgomery County, North Carolina · 85 mi awayPublic access · Quartz, Gold
- Reed Gold MineCabarrus County, North Carolina · 85 mi awayPublic access · Azurite, Gold, Malachite +7
- Black Ankle MineMontgomery County, North Carolina · 90 mi awayPublic access · Gold
Best spotEldoradoMontgomery County, North Carolina · 90 mi awayPublic access · Azurite, Calcite, Gold +6
Gold HillRowan County, North Carolina · 97 mi awayPermission required · Magnetite, Manganese, Garnet +3- Davidson CountyDavidson County, North Carolina · 107 mi awayPublic access · Chalcopyrite, Gold, Pyrite +8
- Fork of Big Creek & Little Saluda RiverSaluda County, South Carolina · 110 mi awayPublic access · Amphibolite, Chalcopyrite, Chlorite +4
- SmyrnaYork County, South Carolina · 111 mi awayPublic access · Calcite, Galena, Gold Nugget +2
- Crowder's MountainGaston County, North Carolina · 112 mi awayPermission required · Barite, Chalcopyrite, Corundum +10
- Clubb MountainGaston County, North Carolina · 112 mi awayPublic access · Corundum, Lazulite, Kyanite +7
- CatawbaIredell County, North Carolina · 126 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Calcite, Magnetite +1
- Sleepy CreekEdgefield County, South Carolina · 126 mi awayPublic access · Gold
- Spartanburg CountySpartanburg County, South Carolina · 138 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Diamond
Best spotDorn MineMcCormick County, South Carolina · 146 mi awayPublic access · Gold- Sandy Level ChurchRutherford County, North Carolina · 147 mi awayPublic access · Gold, Platinum, Diamond
- McCormickMcCormick County, South Carolina · 150 mi awayPermission required · Gold
Types of gold reported near Florence
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Gold19
- Gold Bearing Galena1
- Gold Nugget1
Gold near Florence FAQ
Where can I find gold near Florence?+
20 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Florence report gold. The closest is Haile Gold Mine in Lancaster County, roughly 51 miles away (1 hr 4 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect gold on public land near Florence?+
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 Florence do I need to drive?+
The nearest gold spot is about 51 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 150 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Florence
Gold Panning and Prospecting near other cities
Hunt gold around Florence 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.
