Sams Canyon: Gold Prospecting in Wasatch County, Utah

Updated June 2026

Sams Canyon is a mapped rockhounding spot in Wasatch County, Utah. Reported finds include lode gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Wasatch County
State: Utah
Coordinates: 40.38908, -111.46336

Geology at Sams Canyon

This spot sits on ground mapped as Oquirrh Formation, Wallsburg Ridge Member that formed roughly 305 to 300 million years ago. Placer gold, where present, typically concentrates in the gravels and washes that drain ground like this.

Mapped unit: Oquirrh Formation, Wallsburg Ridge Member
Age: 305–300 Ma (Pennsylvanian)
Elevation: 5,940 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 Sams Canyon

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 10°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DEER CREEK DAM station (4 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: April 1, 2026

BLM Utah, Rockhounding overview
Utah Geological Survey, collecting guidelines
SITLA, surface use rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Sams Canyon

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

Lode Gold Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Sams Canyon.

Sams Canyon FAQ

Where is Sams Canyon?+

Sams Canyon is in Wasatch County, Utah, at 40.38908, -111.46336.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Sams Canyon?+

Sams Canyon is reported to produce Lode Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Sams Canyon?+

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 Sams Canyon?+

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 Sams Canyon?+

The most comfortable months at Sams Canyon are March to November.

How do I get to Sams Canyon?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.38908, -111.46336 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Utah

See all 270 Utah spots →

Open Sams Canyon on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.