This is hallowed ground. In 1896, George Carmack pulled a nugget from this creek that sparked the greatest gold rush in history. Today, it is still an active mining district.

Do not be fooled by the "historic" look. Bonanza Creek is lined with **Active Commercial Placer Claims**. Heavy machinery operates here 24 hours a day in summer.
The ONLY Public Access is at specific designated sites: 1. **Discovery Claim** (Historic Site - No Panning) 2. **Claim No. 6** (Free Public Panning allowed) Trespassing on other claims is dangerous and strictly enforced.
Maintained by the Klondike Visitors Association. You can bring a pan and shovel and keep whatever you find. No sluices or motors.
Visit the massive wooden hull of Dredge No. 4. It processed millions in gold but is now a National Historic Site.
The ground is frozen solid just a few feet down. This "muck" preserves mammoth bones (often found by miners) but makes digging extremely hard work.
At Claim No. 6, the creek has been worked over by hand, then by dredge. However, the **Old Timers missed plenty**. Look for the "virgin" white channel gravels often exposed at the base of the valley walls, away from the creek center.
Real Yukon nuggets command a premium price. If you don't make it North this summer, you can still own a piece of the rush.
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Land access rights, safety conditions, and public fossicking zones change. You are solely responsible for verifying regulations with local authorities (DOC/Council/BLM) and assessing river safety before visiting. Paystreak.io accepts no liability for injury, fines, or trespassing. Never dig on private land without explicit permission.
✓ Information last verified: January 2026