Oregon offers a unique prospecting experience: Beach Gold. Here, the gold is so fine it floats on water tension, requiring specialized "flour gold" recovery techniques.
Wild and scenic river mining. Famous for recreational dredge permits.
Eastern Oregon's dredge capital. Massive tailings piles and historic equipment.
Coastal gold panning. Where the forest meets the ocean—and the black sand is deep.
The source lode for much of Eastern Oregon's gold.
The black sand beaches of southern Oregon (Gold Beach to Bandon) contain significant quantities of micro-fine gold. Traditional sluices won't catch it. You need Gold Cube orBlue Bowl technology to process these concentrates effectively.
Oregon has strict rules regarding in-stream equipment. Always check the Oregon Department of State Landsfor seasonally-specific "General Authorizations" before using mechanical pumps or sluices.
The southern Oregon coast from Gold Beach to Bandon has significant black sand gold deposits. These beaches contain micro-fine 'flour' gold that requires specialized equipment like Gold Cubes or Blue Bowls to recover effectively.
Oregon has strict dredging regulations. In-water motorized equipment requires a 'General Authorization' from the Oregon Department of State Lands, with specific seasonal windows. Many rivers have complete dredge bans to protect salmon habitat.
Oregon produces extremely fine 'flour' gold on beaches and in rivers, plus coarser placer gold in the Sumpter Valley and Blue Mountains. The coastal gold is so fine it can float on water tension, requiring specialized recovery methods.
Late summer (August-September) offers the lowest water levels on rivers. For beach gold, winter storms actually replenish the black sand deposits — January through March can be productive if you can handle the weather.
Hand panning in rivers and on public beaches doesn't require a permit. However, any mechanical equipment (sluices, dredges, highbankers) requires authorization from the Oregon Department of State Lands.
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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