DAWSON CITY
The "Paris of the North." In 1898, it was the largest city west of Winnipeg. Today, it is a living museum and the logistical headquarters for every miner in the Yukon.
Supply
Need a 10-inch dredge or a replacement belt for your wash plant? Dawson has industrial mining suppliers that stock everything a prospector needs.
Nugget Jewelry
The town is famous for "Nugget Jewelry." Artisans set raw, un-melted nuggets into rings and pendants. It's the ultimate souvenir.
Sourtoe Cocktail
At the Downtown Hotel, you can join the "Sourtoe Cocktail Club." Yes, it involves a real preserved human toe in your whiskey. Don't swallow it.
Field Tips: Buying Gold
Miners sell their clean-ups in town. You can often buy raw placer gold directly from the miners or established brokers for a better price than you'd find in the city. **Ask for "Placer 22k" purity.** Yukon gold has a high silver content, usually testing around 80-85% pure gold.
What Your Gold Is Worth
Rough spot-price estimate of your find. Real payout depends on purity, weight, and who you sell to — but this gives you a ballpark before you head home.
This is a rough calculator — purity, refinery fees, and market spread all affect what you actually get. Check current spot prices before selling.
Gold Knowledge Resources
Optional gold-culture references for readers curious about bars, coins, purity and storage language after prospecting. These are third-party resources, not financial advice.
BullionVault
Third-party resource for learning how vaulted physical gold services describe storage, fees and custody.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.BullionStar
Useful for comparing bars, coins, premiums and purity language after learning field testing basics.
Affiliate link. Paystreak may earn a commission; check the provider’s terms.APMEX
Browse mainstream bullion product formats and premiums as gold-culture background, not prospecting advice.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.JM Bullion
Reference catalogue for seeing common retail names, weights and purity markings used on coins and bars.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.The Digger's Code
- Backfill all holes before you leave.
- Pack out all your trash.
- Respect fence lines and gates.
Legal Disclaimer
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