The gold rushes of the 19th century might be long over and done with, but you can still conduct your very own hunt for the precious metal in plenty of places across the US using a shovel, pan, or metal detector. Recreational gold mining is proving to be a pastime for many these days... which might have something to do with the fact an amateur gold digger discovered the largest nugget ever found in California.

Read on to discover spots in America where you can still prospect.

In 1799, Conrad Reed was walking along Little Meadow Creek when he noticed a shiny, gold substance in the water. It turned out to be a 17-pound gold nugget, and was the first documented authentic gold claim in the US.

You can still pull gold out of the water to this day. Visitors to the area can also learn about other ways of finding gold from the land. 

If you are in Alaska and want to look for more than just incredible scenery and wildlife, you might want to try your hand at panning for gold in Crow Creek. The first claims of gold are said to have been made in 1897 near the mouth of the stream and panning has taken place here ever since.

Amateur gold hunters can get private excursions and a practice bag of rocks mixed with gold to make sure that they are panning correctly, before heading half a mile down stream to test their gold hunting skills. Panning costs $25 per adult.

In 1876 the gold rush swept across the Black Hills of South Dakota after gold deposits were found in Deadwood Creek, with people panning for gold ever since.

Much of the Black Hills are encompassed by public land and panning is available to whoever fancies wading through the waters. You will need to rent or bring your own panning equipment and the cost depends on where you want to go panning.

Rules and regulations differ slightly from state to state, but recreational gold prospecting tends to be permitted in the USA in designated public areas and on private land as long as the landowner gives permission.

The California Gold Rush began in 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill on the banks of the American River in Coloma. The surrounding area is still rich in gold deposits, and recreational panning is permitted these days at the south fork of the river in Coloma and at two forks in the Auburn State Recreational Area.

The Cosumnes River that flows through California's Eldorado National Forest is also known for its deposits of the yellow stuff. A great place to prospect, several camping grounds within the forest allow for gold panning.

The most popular gold panning sites include the areas around Cache Rock and the Pi Pi Campground, which is located along the middle fork of the Cosumnes, as well as the area around Capps Crossing.

In Nevada, as long as you discover gold on federal land – and it hasn't been claimed by someone else – you can stake a mining claim and keep or sell your booty. Similar rules apply in other US states, including California, Colorado and Alaska.

This swath of land near the Majuba Mountains is renowned for its chunky chevron-shaped gold nuggets, which are much sought-after by collectors. The gold deposits are situated in soils to the west of the reservoir, so you'll have to dry pan or search with a metal detector here.

There are many places to mine for gold in California, as it is rich with gold mining history, and Jamestown is no exception. The gold panning tours available here make this a popular choice.

Prices for prospecting here vary and it can be a little steep if you have an instructor, but then again you are going gold mining. 

A gold-hunter's paradise, this river in Colorado is hands down the best place in the state for recreational prospecting. Panning and sluicing for gold is permitted on the riverbed at Arapahoe Bar in west Denver, and digging is allowed on the north side of the river there.

There's also a large stretch of river about 10 miles upstream from Arapahoe Bar at Clear Creek Canyon where gold panning, sluicing and even suction dredging are permitted. You may even have better luck here given the location is up-river. Guided tours are on offer too.

North Georgia saw an American gold rush in 1928. People have long since been hunting there and the Consolidated Gold Mine is the place to go.

You can have a go at panning for gold or mining for gems. Instructions are also provided for beginners. The Consolidated Gold Mine is currently open seven days a week between 10am and 5pm and no reservation is required. 

The discovery of gold near the Chena River in Fairbanks set off the Fairbanks Gold Rush of the early 1900s and the yellow metal is still found in relatively impressive quantities in Alaska's ice-cold watercourses.

Several tourist companies that are based in Fairbanks offer gold panning courses on the river. Recreational panning is also allowed at the narrower Pedro Creek to the north of the Alaskan city.

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