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Washington Gold Panning Law

The Washington State gold panning and mining rules are located in the 2009 Gold and Fish Pamphlet. This pamphlet is produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. It can be found online or obtained by contacting the department.

Permissible Areas
- Panning for gold is allowed all year in appropriate bodies of water within Washington State. All bodies of water except lakes and salt water waterways can be used to pan for gold.
Panning Tools
- Only tools manipulated by hand can be used. This includes pans, spiral wheels and boxes. A pan can be any metal or plastic dish that has openings for water to drain.
Rocks and Limbs
- Hand-operated winches can be used to remove heavy rocks or tree limbs. No vehicle-mounted winches are allowed. Any rock or limb embedded in the ground must not be removed. Digging can only be done using hand-held tools. All excavation must be done from the bank of the water.
Time Frame
- Panning must take place during the daylight. There is a half-hour leeway before sunrise and after sunset.
Environmental Awareness
- Fish, reeds and mussels must not be disturbed. If these are discovered while panning, the operation must be moved.

Rock Collecting