alaska gold rush

Gold panning near Anchorage in 2026 — Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood and Hatcher Pass offer family-friendly Alaska gold rush adventures.

Pan for real gold at an 1896 Alaska gold rush site forty minutes from Anchorage. Eight preserved historic buildings, family-friendly summer day trip.

Gold panning near Anchorage: try Crow Creek Mine, Hope's Resurrection Creek, or Hatcher Pass' Little Susitna River — three real Alaska placer gold sites.

Gold panning is one of Alaska's most hands-on visitor experiences, and two excellent sites are within day-trip distance of Anchorage: Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood (operating since 1898) and Hatcher Pass Independence Mine State Historical Park. Here's how to plan your visit.