With cooler temperatures and lower river levels, the fall is one of the best times of year to give gold panning a try, especially if you're a newcomer to the hobby. Whether you're looking for a new weekend activity to try with your family, or just want to see what treasures might be waiting in your local river or creek, fall is the perfect season to start!

Why is Autumn Ideal for Gold Panning?

After the busy summer season, rivers and creeks tend to run lower, giving you better access to gravel bars and hidden deposits. Cooler weather makes it easier to spend hours outdoors without the heat, plus the beautiful changing scenery (depending on where you are of course), adds to the adventure and enjoyment of being outside.

Typically Lower Water Levels: Rivers, creeks, and streams typically have lower water flow in the fall after the dry summer season.

Easier to Spot Exposure: Lower water and fallen leaves make geological features more visible. It's easier to identify gold traps like crevices, cracks in bedrock, and inside bends where gold naturally collects.

Cooler Weather: Summer heat can be exhausting, especially when working in full sun with heavy gear. Fall temperatures are generally more comfortable, allowing for longer prospecting sessions without overheating or dehydration

Less Crowds: Peak prospecting spots are often crowded in the summer. Autumn usually means less competition and more privacy, allowing you to spend more time on productive spots.

Using a Sluice or Dredge: If you're using a sluice box or dredge (where legal), the cooler temps and manageable water flow make fall the ideal time to set up gear without battling high currents

Gear Up with the Right Equipment

Gold prospecting equipment can be intimidating. But, it doesn't have to be! Scroll on for a few beginner-friendly essentials to get you started right away.

Dual Riffle Gold Pans:

Our best-selling dual riffle gold pans are available in four sizes and three colorways. With compact micro riffles on one side, a flat sidewall, complemented by deep 3.25-inch riffles on the other side, plus a 1/8-inch-deep round base, these incorporated zones work together to optimize gold recovery. If you're not sure which pan is right for you, check out this video on our Youtube Channel to help narrow it down!

5pc Beginner Kit:

In the 5pc beginner gold panning kit, we've included one of our most popular gold pan sizes: 10 inch diameter; the gold pan features dual riffles (coarse and fine) that will assist you in separating gold from other unwanted materials like gravels, sands and rocks. As for gold prospecting equipment accessories, this kit comes with a magnifying tweezers, snuffer bottle for gold capture, and two glass vials with screw top for secure gold storage.

10pc Beginner Kit:

This 10-piece beginner gold panning kit is a great beginner kit that includes tools designed to help you identify, clean, and collect valuable gold flakes and minerals in the field. The backpack holds all your prospecting equipment in one bag for organization and an easy trek to your claim site. An ASR Outdoor best-seller!

13pc Creekside Kit:

Compact and lightweight, this all-in-one creekside gold panning kit includes one 12-inch gold pan, mini classifiers, prospectors scoop, an 8lb magnetic up tool and gold recovery equipment: everything you need to pan for gold! Plus, all the gold prospecting equipment fits in the large ASR Outdoor drawstring backpack, keeping everything together and organized, while allowing you to reach remote areas with all your gear on your back.

6pc Beginner 'Bobby Bo' 3oz Paydirt Kit:

 

Our gold panning kit with Pan for Gold with Bobby Bo 3oz paydirt bag is ideal for newcomers because it offers hands-on learning, instant practice, and a complete starter experience without the need to travel to gold-bearing areas right away. The 3oz bags are guaranteed to include gold! And, with paydirt, you can pan indoors anytime—even during winter or bad weather—keeping the hobby accessible all year-round.

19pc Gold Prospecting Recovery Accessory Kit:

If you already have gold pans but need recovery accessories, our 19pc gold panning recovery accessory kit includes pipettes, snifter bottles, magnifying tweezers, glass vials, pocket scale, mini funnel, carabiner, 8lb black sand magnetic pick up tool that all fit in an ASR Outdoor drawstring backpack. All these gold prospecting equipment accessories are essential tools to have in the field when gold panning or sluicing, for fine gold extraction, recovery, clean up, examination and storage.

TIPS FOR NEWCOMERS:

Know the Laws: Research land ownership and regulations. Some areas are private, protected for claim-staked. National forests and BLM land may allow recreational panning but always check beforehand, as rules may vary.

Dress & Pack Properly: Bring waterproof boots and clothing, or gear that you don't mind getting muddy and wet. Pack snacks, a hat, sunglasses, water, sunscreen or bug spray as needed.

Learn to Read a River: Gold is heavy and will settle in low-pressure zones (inside bends, behind large rocks, cracks in bedrock). Look for shallow, slow-moving water with gravel or rocky bottoms. Areas behind large rocks or bends in the river often collect heavier materials like gold.

Gold Panning Technique: Gold panning is all about using water and motion to separate heavy gold particles from lighter materials like sand and gravel. It's simple in concept but requires practice to master! Gold is 19x heavier than water–the goal is to let gravity do the work.

- Fill your pan with raw material and water (about halfway)

- Shake the pan side to site to agitate the material and help to force the heavy gold to settle at the bottom of the pan

- Slightly tilt the pan forward and allow water to gently wash off the top layer of lighter material (use a gentle forward motion while dipping the pan under water)

- Repeat until you're left with mostly black sand and other heavy particles

- As you get down to the last bit of concentrate, be extra gentle; use a swirling motion to fan out black sand to (hopefully) reveal any gold flakes

Collect your Finds: Use snuffer bottles to gather any gold flakes or small nuggets you discover to keep them safe. Then, via snuffer bottle, transfer to a vial to ensure findings aren't lost.

Respect the Environment: Fill in holes when done, avoid disrupting wildlife and pack out any trash; follow the 'leave no trace' principles! 

Patience is Key: Gold panning is a hobby that requires patience. Many beginners find more fun than fortune—but the thrill of even a few flakes is very rewarding after an afternoons work of panning!

Get Started This Fall Season!

With the right gear and a little patience, fall prospecting can turn an ordinary weekend into a golden adventure. Check out ASR Outdoors full lineup of gold panning kits and gold prospecting equipment, and make this autumn your own personal gold rush.