I have been wanting to travel to alaska for quite awhile. Are there places in Alaska to treasure hunt? Please Answer And where are some good places to go to prospect for gold?

My dad was stationed with the Air Force in Alaska And I can remember him telling stories of finding gold on the beaches near Nome. He said there was always more after a great storm and one could walk along the beach and just pick it up. The problem was that the only access to that area, at that time anyway, was by plane. I always thought about that, but never made it up there. Perhaps you could check with Nome tourist sites and see if there is any information.

I know there was a huge gold rush in Alaska at some point, but I can't remember where or when - perhaps you could Google Alaska gold and see what you get

My sister's best friend lives about three hours from Anchorage so she has been up there a few times. Please be aware, if you go, that there are still very many places that are extremely wild. You do not want to travel alone nor do you want to be unarmed. Your life depends on it.

To answer your questions. 1. Yes. 2.where gold has been found before, but beware of violating someone elses claim.


One other suggestion, go to the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) and they have tons of information. you can find them at:

www.goldprospectors.org

Yes there are plenty of treasure hunting opportunities in Alaska.
But..
Be aware that outside of any town, you are not the top of the food chain. This place is still very much wild. While that is a big draw for folks, you must keep in mind that this is a place that will quickly kill the unprepared and unwary.
With that said..
If your heart is set on gold, Nome is a good place, you can pan and whatnot on the beach, and you will find gold.
Here is a link:

http://www.nomealaska.org/vc/panning.htm#Pan%20For%20Gold

Another wonderful place is Fairbanks.
Aside from the Comercial operations (Such as Gold Dredge #8) which give you a chance to pan in a safe and regulated invironment. There are several places within driving distance that will get you out for "the real deal". Pedro Monument is one such place. Just of the road, and open to the public, its a pretty safe place where you get more of a feeling of doing for real.
If you want the whole nine yards, there are other comercial operations that take you out into the bush, and there are several books for sale that tell you where you can go to pan without claim. I would suggest staying close to town your first time.

Hello all. Fairly new to the hunt in AK. Wonder if anyone knows of any good mineral / fossil hunts. I live on the Kenai pennisula and know of a couple of fossil spots here but not much else.

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Juneau, the capitol city is where I hunt. Near every glacier there is gold, pyrite and small garnets. Big garnets are in Wrangell AK but the mine is owned and the boys and girl scouts have the rights to it. In Juneau all these rocks and galena are on 1 trail, the Preseverance trail. It is a well maintained trail but at the end of the trail are 3 big pits (glory holes) you can pan for gold the entire 3 miles of the trail and I have personally found gold flakes the entire length of the trail. A cheap way to arrive at many destinations is to take the Alaska Marine Highway (it's a ferry system from Washington state up through Seward Ak. Forget the car and bring a bicycle if your traveling on a budget.
for more info write to me at minengold@yahoo.com

I have seen some of those large Garnets from Wrangell and they are indeed large.
Good info on the Marine ferry from Washington to Alaska