Maine is a very big state, and anyone who has driven around there knows just how huge it is. Lots and lots of trees (and moose of course)! But, there is also lots of gold to be found in Maine.
Coos Canyon, ME
By far the most popular spot is in Byron at Coos Canyon along the Swift River and the East Branch of the Swift River. There is a great little Rock & Mineral shop there called Coos Canyon Rock & Gift. You can buy prospecting supplies there as well as learn panning techniques.
Here are some other locations as published by the state of Maine:
| River | Town | County |
| Swift River and its tributaries | Byron area | Oxford, Franklin |
| Sandy River | Madrid to New Sharon | Franklin |
| South Branch-Penobscot River | Sandy Bay; Bald Mtn; Prentiss | Somerset |
| Gold Brook | Bowman | Oxford |
| Gold Brook | Chain of Ponds; Kibby | Franklin |
| Gold Brook | Chase Stream | Somerset |
| Gold Brook | T5 R6; Appleton Township | Somerset |
| Nile Brook | Dallas; Rangeley | Franklin |
| Kibby Stream | Kibby | Franklin |
| St. Croix River | Baileyville | Washington |
But of course, there are MANY other great locations…you just got to do your homework. For example, this is what I call the New England Prospector’s Bible and is an important resource for all prospectors looking for gold in the northeast:
The New England Gold Bible!
Just remember to bring this book with you whenever you are traveling the back roads of New England (and be sure to always have a pan and shovel in your trunk).
Finding gold along the Kennebec River
Here is a great example of how you need to sample the ground wherever you go in NE. My wife Heidi and I were camping up north in Maine a few years back along the Kennebec River. I thought I would try our the dirt along the shoreline and to my great surprise, there was gold! So I checked my book and sure enough, that area was listed as gold bearing. So do your homework!
MORE TO COME…