About this spot
The famous free public panning claim on Bonanza Creek, about 15 km up Bonanza Creek Road from the Klondike Highway near Dawson City — just upstream of the Discovery Claim where the Klondike rush began in 1896. Maintained by the Klondike Visitors Association; no fee, no permit, and you keep everything you find.
Before you go
Bring your own pan and shovel (pans can be borrowed from the Dawson City Visitor Information Centre). Panning is only legal on this claim — the rest of Bonanza Creek is actively staked. Verify current status before visiting.
Source
Travel Yukon (travelyukon.com — Free Claim #6); Klondike Visitors Association / dawsoncity.ca
Marked Verified: confirmed against an official or authoritative source at the time of writing.
This guide is general information for recreational prospectors — it is not legal advice. Mining, land-access, and environmental regulations change and vary site by site. Always verify the current rules with the official sources linked above before heading out, obtain permission from private landowners and mineral-claim holders, and respect First Nations rights, settlement lands, and treaty areas — some lands require permission or are closed to panning entirely.