Gold Panning

Though you may not strike it rich, in most cases the wealth is in the experience! While you can usually pan no more than a few cents worth of gold in an hour, there's always a chance of finding a stray nugget. Recreational panning for gold in most streambeds is allowed. Special permission, permits, or fees are not required when only a shovel and pan are used and no significant damage is done to the streambed. In-stream sluices and suction dredges are not allowed.

Contact the Blue Ridge Ranger District office at (706) 745-6928 to determine whether the mineral rights of a stream are publicly or privately owned or if any restrictions have been placed on the stream.

Gold Mining

From the dome of Atlanta’s Capitol to University of North Georgia's iconic Price Memorial Hall gold-covered steeple and the Smithsonian-worthy Chestatee River Diving Bell, Dahlonega’s gold legacy lives on.

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Outdoor Adventures

The Chattahoochee National Forest makes up one-third of Lumpkin County, providing ample opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-roading, and ATV driving. Tubing, canoeing, and kayaking on the Chestatee or Etowah...

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