Prospector John’s Gold Mining Adventures

Catch gold fever: Pan for gold in unique places normally inaccessible to the public. Go with Prospector John’s out of Cooper Landing and you’ll get a taste of the Alaskan wilderness as you hunt for gold with expert gold miners.

Basecamp in Cooper Landing

Choose from excursions that last from 1 hour to a full day. All adventures begin at Prospector John’s basecamp store in Cooper Landing, just 90 miles from Anchorage, where you’ll find a truly unique gift shop featuring locally made artwork and other treasures. Pan for gold and mine for gemstones right outside the store, or head into the wilderness via raft or powerboat to try your hand at this iconic Alaskan activity—and keep the gold you find. All equipment is included.

Roadside Adventures

Gold Panning

Learn the ins and outs of mining for gold right outside the Prospector John’s store, in the shadow of Langille Mountain. It’s an experience perfect for all ages and groups of all sizes. Hear fascinating stories of the gold-mining process, both past and present. Then roll up your sleeves, run ore through a sluice box, and get pro tips on how to expertly pan for gold—keep the gold you find!

Gemstone Mining

Uncover amethyst, calcite, crystals, and more—up to 58 different gems—as you mine for gems at Prospector John’s store locale, and/or buy bags to go for fun at camp or home. Prospector John’s proprietary mix of gemstones and his hand built “old timer” gemstone-washing trough, and the mountain setting capture the imagination. Wash away the sand and feast your eyes on the astonishing colors and features of these stunning gems and fossils.

Kenai Lake Adventures

Mother Lode N’ Boat

Begin this expedition with a 30-minute motorboat ride across shimmering Kenai Lake, cutting across the reflections of snow-capped peaks. Once you reach the Devil’s Canyon Mining Camp, you’ll take a guided tour, hear about the mining process, and then get to work! Learn to use a suction dredge to suck up gravel, then put it through a sluice box and pan it. Choose a half- or full-day tour.

Gold N’ Boat

This 2-hour tour kicks off with a scenic motorboat ride across Kenai Lake to Devil’s Canyon Mining Camp. Tour the camp and hear about the gold-mining process from their passionate and seasoned miners, including Miner Steve who lives at camp all summer. Then it’s time to pan for gold next to a gorgeous waterfall, and of course keep whatever gold you find!

Gold N’ Raft

You’ll begin this tour with an hour of leisurely rafting along glacial waters, looking for bald eagles, bears, and moose, then bushwack for about a quarter mile to a remote streambed. There, you’ll learn all about the process of finding gold, then prospect in a creek with a sluice box for 3-4 hours. Pocket the gold you find and finish off with a stunning float through the Kenai Wildlife Refuge.