Bertha Creek Panning Area (Chugach National Forest)
Girdwood / Moose Pass, Alaska
placer goldpyritequartz
Forest Service collecting area · Free
Bertha Creek Panning Area (Chugach National Forest)
An early prospector named this stream after his daughter, and hand and hydraulic work beginning in 1902 may have taken 600 ounces off the alluvial fan below the canyon. The creek crosses the Seward Highway 2.6 miles south of Turnagain Pass, and the open water runs from the Granite Creek junction upstream to the powerline crossing - Granite Creek itself is closed for salmon spawning, so mind where you step in. The tan clay layer sitting on slate bedrock just above the highway bridge is the classic spot, and single pans here have turned up pieces a quarter inch long.
The card catalog
| What you can find | placer gold, pyrite, quartz |
|---|---|
| Access | Forest Service collecting area — Free |
| Fees | Free; no permit for hand tools. Camping at Bertha Creek Campground is a separate fee. |
| Season & hours | Hand tools year-round on paper; the Seward Highway corridor here holds deep snow, so plan on June through September. Suction dredges of 4 inches or smaller, May 15 - July 15, with a free ADF&G permit. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Probably the easiest gold stop on the Seward Highway with kids - park at Bertha Creek Campground and walk to the water. Watch the boundary, because adjoining Granite Creek is closed to all recreational mining. The lower ends of nearby Spokane, Lyon and Tincan creeks fall inside the same withdrawal and are open too. |
| Official source | USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest - Gold Panning: A Guide to Recreational Gold Panning on the Kenai Peninsula |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Bertha Creek Panning Area (Chugach National Forest) cost?
Free; no permit for hand tools. Camping at Bertha Creek Campground is a separate fee. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Bertha Creek Panning Area (Chugach National Forest) open?
Hand tools year-round on paper; the Seward Highway corridor here holds deep snow, so plan on June through September. Suction dredges of 4 inches or smaller, May 15 - July 15, with a free ADF&G permit. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Bertha Creek Panning Area (Chugach National Forest) good for kids?
Yes — Bertha Creek Panning Area (Chugach National Forest) works for families. Probably the easiest gold stop on the Seward Highway with kids - park at Bertha Creek Campground and walk to the water. Watch the boundary, because adjoining Granite Creek is closed to all recreational mining. The lower ends of nearby Spokane, Lyon and Tincan creeks fall inside the same withdrawal and are open too.