Petersville Recreational Mining Area
Trapper Creek, Alaska
placer gold
State-designated locality · Free
Petersville Recreational Mining Area
A corridor of state land along Peters Creek, set aside by the legislature in 1997 under AS 41.23.630(b) so Alaskans and visitors could get first-hand experience of recreational mining and maybe take home a nugget or two. Hand tools need no paperwork whatsoever; anything with a motor needs permits from Fish and Game and DEC. Prospect on the Peters Creek valley floor rather than up Cottonwood Creek or on higher ground, where active claims begin just outside the boundary.
The card catalog
| What you can find | placer gold |
|---|---|
| Access | State-designated locality — Free |
| Fees | Free; pick, shovel, pan and earth auger need no permit at all. Motorized gear - suction dredge or water pump - requires ADF&G and Alaska DEC authorization, and the DEC general permit carries a fee that varies with projected use. Backpack power drills and augers are not authorized at all. |
| Season & hours | Open whenever the road is passable, roughly late May through September; Petersville Road is closed to through traffic in winter. Suction dredging allowed May 15 - July 15 only, closing at midnight on July 15 to protect salmon habitat. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Fine for grade-school kids once you are parked, but getting there is the obstacle: the last 14.9 miles are a primitive road DNR recommends driving in a 4WD or high-clearance vehicle, and the fact sheet is blunt that there are no developed campsites, sanitation facilities, drinking water or trash cans anywhere in the area. |
| Official source | Alaska DNR, Division of Mining, Land and Water - Petersville Recreational Mining Area fact sheet (September 2021) |
| 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 Petersville Recreational Mining Area cost?
Free; pick, shovel, pan and earth auger need no permit at all. Motorized gear - suction dredge or water pump - requires ADF&G and Alaska DEC authorization, and the DEC general permit carries a fee that varies with projected use. Backpack power drills and augers are not authorized at all. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Petersville Recreational Mining Area open?
Open whenever the road is passable, roughly late May through September; Petersville Road is closed to through traffic in winter. Suction dredging allowed May 15 - July 15 only, closing at midnight on July 15 to protect salmon habitat. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Petersville Recreational Mining Area good for kids?
Yes — Petersville Recreational Mining Area works for families. Fine for grade-school kids once you are parked, but getting there is the obstacle: the last 14.9 miles are a primitive road DNR recommends driving in a 4WD or high-clearance vehicle, and the fact sheet is blunt that there are no developed campsites, sanitation facilities, drinking water or trash cans anywhere in the area.