Gold Panning - Cooper Landing

Highlight of our trip to Alaska! This experience is the real deal! We highly recommend the backcountry dredging trip, where you get to work on an active mining claim. Prospector John and Miner Steve share their vast knowledge and captivating stories. Shaun also runs a fantastic shop, and the staff are incredibly helpful! We can't wait to return! If you're looking to try gold panning for the first time or are an experienced panner wanting to give it a shot in Alaska, this is the place for you! We absolutely loved it! Doug and Melissa Zeis

My brother-in-law and I were treated to a trip to Alaska for our 50th birthdays, courtesy of my wife. One of the highlights of the trip was going gold mining with Prospector John and his team. We struck gold, found garnets, and enjoyed a fantastic boat ride to the mining site. We spent a few hours working the mine with Steve and Mike; Mike was an amazing guy and a hard worker, while Steve embodied everything I had ever imagined an Alaskan miner would be. We also got to meet Steve's loyal 12-year-old dog, Louis. Both of them were incredibly knowledgeable about what we were doing, and they mostly let us work independently after showing us the ropes, stepping in to help whenever we needed assistance. It was an unforgettable experience, and I plan to return with my wife and kids on our next trip!

We had a fantastic time during our 2-hour gold panning experience. Prospector John took us to the site on a boat, and the scenery along the way was breathtaking. Once we arrived, we were greeted by Lois the dog and Prospector Steve, who explained the process to us. We used our pre-purchased packs of dirt and gold, which even included some beautiful pieces of granite. Panning for gold was a lot of fun, and at the end, Steve put our finds into a jar. The store also had some really interesting items. Overall, it was an incredible experience, and I would recommend setting aside about 2.5 hours for it.

We had the best time getting into the backcountry with Prospector John and two miners, Mike and Steve! My husband and I did the half day Devil's Canyon prospecting adventure. We were the only two on the tour so it felt really personal. My husband and I took turns on the suction dredge, while getting to chat with Mike and Steve the whole time. Mike's direction were very clear and he helped ensure we were doing it right to maximize our gold haul. And we definitely got some gold! This was such a memorable day both on and off the boat. If you don't have time for the full or half day tour, we at least recommend the Scenic Boat Tour as Kenai Lake is stunning all on her own.

Trip of a lifetime! This is authentic, a real Alaskan adventure! The boat ride on Kenai lake is stunning with gorgeous blue water. But the mining experience was the gem; Please note, it's the real deal, it's gritty, it's tough, you'll get wet. You are not just panning for gold in a pretty stream. You are digging and working to find your treasure. John is an absolute character, he will ensure you have a great time and make you smile. The miners Steve and Mike were incredible. So knowledgeable and incredibly kind. Amazing experience,  I would do it over and over! And yeah, I found gold!