Fairbanks Gold Maps
Updated November 2026
Our Fairbanks map shows there are currently 1,137 active gold mining claims, and 11,048 closed claims, all federal claims on file with the BLM. This map shows gold mining activity in Alaska’s famous Klondike region and is the largest of the four maps that make up Alaska.
1,137
active gold claims
11,048
abandoned claims
726
old mines and prospects NEW
State-land claims aren’t on these maps. Many Alaska mining claims are on state land, and those are kept by the State of Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), not the BLM. Before you prospect, check the spot with Alaska DNR as well as the BLM.
What you’ll see in the Fairbanks gold map
Start with the whole region
When you first open our Fairbanks gold map you can see clusters of gold claims throughout the area, from the hills around Fairbanks north to Coldfoot. Yellow and orange are active claims, and green and blue are closed claims. Closed claims don’t necessarily mean there’s no gold there. It could mean there just wasn’t enough gold there for a large mining company.
Zoom in to the claim lines near Coldfoot
Now take the Dalton Highway north out of Fairbanks to a small town called Coldfoot. You are now in the Koyukuk-Nolan mining district and about 45 miles north of the Arctic Circle. There is a huge amount of placer mining in this area, and you can see the claims follow the creeks. It’s crisscrossed with old mining roads that can get you to a new site, or to a claim you’re leasing for the season.
Click a claim to learn more
The Alaska maps draw each claim’s own outline. Click any claim and a pop-up shows its name, what kind of claim it is, its BLM serial number and about how many acres it covers. Use the serial number to check it on BLM’s MLRS site before you go. Recreational gold panners should not try to contact claim holders and should always stay away from claimed property.
Plan your trip to Coldfoot
There’s one camp site for RVs and tents in Coldfoot, but if we’re mining up here we’d prefer to wake up on-site every morning. There’s fuel and a small medical facility in Coldfoot, but bring everything else you’ll need. Be sure to include some guns as there are bears, and a fly-rod because the trout fishing is world-class.
Five layers for Fairbanks
One 1.3 MB download. Turn each layer on and off in Google Earth, which is free on your computer. How to open your map
Active lode claims
Gold in solid rock, the hard-rock veins
218
Active placer claims
Loose gold in sand and gravel
919
Abandoned lode claims
Old hard-rock claims nobody pays for anymore
5,200
Abandoned placer claims
Old creek and gravel claims
5,848
Old mines and prospects NEW
Tunnels, shafts, pits, dumps and tailings from USGS topo maps
726
Fairbanks Gold Mining Notes
None of the images above show just how close you can zoom in and see potential prospecting sites. You’ll be amazed at how crisp the satellite imagery is and how much exploring and planning you can do from the comfort of your home.
“As a prospector, I must admit that it has already pointed the way to some areas that I intend to prospect.”
Alan Chenworth, author of A Guide to Gold Panning in Utah
Alaska guides
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