Going for Gold in Yukon

Calling all gold diggers and panhandlers. If you’ve got gold fever, the Yukon is the place to be! Come and discover the excitement, which drew thousands from across the continent to find their fortune.

Of course, the Gold Rush is synonymous with the Yukon. It is embedded in its history and infuses every Yukoner’s life even today. The Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 drew settlers from across the continent, eager to enjoy the extravagances afforded by the golden bounty which had initially been found in Bonanza Creek near Dawson City in 1896. In 2021 the Yukon celebrated its 125th anniversary of the discovery of gold. This authentic frontier town remains loyal to its historic routes, with its wild-west style store fronts painted in vivid hues, a plethora of heritage sites, and multi-cultural attractions.

Let’s talk location!

Using Dawson City as a base, visitors can take a step back in time and try their luck gold-panning at Claim 33 (a fun way to discover just how challenging the easy-looking process was!), before visiting Dredge No. 4 which showcases the transition from manual panning to machine searching. The gold rush inevitably created heroes and villains, winners and losers and a whole host of entertaining tales and fables which are still shared today. Our Dawson City & Goldfields Tour can be included in your Yukon holiday if you are visiting Dawson City.

Let’s talk technique!

If you intend on gold panning the ‘old-style’, you’ll need to know what you’re doing. Panning is a process of separation—you separate the gold from everything that isn’t gold. Sure, it sounds simple, but you can go crazy trying to find those minuscule gold flakes, so here are just a few pointers:

Fill your pan up with gravel.
Remove large rocks by hand, taking care to rinse them with water to uncover any stray gold clinging to them. Break up any clumps of clay.
Submerge the pan in the water. Agitate the gravel by swirling the pan with a vigorous side-to-side or circular motion. Put some muscle into it. The gold will settle at the bottom of the pan.
Now here’s the fun part: tip the pan away from your body at a slight angle to wash away the top layer of gravel from your pan. With any luck, you’ll discover gold.
When all you have left is a very small amount of black sand, pick out any gold flakes (or nuggets, if you’re really lucky) with your tweezers. Use your snuffer bottle to pick up any fine gold left behind.
Keep prospecting! It may not make you rich, but it’s guaranteed to be good fun.

Let’s share some top tips!

Gold is heavy. So you won’t find it floating on the river’s surface. It’s likely to settle where the water slows down, such as the inside of river bends. Gold also collects under big rocks or inside crevasses. So remember to dig deep.
Make sure you test a few spots along the river before settling in for the day. A slow-moving stream or river is ideal, and if you can find one with a large rock or log for you to sit on—well, that’s just perfect!
Always follow mining etiquette (yes, it exists) and fill in open holes or rocks dislodged while digging.
It perhaps goes without saying, keep away from private land, that’s not yours to prospect.

Want more information? This VIDEO gives an insight into Yukon’s Gold Rush history and how you can explore it for yourself.

Private Consultations

We appreciate that you all lead busy lives so we are happy to chat through your holiday plans either by telephone or email or, we would happily arrange a face-to-face meeting in our private office suite here in Leeds or in your home or office at a time/date convenient to you. We could also set up a video-meeting if that's your preference. A tailored holiday itinerary to suit your requirements can be complex so face-to-face discussions are often advantageous.

Superior Deluxe	Among the finest the world has to offer, hotels in this category are exclusive, lavish and indulgent. Needless to say, you will enjoy the highest service levels, superb accommodation and outstanding facilities and public areas.
Deluxe	This will be an outstanding hotel, offering many of the features of Superior Deluxe, though on a scale which will be a little less grand.
Moderate Deluxe	This will be a Deluxe standard property, although some of the accommodation and public areas may offer a less pronounced degree of luxury. In other instances, the hotel may be a famous name with a well-established reputation.
Superior First Class	More often than not, this will be a superior modern hotel or an older property which is exceptionally well maintained. All offer very comfortable and well-furnished accommodation and public areas.
First Class	A dependable and comfortable hotel with standardised rooms. These are the ideal choice for travellers who don not require deluxe facilities or special services.
Moderate First Class	Essentially a First Class hotel with comfortable but sometimes simple accommodations. Public areas may be limited but generally provides all the essentials a guest requires.
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Tourist Class
Dude Ranch
Resort Ranch
Working Ranch

Superior Deluxe

Among the finest the world has to offer, hotels in this category are exclusive, lavish and indulgent. Needless to say, you will enjoy the highest service levels, superb accommodation and outstanding facilities and public areas.

Deluxe

This will be an outstanding hotel, offering many of the features of Superior Deluxe, though on a scale which will be a little less grand.

Moderate Deluxe

This will be a Deluxe standard property, although some of the accommodation and public areas may offer a less pronounced degree of luxury. In other instances, the hotel may be a famous name with a well-established reputation.

Superior First Class

More often than not, this will be a superior modern hotel or an older property which is exceptionally well maintained. All offer very comfortable and well-furnished accommodation and public areas.

First Class

A dependable and comfortable hotel with standardised rooms. These are the ideal choice for travellers who don not require deluxe facilities or special services.

Moderate First Class

Essentially a First Class hotel with comfortable but sometimes simple accommodations. Public areas may be limited but generally provides all the essentials a guest requires.

Superior Tourist Class

Tourist Class

Dude Ranch

Resort Ranch

Working Ranch

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Going for Gold in Yukon

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