Lake Anna State Park — Goodwin Gold Mine Panning
Spotsylvania, Virginia
placer goldpyritequartz
State park dig · Fee, seasonal
Lake Anna State Park — Goodwin Gold Mine Panning
The ground beneath Lake Anna State Park was called Gold Hill long before the reservoir existed, and the Goodwin Mine worked it from 1829 into the 1880s. Virginia State Parks runs a ranger-led walk through the mine ruins paired with a panning session in the stream. It is a scheduled program with a hard headcount rather than open access, so book rather than turning up — and confirm with the ranger what you are allowed to take home.
The card catalog
| What you can find | placer gold, pyrite, quartz |
|---|---|
| Access | State park dig — Fee, seasonal |
| Fees | Standard Virginia State Parks daily parking fee plus a per-person program fee. The park page does not publish the program fee, the headcount cap, or what you may keep — register through the Virginia State Parks event calendar or call 540-854-5503 and ask when you book. |
| Season & hours | Offered as scheduled ranger-led programs ('Goodwin Gold Mine Tour and Gold Panning Experience') rather than open access; a session was on the park calendar for August 16, 2026. Dates run mostly spring through fall — check the Virginia State Parks event calendar. Day-use parking fills on weekends and holidays. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Expect wooded terrain and shallow stream work, and everyone under 18 should be with an adult. The park does not publish a minimum age on its site — ask when you register. |
| Official source | Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia State Parks |
| 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.
More drawers in Virginia
-
Westmoreland State Park — Fossil Beach
Montross, VA
fossil shark teeth, miocene shell fossils, fossil bone fragments
Before you go
What does Lake Anna State Park — Goodwin Gold Mine Panning cost?
Standard Virginia State Parks daily parking fee plus a per-person program fee. The park page does not publish the program fee, the headcount cap, or what you may keep — register through the Virginia State Parks event calendar or call 540-854-5503 and ask when you book. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Lake Anna State Park — Goodwin Gold Mine Panning open?
Offered as scheduled ranger-led programs ('Goodwin Gold Mine Tour and Gold Panning Experience') rather than open access; a session was on the park calendar for August 16, 2026. Dates run mostly spring through fall — check the Virginia State Parks event calendar. Day-use parking fills on weekends and holidays. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Lake Anna State Park — Goodwin Gold Mine Panning good for kids?
Yes — Lake Anna State Park — Goodwin Gold Mine Panning works for families. Expect wooded terrain and shallow stream work, and everyone under 18 should be with an adult. The park does not publish a minimum age on its site — ask when you register.