Washington state contains substantial deposits of gold, and prospectors still find the precious metal today in both rivers and bedrock formations. The Cascade Mountains and the Okanogan Highlands host numerous historic mining districts where gold was actively extracted during past centuries. Recreational panned finds and metal detecting occur regularly along popular watercourses like the Columbia River, the Yakima River, and the Blewett Mining District. While commercial-scale gold mining has decreased significantly compared to major operations in places like Nevada or Western Australia, hobbyists and small-scale prospectors continue to discover fine flour gold, flakes, and occasional small nuggets across public lands and designated recreational mining sites throughout the state.