Numerous rivers and creeks across Montana hold historic and active deposits of placer gold, attracting recreational prospectors and modern mining operations alike. Some of the most famous gold-bearing waterways include Grasshopper Creek, where the state's first major gold strike occurred, Alder Gulch near Virginia City, and Last Chance Gulch in the heart of Helena. Additionally, the Blackfoot River, the Missouri River, and countless tributaries originating in the rugged Rocky Mountain ranges continue to yield fine flakes and nuggets for dedicated prospectors using pans, sluice boxes, and recreational dredging equipment.