yukon gold panning championships logo
Register on site at 12:00pm
yukon gold panning championships logo

Saturday, July 4th
Dawson City, Yukon

Register

Experience gold panning in the Klondike during the Yukon Gold Panning Championships! Gold panners of any skill and all ages are welcome to join this competition based on efficiency and speed.

There are 7 categories in the event and skill levels range from complete beginner to those who make their living mining. Each category rewards a first, second, and third place, and all participants keep the gold they find!

Online registration is now open, save money by registering online!
On-site registration runs from 12:00-2:30pm.
Registration for each category ends 1 hour before category start time.

Online Registration closes at 4:00pm on Friday, July 3rd.

Categories

All times are approximate, please arrive at least 30 minutes before your category.
Registration prices are listed as online/on-site 

Klondike Classic - $20/$25
Starts at 1:15pm
Panners must use a Klondike Pan

Youth 13-17 - $5/$10
Starts at 1:35pm
Open to anyone aged 13-17

Sourdough Open - $15/20
Starts at 2:00pm
Open to anyone aged 60+

Youth U13 - $5/$10
Starts at 2:20pm
Open to anyone aged 12 or under

International Open - $25/$30
Starts at 2:45pm
Open to any experienced panner

Cheechako Open - $15/$20
Starts at 3:15pm
Beginner category, open to any new adult panner

Yukon Open - $40/$50
Open to any experienced panner with a Yukon ID.
Starts at 3:40pm

Top Prize: $2,000 towards a trip to Finland to compete in the 2027 World Gold Panning Championships

*All times are approximate, please arrive at least 30 minutes before your category.

Online Registration closes at 4:00pm on Friday, July 3rd.

Prizes

The top three competitors from each category get a prize!
Plus, everyone that finds gold keeps it!

Klondike Classic
1st -$150 Gift Card for Triple J/Klondike Spirit
2nd - $100 Air North Gift Certificate 
3rd- Jewelry from Gold Trail & $40 Gift Card for Trading Post 

Youth 13-17
1st -$50 Dawson Dollars
2nd - $30 Dawson Dollars
3rd- $20 Dawson Dollars

Sourdough Open
1st -$150 Gift Card for Aurora Inn
2nd - $100 Air North Gift Certificate 
3rd- $60 Gift Card for Trading Post 

Youth U13
1st -$50 Dawson Dollars
2nd - $30 Dawson Dollars
3rd- $20 Dawson Dollars

International Open
1st - Dawson Discovery Flight for 2 with Peel Wilderness Aviation
2nd - $100 Air North Gift Certificate & two 9 hole rounds of Golf
3rd- $100 Air North Gift Certificate

Cheechako Open
1st - $150 Gold Nugget
2nd - $100 Air North Gift Certificate
3rd- Two 9 hole rounds of Golf 

Yukon Open
1st - $2,000 towards a trip to Finland to compete in the 2027 World Gold Panning Championships
2nd - One night stay at any NVD hotel in the Yukon
3rd- $100 Air North Gift Certificate

All category winners also receive a Dawson City tote bag, and a YGPC certificate.
Select categories will also receive passes to Jack London Museum,
a drink at Diamond Tooth Gerties (adults), Dawson City sunglasses (Youth), and other 
great prizes! 

Online Registration closes at 4:00pm on Friday, July 3rd.

How the event works:

  • Participants register in advance online or on site at 12:00pm
  • Panners are given an equal amount of dirt in a container (either a pan or bucket’s worth, depending on category)
  • Each container contains Five (5) to Twelve (12) gold flakes- as small as a piece of ground pepper!
  • Each participant in their respective category receives the same amount of gold flakes to find (though you don’t know how many, only that it is between 5-12)
  • Participants pan through their entire container of dirt, to find all their gold flakes (hopefully)
  • Gold is transferred into a vial
  • Vial is shown to a scrutineer to count
  • Each participant is penalized three minutes for each gold flake they have not found
  • Winners of categories are determined by their final time, the final time is their original panning time combined with any time penalties from missing gold flakes

Yukon Gold Panning Championships is operated by the Klondike Visitors Association