Hope Recreational Panning Reserve

The Hope Recreational Panning Reserve covers approximately 1.5 km of riverbank on the south side of the Fraser River. The panning reserve extends southwestard from the confluence with the Coquihalla River thought the broadest bar to work is right at the confluence.

This panning reserve borders a residential area. Based on that alone, I suspect it gets panned a lot. Couple that with the fact it is the closest panning reserve to the Greater Vancouver Area and it’s not hard to believe online commentators who state there isn’t much gold there.

They’re not entirely wrong as gold can still be found in the Hope Recreational Panning Reserve. But it’s harder to come by and is small. With Yale Recreational Panning Reserve just a 20 minute drive further north, it’s often recommended for panners to go there instead as it is more prolific.

Nonetheless, Hope is a beautiful place and even from the panning reserve, despite being on the edge of suburbia, the views are incredible. With trees and mountains in almost every direction, even a failed panning adventure will be enjoyable for scenery alone. With the Lower Mainland to the west, making this panning reserve a pit stop on a longer BC vacation is a no brainer.