Mission Creek

Mission Creek is ranks right up there with Tranquille River as a popular public gold panning spot in British Columbia, Canada. While not an official gold panning reserve, there is a significant stretch of the creek open to the public. And it’s located right in the heart of Kelowna on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake.

That location is a mixed blessing. On one hand, it’s incredibly convenient to get to and with all that Kelowna and the Okanagan has to offer, a great way to supplement your summer vacation. On the other hand, convenience plus gold makes increases popularity resulting in … less gold.

That’s the impression I’ve gotten while researching Mission Creek online. There is certainly gold present and with a bit of preparation and luck, you’ll find some. But, by all accounts, the prevalence of that gold has dwindled as the notoriety of this public panning area has increased.

Where to Look for Gold on Mission Creek

Also like Tranquille River and other unofficial panning areas, deciphering where you can and cannot pan along Mission Creek is a bit tricky. The above map is my attempt at clarifying the situation a bit. I’m by no means an expert on the subject, but this is what I can glean from various online sources since a definitive map is not available.

Mission Creek flows from the mountains into Okanagan Lake through the south side of Kelowna. Within the city, it is tightly bound by something called the Mission Creek Greenway (meandering green area on map). To the best of my knowledge, the entire Greenway is open to the public for gold panning. Keep in mind, however, not all portions of the Greenway are ideal for panning. Furthermore, parts of it are quite narrow and it is all surrounded by public property, so be cognizant and respectful of where you’re digging.

Within the Greenway, are two regional parks; Mission Creek (purple) and Scenic Canyon (pink). These are broader areas of parkland and filled with trails and recreational facilities. Between them, in orange on the map, is the most popular stretch for successful gold panning. Again, this is simply derived from a few internet posts. Your experience, and success, may vary, but this is where I would start my hunt.

The absolute upstream limit for gold panning is the western boundary of Medicine Creek 12 Indian Reserve. This is Westbank First Nation’s land and you are not allowed to trespass or pan on it.