Erickson Recreational Panning Reserve

Just to the east of Creston, off the Crowsnest Highway, you’ll find the Erickson Recreational Panning Reserve. The reserve is a tidy 500 m by 1 km rectangle of land spanning the Goat River in a forested, semi-developed area on the edge of town. Most of the land within the reserve is privately held, so you’re best bet is to stick to the riverbanks

The reserve itself is easy to get to, but access to the river is a bit tricky from the looks of things. Your best bet is to park near the train bridge and hike down a dirt trail below the highway bridge from there. There is gold present so the effort won’t be wasted.

Creston has a full complement of services making it a perfect spot for a day trip or longer visit. It’s also the eastern end of BC’s great fruit thoroughfare along the US border. You can come for the gold in the Erickson Recreational Panning Reserve and fill your belly with delicious, locally-grown fuits.