Haven't panned there, doesn't it go under I-80 near by the rest stop? Always thought that it would have some gold. Have panned an area by Clintonville on Whann Run dropping down to the Allegheny, knew the old owner. Found a couple fly poop specks in probably 15 pans and not much else. No longer live around that area. I believe there may be several streams between both those rivers with some fine gold.

I am going to be in PA in October and was thinking checking out the Shenago river and didn't want to get in trouble

I found some gold in the Shenago river it's small but it is gold!!!

Congrats on finding some specks. West PA should have some good gold considering a few glaciers terminated there. If you're on state land they frown on panning and the National Forest I never tried or researched. Most areas are private land and if you can convince the owner to let you test it you would be ok.

Interesting article in the September 22 ICMJ Prospecting and Mining Journal regarding Glacier mineral deposits and finding gold. The wide area discussed was from Minnesota to the East coast but there was an emphasis on Western PA. The reason that gold is so sparse is that, aside from private property, federal and state restrictions, most rivers and streams travel in a North/ South orientation in parallel with the way the material/ glacial till was deposited. So they suggest if you are to prospect West PA then look where streams travel East/ West, crossing the material. The overburden alone makes for great farming but could mean hundreds of feet to any type of bedrock. Does make sense to me, and for those with patience to prospect there I wish them the best.