The WORST episodes of Gold Rush
Every episode of Gold Rush ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Gold Rush!
Teams of miners face various obstacles and overcome several challenges as they dig for gold in the lesser-known regions across Canada and the United States.
#1 - Gold, Guns and Bears
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/10/2010
The stakes get higher at the Porcupine Creek prospect as reality sets in about just how little time they have to get to their gold. The miners start to rebuild the mining ghost town but the bears aren't so keen on their new neighbors — and they let them know it.
#2 - Family Feud
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/11/2011
Jack and Todd go head to head over how to set up their new claim. At Porcupine Creek, Dakota Fred rips out the wash plant and finds gold that he forced the Hoffmans to leave behind. At Big Nugget mine, Parker continues to hit pay dirt.
#3 - Revelations
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/2/2012
In never before seen footage, the miners unearth the sometimes ugly truth about their 2011 mining seasons. In a shocking development, one miner is kicked out of the Hoffman crew. The miners also disclose plans for next season.
#4 - Klondike Legend
Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/12/2016
Tony Beets travels back to his roots in the Netherlands where he reveals details about his transformation from a farm boy to a Klondike mining legend. Cameras also follow him in his offseason home in the desert.
#5 - Running Dirt
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/17/2010
The crew races to set up the mining plant and start running dirt. When the families arrive from Oregon and question the lack of gold — and master mechanic Harness becomes dangerously ill — the tension builds so high that Dorsey and Todd almost come to blows.
#6 - Slippery Slope
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/18/2011
The Hoffman crew confronts the permafrost that lies between them and the gold. As the Dakota Boys set up their new wash plant, Fred pushes his son too hard and Dustin storms off. Parker faces a breakdown that leaves his mining season at a stand still.
#7 - Oregon Gold
Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/19/2016
Faced with losing McKinnon Creek, Todd goes prospecting for nuggets and a new claim. Tony steers the dredge in a radical new direction and Parker pushes his crew to the limit when he orders them to move the washplant in 12 hours.
#8 - The Resurrection
Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/20/2014
Todd's 150 days is up and with no gold and just a few diamonds he faces eviction. Despite a big clean out, Parker modifies his plant to hit a million dollar season. Dustin finally gets real mining equipment up to Cahoon Creek to see if it holds big gold.
#9 - Man Down
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/3/2012
A heart attack has 91 year-old mining legend John Schnabel battling for for his life. The Hoffmans find a gold nugget that becomes a game-changer and Dakota Fred accomplishes what Jack Hoffman never managed to do at Porcupine creek.
#10 - Gold Fever
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/21/2011
The miners' futures are on the line at Porcupine Creek. After 80 days, the miners are behind schedule, and the Hoffmans have run out of money and deliver the crew an ultimatum: find $10,000 worth of gold in the next two days, or the families have to head home to Oregon. Meanwhile, after Dorsey struggles with the wave table, tensions flare and fists fly.
#11 - Virgin Ground
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/4/2011
The Hoffman crew heads north to the Klondike in a desperate bid to find a new claim and salvage their mining season. 16-year-old Parker Schnabel takes over the Big Nugget Mine, while Dakota Fred gets a new start at Porcupine Creek.
#12 - The Ultimatum
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/23/2012
Todd's chief investor demands to see 100 ounces of gold in the next three weeks, or he will pull the plug on the Klondike operation. At Indian River, Dave Turin is on the gold. Parker's crew goes into meltdown when he forces them to replace a bridge, while Fred attempts to make a precision part for the 270's track out of scrap metal.
#13 - Mammoth Mess
Season 13 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/27/2023
Parker barrels towards his first Alaska gold weigh but a flood in the Wolf Cut could derail everything. Tony makes a mammoth discovery. The Clayton Brothers finally reach Golden Acres and start stripping.
#14 - Rock Bottom
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/20/2012
A broken excavator sidelines the Hoffman crew; Parker Schnabel returns the mine to his grandfather; efforts to reopen a mine beget a clash between the Dakota boys.
#15 - Twist of Fate
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/28/2011
The Hoffmans have to find gold and fast. The crew arrives in Porcupine Creek reinvigorated and in record time, they are on the gold. But just they celebrate their best clean out ever, "Dakota Fred" returns and drops a bombshell on Todd, Jack and crew.
#16 - Runway to Redemption
Season 13 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/17/2023
Parker returns to the Klondike and drops a bombshell on his crew to make up for the Alaska debacle. Fred and son Christopher face off over the nightshift. Tony’s Winchester Crew cash out for the season.
#17 - Bedrock Gold
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/27/2012
A key crew member calls it quits at Quartz Creek. Meanwhile, massive rocks break Dakota Fred's derocker and Parker reconsiders his future after smelting his 35oz season haul into a solid gold bar.
#18 - Go Down Fighting
Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/16/2016
Todd Hoffman hits rock bottom when a key crew member quits; Tony Beets transforms some rusty relics into a monster power barge; a troubled Parker Schnabel misses his own birthday party.
#19 - Lifeline
Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/13/2017
The remnants of the Hoffman crew reach their lowest point, but someone brings Todd good news; Tony Beets fires his barge captain, then runs aground up the mighty Yukon River; Rick Ness finally gets Parker Schnabel's second operation up and running.
#20 - Redemption Road
Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/15/2013
Out of Indian River paydirt, Todd comes up with a risky plan to hit his 1,000 ounce goal. A bad fall could put Fred out of the game, leaving Dustin to dig the glory hole. Parker worries his season is over but his grandpa is convinced he's near the motherlode.
#21 - Pink Slip
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/2013
Parker hits bedrock at Emerson Trench; Todd shuts down the Quartz Creek operation; and Dave has a mishap with a bulldozer.
#22 - In the Black
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/10/2012
The Hoffman crew risks its all to run through the night in a bid to finally break even for the season. Fred has to abandon his best paydirt yet when his excavator gets stuck in the pit. John Schnabel returns to the Big Nugget Mine after his heart attack.
#23 - Leprechaun Gold
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/4/2013
Parker finds out about the fate of his Grandpa. Todd has to rebuild his turbo trammel, Indian River faces a shutdown and the Dakota boys investigate whether the Glory Hole is truly an ancient waterfall.
#24 - Frozen Out
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/17/2012
The Hoffman crew battles frozen dirt and frozen pipes as they struggle to hit their goal of 100 oz. Parker makes a last ditch effort at Smith Creek Hill and the Dakota Boy's season may be over when Dustin smashes the side of the washplant.
#25 - Make It Rain
Season 9 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/15/2019
Parker is determined not to leave any good pay dirt for Tony, so he cranks up the speed on his sluices. The frosty ground is causing problems for Rick's crew.