Yogi Bear's Gold Rush is an action-adventure game that follows the story of Yogi Bear as he tries to save Jellystone National Park from being shut down. The park's funds have been stolen by an evil ghost named Jake, who has hidden them in twelve safes scattered throughout the park. Yogi must travel to six different locations - a forest, a pirate ship, the big city, an underground cavern, and the old west - to find these safes.
The gameplay is simple yet challenging. Yogi can move left and right on the screen, and must jump on certain enemies to defeat them. However, some enemies cannot be killed and must be avoided. Yogi also has to navigate through pitfalls and hazards without getting hurt. To help him on his quest, there are picnic baskets that grant extra lives, health-refilling items, hidden doors, and areas to discover. Collecting 25 gold coins in each safe will give Yogi a bar of gold, and collecting 12 of these bars will win the game.