Vancouver, B.C. - August 20, 2010 - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSX Venture: PEX)(the "Company") is pleased to announce that the non-brokered private placements of Flow-Through Units and Non-Flow-Through Units announced on July 28, 2010 have closed.

The Company raised $532,000 pursuant to the issuance of 3,800,000 Flow-Through Units priced at $0.14 per unit. The Non-Flow-Through private placement was oversubscribed with the Company receiving gross proceeds of $504,000 pursuant to the issuance of 4,200,000 Non-Flow-Through Units priced at $0.12 per unit. 

Each Flow-Through Unit was comprised of one flow-through share and one-half of one whole non-flow-through transferable 12-month common share purchase warrant, with one whole warrant (a "Warrant") allowing the purchase of an additional non-flow-through share at a price of $0.15 per share. Each Non-Flow-Through Unit was comprised of one non-flow-through share and one Warrant.

The shares and Warrants issued are subject to a hold period expiring December 21, 2010. Finders Fees totaling $28,239.60 cash and 30,000 shares are payable in respect of the private placements closing. The private placements are subject to regulatory approval.

The Company intends to use the gross proceeds from the sale of Flow-Through Shares for Canadian Exploration Expenses ("CEE"), within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) ("ITA"), with the Company using its best efforts to ensure that such CEE qualify as a "flow-through mining expenditure" for the purpose of the ITA, related to the exploration of the Company's mineral exploration projects located in Yukon Territory, Canada. The CEE will qualify for the 15% Federal tax credit available to the individual resident anywhere in Canada. The Company expects to renounce such Canadian Exploration Expenses with an effective date of December 31, 2010.

With closing of the offerings, the Company has 34,252,576 shares issued and outstanding.

As was recently reported, exploration of the Company's Klondike Kate mineral property holdings in the Yukon's South Klondike has been underway since June with an expanded program now warranted on the Mariposa Property. Geochemical soil sampling continues with the ultimate extent of already established gold geochemical anomalies remaining to be fully delineated. Back-hoe trenching of defined gold anomalies has commenced. 

"John S. Brock"
John S. Brock
President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.



For further information, contact:

Corporate Information
Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.
John S. Brock
President
Tel: (604) 604.641.2759
www.pacificridgeexploration.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. ("Pacific Ridge") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although Pacific Ridge believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Ridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.