If you are thinking about taking a prospecting trip in Colorado, you probably know that the State is surprisingly rich in deposits and mines. However, prospectors do not have free access to all locations, and some sites will generate better results than others.
The best locations to pan gold in Colorado are Arapahoe Bar, Cache Creek, Clear Creek, Fairplay, Phoenix Gold Mine, Mollie Kathleen, Hidee Gold Mine, Argo Gold Mine and Mill, Steele Street Open Space Park, Point Barr Public Area, Rattlesnake Gulch, Cherry Creek Public Area, Telluride, andTaylor River.
A prospecting trip to Colorado is a lifetime dream for many gold hunters, but you can even make it more successful if you know where to go. Read on to learn everything you need before your trip.
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Gold Panning in Colorado: An Overview
The gold mining industry in Colorado is one of the most flourishing ones in the world, and it has been growing exponentially since 1858. Even more, this sector has been behind the foundation and economic stability of the State. No wonder that today an impressive number of prospectors still head to this State for their prospecting trips.
While the history of gold mining in Colorado started from Denver, it did not take long for miners to begin exploring the surrounding areas, which have proven worthy of the effort. That is why today, the State of Colorado is one with the highest number of active and fruitful mining and panning sites in the US.
Currently, there are over 186 free digging sites across the State, and while you might have the option of joining a prospecting association, this is not strictly necessary to enjoy and see profits out of your prospecting trip.
Moreover, while in terms of mines, only one of the major ones is still producing gold today, there are hundreds of rivers and creeks in which gold prospectors can make the most out of their skills.
Ultimately, the State is also known for its striking natural beauty. Therefore, if you have not been lucky enough to come home with a bag full of nuggets, at least you can enjoy a day outdoors!
Joining a Prospecting Association
Joining a prospecting association[1] can be an excellent decision if you are planning multiple prospecting trips to this State. Especially if you are not highly knowledgeable about that specific area, joining a group of prospectors can offer you coaching, as well as essential tips regarding the particular geology of the area.
Additionally, you will be able to make the most out of topographic maps of the area to show where the best location is for your prospecting needs.
Ultimately, it is worth considering that memberships such as the one released by the Gold Prospectors Association of America can give you access to thousands of claims and gold-bearing grounds.
The Best 15 Locations for Gold Panning in Colorado
As we have seen, there are hundreds of locations worth checking out in Colorado that are accessible for beginners and experts alike. However, not all of these will be free of charge or yield the results you were hoping to see from your lifetime trip to a Colorado gold-bearing grounds.
Naturally, your skills, patience, and knowledge of the panning procedures will make a difference in how much gold you will be able to retrieve on your outing. However, the locations below are among the richest in the State and the ones boasting the most natural surrounding. So you are guaranteed to enjoy your trip in a way or the other.
Arapahoe Bar
Discovered in 1859, this city creek in Jefferson County is one of the best-renowned sites for gold prospecting for both beginners and expert prospectors. Gold panning in this area is free, and prospectors will not be required to hold a special permit for it – which makes it a little haven for recreational prospectors.
You can access the site from two different points, Youngfield Service Road and Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Youngfield Entrance.
When attempting to prospect this site, opt to remain west of the bridge. This detail is essential, as panning might not be permitted in that area. Also, while during the summer months, the river’s water is at its lowest, during autumn or winter, the colder temperatures make the site more accessible.
Cache Creek Prospecting Site
If you don’t have a claim and are willing to prospect in Colorado, you are probably looking for a free site that will reduce your expenses. The Cache Creek Public Area was private property until 1992 when the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) purchased the grounds, turning it into public fields for recreational prospectors.
Currently, prospecting on the 25-acre Cache Creek is free of charge, but the government is pondering whether to introduce a small fee. Moreover, only pans and sluice boxes can be used on the ground, and creating disruptions on the environment is not permitted.
Cache Creek is located on the highway to Granite, from which you will have to take a turn west to reach the Lost Canyon Road. Continue on the road until you reach the plateau, follow the unmarked road towards the South, and enter the parking lot. Here you can find camping spaces that can accommodate prospectors for up to 14 days,
Clear Creek Canyon Park
Clear Creek Canyon represents one of the first mining and prospecting sites in Colorado. This area is entirely dedicated to gold prospectors and free of charge. Prospectors will be able to make the most out of your gold pan and sluice box while here. Moreover, this location allows prospectors to use small dredges not bigger than 4in (10cm).
Clear Creek Canyon allows prospectors to pan and sluice for gold in over 10miles (16km) of streams and rivers. However, you should be aware of two essential factors when attempting to prospect in this area:
- The water level in this area can vary throughout the year, but the water flow makes sure the gold sediments are replenished.
- The gold you can find in this area is usually extremely fine, so you will need to make the most of your fine gold recovery tools and skills.
To reach Clear Creek Canyon by car, follow highway 6 toward Blackhawk, west of Golden, and just outside Denver. Jefferson County manages the area and imposes a strict set of rules that require you to fill all the holes you have created and avoid disturbing the vegetation.
Fairplay Prospecting Park
Today a public Prospecting Park, the town of Fairplay, was founded in 1859, just after the first prospectors found a profitable placer gold only by the South Platte River. While the early miners decided to move onto other projects, some chose to stay and found the city as we know it today.
This historic gold mining town is today an example of the rich gold mining culture in Colorado. While the original mine was closed down in 1900 after being exploited, several prospectors continued to search the area through dredges and pans.
Today, the site does charge prospectors a small fee at the entrance, but you will be able to pan and sluice for gold along the historical South Platte River. When there, keep in mind that digging in the river is not allowed.
Phoenix Gold Mine
Another location in which you can pan for gold without having to fail a claim is the Phoenix Gold Mine. Unlike the other side mentioned above, this is one of the few working mines in which you can pan for gold. For the entrance and other tours and packages, you will need to pay a small fee.
The Phoenix Gold Mine has been in operation since the 1930s, which makes it a very recent establishment. Therefore, there are better chances that the resources have not been exploited yet, and you can find valuable placer gold.
If you are new to prospecting and willing to learn more about mining, this is the perfect location to join a tour and then try to pan gold yourself. Additionally, if you have just started your career in the field, you can make the most of the coaching and training provided by the experts.
Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour was nominated in the 1890s as the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp” due to its productivity. In 1961, however, it stopped operating as a mine and became one of the major attractions in the Cripple Creek area in Colorado.
While you might have little chance to pan for gold yourself, this is an excellent location for you to understand more about the mining culture and geology of Colorado. The tour includes rewards for everybody at the end.
Hidee Gold Mine
Located west of Denver and at the heart of the “the richest square mile on Earth,” the Hidee Gold Mine offers 90 minutes tours that are suitable for the whole family. After the tour, prospectors can visit the nearby site for gold panning and learn together with other prospectors of the area.
Argo Gold Mine and Mill
Located west of Denver, the Argo Gold Mine Mill is a historical mine in Idaho Springs, where you can join daily tours in the underground tunnels. When subscribing to the trip, you can expect to learn how early miners recovered over $100,000 in gold from the mine and the equipment they used during these times.
After the tour ends, you can walk toward the nearby Clear Creek for panning lessons. Here you can benefit from the coaching offered by expert miners and prospectors.
Steele Street Open Space Park
Part of the Adams County Open Space Parks, the Steele Street Open Space Park is also known as the “Big Bend.” This area, which includes Clear Creek, is one of the richest ones in the State. However, when panning for gold in these locations, it is essential to keep in mind that you are more likely to find small-sized flakes and flour gold than nuggets.
Therefore, if you are choosing this option for your next prospecting trip, you should ensure to bring a sluice box with you to process the concentrates.
Point Barr Public Area
The Point Barr Public Prospecting Area is located on the Arkansas River. If you have been looking for a viable location to perform your prospecting activities, you might have noticed that most of the areas along this waterway are either claimed by other prospectors or private.
Therefore, panning on the Arkansas River can seem an activity reserved only for the prospectors that file claims. However, luckily for hobbyists and amateurs, the Point Barr Public area is open to the public. This site is located along the northern part of the river and might require you to pay a small fee.
Lastly, if you decide to pan for gold on the Arkansas river, you should keep in mind that the best time of the year is during late summer. During this season, the waters are at their lowest, which makes it easier to pan.
Rattlesnake Gulch Public Prospecting Area
If you want to merge your love for outdoor activities with your gold panning practice, there is no better site in Colorado than this scenic hike. Of course, before attempting the walk, you should evaluate your fitness level and panning abilities.
However, if you would like to spend a few hours out in the open, following this trail will allow you to reach the prospecting location by following one of Colorado’s most scenic routes. Restrictions in the area have increased over the last few years, but it is still allowed to recover gold manually.
Cherry Creek Public Area
The Cherry Creek Public Area is not your standard Colorado prospecting location. The site is located right in the heart of the city center and boasts substantial development. Since it is considered a challenging place to pan for gold in colorado, many prospectors like to pan for gold along this creek.
This location is perfect if you would prefer not to get too far from the city center – and its facilities – to refine your gold panning skills.
Telluride
Telluride is one of the most historical cities in Colorado that weighted on the State’s mining culture. Indeed, this town was founded in 1875 by Prospector John Fallon.
Since then, the mining site surrounding this city has been developing quickly, covering the majority of the city’s ground. Here you can learn more about the mining history of Colorado and refine your panning technique.
Taylor River
Located in the Elk Mountains in the eastern part of Gunnison County, this river boasts the perfect location to pan for gold. You can admire the crash site of the B-24 bomber alongside your gold prospecting activity, which went down in July 1943. This historical event is part of the county’s culture and history, and today it is a location of remembrance of the 11 men killed in the crash.
Moreover, the river and its banks are rich in gold, and, given the more remote location, you have more chances to enjoy a day out in nature away from the masses. The beautiful natural surrounding of the river and the nearby towering mountains make for the perfect scenery for your prospecting activity.
If you love solitude and quiet while prospecting, it is essential not to underestimate how popular the mining and prospecting sites are in Colorado. Indeed, during peak season, you will notice thousands of prospectors along the creek’s river and signing up for tours.
Laws and Regulations
The regulations regarding prospecting in Colorado are multiple and vary site to site. While mining ventures and large-scale operations are subjected to several laws and requirements, small-scale prospectors have less to consider.
Indeed, you should always get in touch with the local authorities and find out about the local regulations concerning panning and prospecting without motorized tools such as dredges.
However, in doubt, some general rules for panning in Colorado can come in handy and help you pan for gold in all safety. These are:
- Avoid all gas-powered equipment. This category can include dredges, but also drilling equipment.
- Avoid prospecting in privately-owned lands unless you have written permission to pan there.
- Keep in mind that some areas might be restricted. These usually include fishing areas, natural reserves, etc. You will either notice a restriction sign at the entrance or, if you are not sure, the local authorities can help.
- Do not dig along the banks of a river, but opt to pick up material from the riverbed.
- Avoid interrupting or interrupt any land improvement construction site, like in the case of bridges’ construction sites.
- If you are panning for gold on a claimed ground, avoid disrupting any ongoing operations.
Conclusion
If you have decided to undertake a trip to Colorado, you will likely have the best prospecting experiences. However, it is crucial to pinpoint the locations that will result in being more satisfying, primarily if you aim to make a profit out of your planning efforts.
While many of the StateState’s locations are gold-bearing, some might be more or less accessible to beginner prospectors. Therefore, before booking your trip, you should evaluate your skills and equipment, pick a location accordingly, and get in touch with the local authorities to obtain the relevant permits.