Colorado prospecting

[nfreytag]

Is anyone on here prospecting around Colorado Springs, CO? I'm new to the area looking for some ground to work and meet some prospectors in the area.


Neil

 

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[KevinInColorado]

Yes, if you do a search, you'll find other threads/conversations about this. The closest places for you to go are the Arkansas River, up into South Park (FairPlay), and metro-Denver. There's really no gold in CO Springs area itself.

Here's info on where to go:
*Arapahoe Bar Info, Clear Creek, western metro Denver
http://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/1184/Gold-Panning

Grant Frontier Park Info, South Platte River, south central Denver
http://www.gnwy.org/web/index.php/chompers-chatter/get-to-know-your-greenway/grant-frontier-park/

http://www.denvergov.org/portals/747/documents/parkart/ParkArt_Grant Frontier Park.pdf

Clear Creek Canyon Openspace Park, west of Golden
http://jeffco.us/parks/recreation/gold-prospecting/

Steele Street Park "Big Bend", South Platte River north of Denver
http://adcogov.org/Facilities.aspx?Page=detail&RID=47

Town of Fairplay - middle fork of the South Platte in Park County
The "gold panning permit application" form is here:*http://fairplayco.us/docsforms.html

Arkansas River details, near Salida, south central mountains
http://www.hookedongold.com/arkansas_river_drainage.html

...also look up Gold Prospectors of Colorado. A great local club with claims that meets in the Springs. They'll get you going!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Oh, and "welcome to tnet!" And to Colorado!

 

[nfreytag]

Thanks KevinInColorado! I have used my highbanker in Clear Canyon earlier this year until the water level got high. I was looking for something a little closer than Golden. I've been thinking about GPOC but I haven't got around to joining yet. How is the Arkansas?

Yes, if you do a search, you'll find other threads/conversations about this. The closest places for you to go are the Arkansas River, up into South Park (FairPlay), and metro-Denver. There's really no gold in CO Springs area itself.

Here's info on where to go:
*Arapahoe Bar Info, Clear Creek, western metro Denver
Gold Panning | Wheat Ridge, CO - Official Website

Grant Frontier Park Info, South Platte River, south central Denver
The Greenway Foundation :: Grant Frontier Park

http://www.denvergov.org/portals/747/documents/parkart/ParkArt_Grant Frontier Park.pdf

Clear Creek Canyon Openspace Park, west of Golden
http://jeffco.us/parks/recreation/gold-prospecting/

Steele Street Park "Big Bend", South Platte River north of Denver
Adams County, CO - Official Website

Town of Fairplay - middle fork of the South Platte in Park County
The "gold panning permit application" form is here:*Town of Fairplay Colorado - Forms & Permits

Arkansas River details, near Salida, south central mountains
where to find gold on the arkansas river in colorado

...also look up Gold Prospectors of Colorado. A great local club with claims that meets in the Springs. They'll get you going!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Lots of fine gold in the Ark. Also lots of claims so do your research if you want to go to other spots beyond the ones in the link.

PS water levels in the ark go up and down a lot with the seasons. This time of year is usually good since the snow melt is long gone.

 

[Capt Nemo]

Has anyone went upstream from Manitou Springs? Saw a lot of what looked like pyrite in the city water there. I did visit the wet caves upstream and there was a lot of pyrite on the stream banks. Too bad I was 14 and not interested in panning yet.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Has anyone went upstream from Manitou Springs? Saw a lot of what looked like pyrite in the city water there. I did visit the wet caves upstream and there was a lot of pyrite on the stream banks. Too bad I was 14 and not interested in panning yet.

Lots of pyrite, no gold.

 

[GoldpannerDave]

Oh, and "welcome to tnet!" And to Colorado!

Yeah, what he said!

Unfortunately, most of the areas are not really close. Are you in north Colorado Springs or south? If you are in the south, Point Bar is public and probably closer to you than any other place. However, last I heard (2 weeks ago), it was closed due to road washed out from all the high water this year.

Welcome to Colorado Springs. BTW, I live up near the Air Force Academy.

 

[GoldpannerDave]

GPOC claims (I am a member) are in the area of Point Bar, so not really any closer. Other claims are even further away. Cache Creek is at 9000 ft, so if you try it, be aware that the weather changes really quickly. I got snowed on in July there in the past.

 

[russau]

Hey Dave , whats a little snow amoungst friends?? Itll make the campfire and hot coffee , bacon / eggs even better!

 

[GoldpannerDave]

Hey Dave , whats a little snow amoungst friends?? Itll make the campfire and hot coffee , bacon / eggs even better!

You are correct, Russ! We both had been in shorts and shirt-sleeves. The snow dropped the air temp about 40 degrees and our body temps nearly as much on our arms and legs. We dropped our shovels and ran to the tent. Our teeth were chattering uncontrollably by the time we got into the tent and into our sleeping bags. Afterwards (about 30 minutes), we stoked up the fire and had hot coffee. Had it not been mid-afternoon, we probably would have done the eggs and bacon, too.