I'm going to vacation on Lake Powell in Utah, and I can't find out if I can metal detect and pan for gold in the national forests/monuments up there. All my inquiries have gotten me nowhere... Anybody out there have a lead?
Aquanut
You can pan anywhere in Utah. You can't use a sluice or dredge without a permit though. I beleive the state parks have some rule about metal detecting, but I haven't heard of them enforcing it though. Most of them are happy to have someone picking up trash.
Thanks 2fishon,
I just wanted to try it out as a recreational activity. We're going to Lake Powell to "Get Away From It All!" Do some fishing, swimming and boating. I thought bringing my metal detector along and trying some panning for gold would be fun too.
Aquanut
There is an area north of Lake Powell that has some places that are open to the public for panning. South of the town of Hanksville about 20 miles or so. Know as the Crescent Creek area. As in many areas of Utah late summer has no guarantee of water in the smaller creeks and rivers. This area records some of the hottest temps in the state make sure you have plenty of drinking water!
Thanks jagdpanther,
I Googled Crescent Creek and it won't work for me... My knee is so bad that two doctors said the only way to fix it is a complete knee replacement. I was hoping to access an area off lake Powell where I could take the boat to and walk no more than a short distance.
Aquanut