Free Panning/Sluicing Areas, Colorado Options

[CP]

Hello everyone,

Many folks inquire about free places to pan or sluice, so we thought we would post some free areas around Colorado that anyone can go to anytime they wish.
These are places where you are either "allowed", or given permission to pan/sluice on private (patented) land or it's public land withdrawn from mineral entry (unclaimable) which we can all still prospect with our pans and sluices.
All 3 are historically known as gold bearing areas and chances are very good you WILL FIND GOLD at all of them.

*Added March 2014-These areas DO NOT INCLUDE ANY CITY PARKS EAST OF TUNNEL #1 ON CLEAR CREEK OR ANY CITY PARKS ON THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER.

CLEAR CREEK - WEST OF GOLDEN
JEFFERSON COUNTY OPEN SPACE
First we will talk about the Clear Creek/Hwy 6 area just west of Golden begining just above tunnel #1.
This area is all private land which has been donated or traded to Jefferson County open space and they "allow" panning and sluicing on the open space......they do not want motors on open space.
The only place not included in the open space is a private claim on BLM land the extends 1 mile upstream from Elk creek on Clear creek.......Steer clear of this private claim unless you have permission to be there.
WARNING-This area is all very steep and parking is limited. Traffic can also be very heavy at times, use extreme caution when in this area!!

FAIRPLAY'S TOWN BEACH - PARK COUNTY - $10.00 FEE
Second is a wonderful spot up a bit higher in elevation but the scenery is just awesome on the ride.........The Fairplay Beach.
Town of Fairplay website Click on "forms and permits".
You will need to aquire the $5 permit from the town office on front street or use the online printable form and send it in prior to your adventure. Once you have this permit you must have it with you while you pan/sluice at the beach.
Again this is privately owned by the town of Fairplay and they "allow" panning and sluicing here. Follow their rules and you will not have any problems. Gold here historically was just amazing and the beach is very close to what the old timers used to call the "GOLD SLIDE".


ARKANSAS RIVER RECREATIONAL AREA-CHAFFEE COUNTYiNCLUDING CACHE CREEK AND POINT BAR
Third we will be heading further south and across the divide to the arkansas river area.
There is alot of public land here that is withdrawn from mineral entry. This area is also a "recreational area" which has addtional rules for some activities. Panning or sluicing fortunately is not one of those....no permits needed here.
Even though this area has been withdrawn there are still a few claims to watch out for as well as many private parcels.
To know where these many private parcels are and claims in this area, you will need to have some info/maps to help you out on the sites to assure yourself of being on the open areas you are looking for. A good map to start with would be the BLM series of "Surface/Mineral Management Status-Gunnison map" from there you can then progress to more detailed maps and pinpointing.
There are many areas intertwined along the river heading upstream (northerly) from Hwy 24 along the next 10 miles of river or so.
Then further on down south on hwy 285 from the Hwy 24 intersection, at Helca Junction (11 miles or so), there is a large stretch of public land on the river extending approximately 1.5 miles downstream from the campground and approximately 4.5 miles upstream. Again use the above mentioned map to get started and pinpoint with more detailed info from there.

If you are interested in finding out how those "details" are obtained........You may wish to check over the CP club memberships at www.coloradoprospector.com and click "membership" to the left in green.
Our main goal is to learn as a collective so we all know as much as we can......We would love to have your families participation too.
Thank you to all CP club members as their participation has brought you these free panning and sluicing areas to explore!!

Enjoy your adventures!
The CP club


This post has been edited by CP: Jul 6 2017, 07:40 AM

Reason for edit: FAIRPLAY BEACH NO LONGER FREE - 2010 / fee increase 2017

[RichDColorado]

Hi - I have a question about the Clear Creek open space. I've panned in a couple places along the creek with very little luck - of course, that's all relative depending on what one expects. But I don't think I've found more than half a dozen small, tiny, itty-bitty grain of sand sized specks after going through 5 5 gallon buckets concentrated through a 1/10" screen. This is a new hobby to me, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job of concentrating down, sluicing and panning through the diggings with a loupe. I'm getting some black sand, but almost no color. My father-in-law has a gold panning machine - has a rotating blue wheel, flushes water over, like an Archimede's screw - I'm sure you folks know they kind I mean (maybe a Desert Fox?), and still nothing shows. Do you know if that area has been worked to death or are there some decent spots to try? Also, what about the places above the traffic light on the way to Blackhawk? Is that still open area and any good places to try along that part of the stream? I don't mind getting out and digging - in fact, I really like being on the water as it's very relaxing, but I'd sure like to have something to show for the effort.

Thanks - Rich

[Coalbunny]

Hi - I have a question about the Clear Creek open space. I've panned in a couple places along the creek with very little luck - of course, that's all relative depending on what one expects. But I don't think I've found more than half a dozen small, tiny, itty-bitty grain of sand sized specks after going through 5 5 gallon buckets concentrated through a 1/10" screen. This is a new hobby to me, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job of concentrating down, sluicing and panning through the diggings with a loupe. I'm getting some black sand, but almost no color. My father-in-law has a gold panning machine - has a rotating blue wheel, flushes water over, like an Archimede's screw - I'm sure you folks know they kind I mean (maybe a Desert Fox?), and still nothing shows. Do you know if that area has been worked to death or are there some decent spots to try? Also, what about the places above the traffic light on the way to Blackhawk? Is that still open area and any good places to try along that part of the stream? I don't mind getting out and digging - in fact, I really like being on the water as it's very relaxing, but I'd sure like to have something to show for the effort.

Thanks - Rich

Rich, PM me sometime if you want to go hit Clear Creek. I've always found color, though not in every pan, every time I've gone. If the Open Space area is where I think it is, I know a few decent places to hit.

[Butch B]

Rich, PM me sometime if you want to go hit Clear Creek. I've always found color, though not in every pan, every time I've gone. If the Open Space area is where I think it is, I know a few decent places to hit.

If you guys are still going to Clear Creek I would like to go with yall some time.

[Coalbunny]

If you guys are still going to Clear Creek I would like to go with yall some time.

Sorry I'm a few months late on a reply....
...the likelihood I'll be in that area in the next few months isn't pretty. Maybe in the next 12-18 months as I'm now in Utah.

But I'm more than happy to help, be it via phone, internet or in person.