New Here! New to the hobby!, Looking forward to prospecting with my kids! Options

[dantyer]

Thanks for allowing me to be here! My dad took me a few times when I was a lot younger and panning and running a sluice was a great memory of growing up. I now have two kids of my own and we are an avid outdoors family. I just bought a couple pans and a small sluice. I am wanting to teach my kids more about looking for gold and minerals.

I live in northern Colorado in the town of Laporte. I live right by the mouth of the Poudre Canyon and would like to take them up the canyon to start. I have been trying to find information on what areas I am able to pan the river. I want to make sure I understand the laws correctly and am taking my kids to do this legally. What is a good resource to look at to see what sections of river are available to do this with so I am not stepping on somebodies claim. I have tried to call the forest service locally and the parks and wildlife office and both had no idea.

Also what are other good areas to go around northern Colorado with kids?

[Dave S.]

Welcome Dantyer!

I don't know good places for panning in your immediate area (yet). But I will look into it, and try to come up with a few suggestions.

If you are willing to drive to Denver, I can show you some recreational areas here in the city. Clear Creek is a good place to begin learning, and it is usually warmer than most other places this time of year. (there are some areas to avoid on this creek).

I might also be inviting club members (pay members, and maybe some non-pay members) for a Barite crystal dig this weekend, that is good for kids. The Barite location is in NorthEast Colorado near the Nebraska border (2 hour drive from Denver, probably about same distance/time for you.)

Let me know if these suggestions sound good for ya. (post here, or message me on this website).

Here are some pictures of the Barite dig area, and some of our finds of Barite, Calcite, Fossil snails, and a lizard that lives there (Horny Toad).

Click on each picture for a better view.