where to start?, travelling to the area with my 3 kids Options

[mommyval]

I know ya'all will think I'm nuts (unless you know me, in which case you don't "think", you "KNOW" but I am taking a vacation with my 12 YO daughter and twin 8YO boys. We will be coming up from CA on the way back home (we live out east) and we love to hunt for cool rocks and other treasures. This summer we are planning a trip to NY to hunt herkimer diamonds (we go every year...it's a tradition, and we have brought home some really nice goodies) North Carolina to look for corundum, petrified wood in AZ, tourmalines and possibly moonstone in CA, and we want to definitely do something fun in CO.

I have a metal detector if you can point me someplace good to use it, but we also love digging for rocks. We've never tried panning, but I'll try anything once. I do make wire-wrapped jewelry, so any kind of semi-precious rocks are cool. We will be travelling hwy 70, but I have been looking at the links down in Salida, and we may head down that way as it looks like it can be done without taking us tooo far out of our way.

no 4x4 on this trip...leaving my GSP (gas sucking pig) at home. not going until July, willing to do research, just want to make sure my kids will have a decent time. Can someone point me in a good direction to start?
Valarie

[swizz]

Hi Valerie and welcome to CP.
Not sure if you're going to be passing through Utah but I've always wanted to go here: Trilobite Fossils U-Dig
There are probably some workable areas accessible from I70 through Colorado also for Jasper, Chert, Agate, Petrified Woods, etc but land research is necessary before poking around. The mine tours in Idaho Springs (along I70) provide educational tours and tourist-style panning. Argo Mine has gemstones in addition to Gold that you can pan or take with you. I haven't been to that one yet bet want to go! Here' a link to Argo Mine: Argo
Here's a link to Phoenix Mine: Phoenix Mine
Hope you guys have a great time on the road trip!

[mommyval]

Hi Valerie and welcome to CP.
Not sure if you're going to be passing through Utah but I've always wanted to go here: Trilobite Fossils U-Dig
There are probably some workable areas accessible from I70 through Colorado also for Jasper, Chert, Agate, Petrified Woods, etc but land research is necessary before poking around. The mine tours in Idaho Springs (along I70) provide educational tours and tourist-style panning. Argo Mine has gemstones in addition to Gold that you can pan or take with you. I haven't been to that one yet bet want to go! Here' a link to Argo Mine: Argo
Here's a link to Phoenix Mine: Phoenix Mine
Hope you guys have a great time on the road trip!

Thanks for this! Both of those look fun.
Keep them coming!
Valarie

[mommyval]

sorry, should have said the gold mines look fun. I think my sons would enjoy the trilobites, and we are going through Utah, but since it will be late July I am worried about the heat. We are also going through Nevada (there are awesome places to dig opals there) but it's pricey, and again, I'm worried about the heat. Colorado I can deal with. I used to live in Wyoming, and it's not that different (except that ya'all get a bit of rain once in a while, )
Basically we are following 70 all the way to the east coast.
Valarie

[Woody]

Good morning Valarie,

Kudos to you for getting your young'ens involved in the great outdoors. Planning ahead for your trip could sure pay off time wise, especially in an unknown territory. Colorado has much to offer and can have a lasting memory in an adventurous persons mind. I understand traveling a crossed the US is a long trip so you will naturally want to stay as closed to I-70 as possible. That kind of limits you a bit. I know of several areas that you guys can find goodies but they are at least 70 miles off the beaten path. (Look at my postings in this section titled, "My Last Outing" for examples". Staying in closer to I-70... hummmmm... There is the Colorado National Monument lands by Grand Junction just as you come in to the State. Nice place, good roads. About midway through Colorado you could stop at Vic's along Clear Creek. It is a Pay-per-view type place but for a small fee I'm sure all of you could find at least some gold. They will give you classes and help you get started, very user friendly place.

Other than that I would suggest making a detour that might require an overnight stay for comfort. Keep us posted with your progress and good luck, Woody.

[Kevin In Centenn...]

Since you are virgin gold panners I would strongly recommend Vic's as mentioned above. Jesse (runs the place) will teach you everything about panning and help you find some real 'wild' gold. Great fun and easy to get to from I-70. If you fall in love with panning, you could also stop in metro Denver along I-70 on clear creek to try some other spots...there is lots of fine gold to be found; on the weekends you will find folks working key areas and happy to point you at good spots.

Another good option is to stop in at Gold-n-detectors (8th and Washington in Golden) to buy pans and ask about prospecting the store owner's claim...just a few miles from the store!!

[Coalbunny]

Valarie, I'm in Green River Utah right now and it sounds like you'll be passing through here. The gold on the Green River is too fine for me to pan out, but if I'm still here when you guys come through I can give you a few lessons on panning and if you're interested, show you guys some of the scenery.
Your call.

[mommyval]

I'm not opposed to getting off highway 70, but I only have a low clearance 2 wheel drive, and I'm sort of opposed to camping. I did read your post on recent trips. Sorry about your ribs, congrats on your elk (DH will be up there in September for archery) I saw a mention of Manhattan KS, and we are going through there too since I am going to visit my nephew. I notice the roads down to Salida look fairly decent (at least from a mp point of view) and I don't mind taking healthy detours.

Panning sounds like fun, but we get just as excited about garnets, amazonite, smoky quartz, agates. Pretty much anything that a magpie might enjoy once it's polished up

I was glad to read the post about cleaning specimens too, as we go to Herkimer NY every year and a lot of the "diamonds" we pull out are orange with rust. Sometimes there are iron inclusions, but most of the time it's just surface stuff.

This is all fascinating to me. My daughter has been considering a career in geology ever since our first trip to Herkimer, so she is practically salivating at the chance to get out and look for some other goodies. My sons love it too, but they are only 8, so they haven't decided on a making it a life path yet Thanks to everyone for being so helpful!
Valarie