where to prospect around Grand Junction, Where to prospect around Grand Junction Options

[BETCHAMAN]

I'm new to the Grand Junction area (and Colorado) and would like to get some ideas of where to prospect for gold in the Grand Junction/North Western part of Colorado. Pan/Sluice/MD.
Thanks!

[Coalbunny]

I'll give you a few locations if you want. I think the GPAA claim that Goldfinger is talking about is, IIRC, east of Gateway not south. Hard to go south unless you go through Sinbad valley/Salt Creek or over John Brown Mesa.

As for gold panning in GJ, you can do it right there. I lived in Appleton for 17 years and used to go down to the old Black Bridge site on the Gunnison. To get to it you go down 5th street on US 50 across the Colorado River to the first stop light at the dairy. Hang a right. Follow the directions to the former Dept. of Energy/Oak Ridge site, and wen you get to the bottom of the hill, there's a road that goes to your right (before you cross the railroad tracks). Hang a right. Follow that to where you cross the tracks by the Gunnison river and after you cross there, there's a pull off on your right. Pull in and park there. Now you have a lot of areas to pan. You can get the bank material or you can dig out of the river. Best to check with the Colorado State Parks office over by Corn Lake as I think it's now part of the state park. Lat time I checked with them they didn't care if I panned.

You can always call Dr. Del Foutz as well. He did a book on Gold Panning the Colorado River. If ya call him, tell him I said howdy, will ya? Back before they turned the Horsethief canyon area into part of a mineral withdrawal area I used to go down on Crow Bottom and found that to be the best in the area. At times I found more there on the Colorado in Crow Bottom than I would find on the Dolores.

I'm in Buena Vista right now, but I plan on visiting the GJ area again soon for a week or so and plan on dipping my pan a few times. Let me know how to get ahold of ya and maybe I can show you a few places.
carl