Hi Folks,

New member from North Georgia here. However, I grew up out west and my father and I would visit Colorado every summer. Panning for gold on the Arkansas River, visiting old abandon mines from the 1800s, fishing for trout in mountain streams, hunting deer/elk in the fall. My son is SIX, i'm 42. I would love to take him to Colorado during the summer, just like I did as a boy/teenager.

Not looking to get rich, but just have some fun playing in the dirt with my son. Eventually would like to find a claim to work, but really need to experience prospecting around before I commit.

From what I'm finding out on a small claim, you are not allowed to use tractors? I have a John Deere 4x4 w/loader that could more much more soil in a day, than I could in a summer w/a shovel.

Nevertheless, I have a lot to learn and will be lurking around here looking for info.

Thanks, Brian

Working a claim with heavy equipment takes the claim process to an entirely different level, requiring a plan of operations and a bond to ensure you reclaim the land. Beyond what most small scale miners are willing to put in to it.

Plenty of open land to work with your son until you get a feel for it and decided if you ever wanted to do more.

Welcome!

Not to discourage you from coming to CO, but there is also good gold in GA!

You are absolutely correct!!! We live 50 miles from the 1st US gold rush in 1829.
In fact we have panned for gold in the creeks around the area. Never going to get rich from it. Still fun.

I love CO for the mild summers.
It gets pretty warm in GA ....and worse, the bugs in the summer are out and bite.
Besides that, the rocks and gems are in CO. Great 4x4 trails and beautiful mountains.


And in regards to the other post, YES. I read about the bond and certain guidelines. Indeed. Much more than I want to get into at this point. I just love being on the tractor tearing up dirt. :)

I can't imagine much fun prospecting in ga. Crawling through those red sandy quagmires around ft Benning tore me up! Not to mention the prickly vines everywhere. Long cold hellish nights too! Haha
That's some hardcore prospecting.

Sarcasm?

It doesn't really get that cold here. So far this December, we went down to 27. Was 55 today and tomorrow 65. Couple times a year we can get down to around 20 -ish, and maybe once in the teens. Of course daytime highs are almost always above freezing. Rarely we stay freezing all day.

I was in Colorado a few Decembers ago. I landed and it was 10 degrees for a high in Denver. Wind was blowing hard. I was underdressed. For the time I was there it NEVER got to 32 degrees.
However, the summers in the mountains are quite comfortable. Heck even at night it is COOL/COLD. Y'all who live or prospect in the mountains know what i'm talking about. I don't remember many bugs up high and certainly NO humidity.

But yeah, the thorns, bugs, poison ivy, and chiggers are awful in the summer here in GA. We limit any thick woods traveling in the summer. I get too tore up by everything that bites or stings. My son is rarely bitten. Hence why I look forward to getting back to Colorado for a long summer vacation.

Debating on towing a travel trailer/camper 1500 miles to CO or just renting a cabin/lodge/etc while we are there. All depends on how long we decide to stay......

Five more months of research...........as any suggestions would be welcomed.

Welcome to the forum Brian. There's plenty to go around here and always glad to have others.
Were scattered around the state so there's lots of info about places we've been and lots of pics in the forum. It sounds like a heck of a trip!

Thank you....!
As it gets closer to spring, I definitely will seek more advise on location ideas.

I have read that on SOME public land, metal detectors are a no go?

Welcome to the club! Let us know if you're out this way.

Welcome Brian!
I'll tell ya anything you need to know... just don't make me say "uncle".