Goldfindr · Prospect Report

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● known gold sources · ▰ active mining claims (already taken) · ▬ the drainage below the source

The placer read

Reading the drainage…

Known sources nearby

Geology & favorability

Reading the rocks…

Claim status — verify before you dig

Checking BLM claims…

Public data suggests only. Mining-claim records lag and resolve coarsely, and some things that close ground to prospecting — withdrawn land, split-estate minerals — may not be fully known or recorded in public data. Always verify the current status with BLM MLRS and the county before prospecting, and confirm legal access. This is information, not legal advice.

How to get there

Reaching these spots usually means unmaintained Forest Service / BLM roads. We don't auto-route you — read the terrain, check current road conditions, and don't drive past your vehicle's limits.

Before you go — safety checklist

Full-size spare tire, jack, and a way to air up
More water than you think you need
Extra fuel — these roads add miles with no stations
Tools, recovery strap, first-aid kit
Charged phone and a paper map / GPS — your cell likely won't work out there
Tell someone your route and when you'll be back
Layers, food, and a plan for weather and dark

Area context

Your first pan — how to work this ground

New to it? Here's the whole loop in plain terms. Gold is heavy — almost everything you do just lets that weight sort itself out.

What to bring

A gold pan (green or blue plastic — color shows up better than in a steel pan)
A classifier sieve to screen off the big rocks
A small shovel or trowel + a crevice tool (a stout screwdriver works)
A snuffer bottle and a little vial for what you keep
A jeweler's loupe to check what you've turned up
A rock hammer and safety glasses if you'll crack open rock
Boots you don't mind soaking, gloves, and the safety kit from page 1

Where to dig

Work the creek downstream of a source — the blue line on your map. Gold drops where the water slows: the inside of bends, behind big boulders, the upstream side of bedrock ledges, and down in the cracks of exposed bedrock. Dig until the gravel packs tight or you hit bedrock — the heavy stuff settles there.

How to pan

Fill the pan with gravel, sink it underwater, and break up any clay with your hands. Screen off the big rocks. Then tilt the pan slightly away from you and swirl it just under the surface — the gold sinks while the light sand washes over the lip. Keep washing off the top a little at a time, low and slow, until only heavy black sand and (with luck) a few bright specks are left.

No water nearby? Panning needs it. If the creek's dry, move to a flowing reach or read up on dry-washing — a more advanced, waterless method.

Stay safe around rock and water. Big rocks and boulders can shift or roll without warning — especially in moving water or on a steep, wet bank — and a rock that moves can pin or crush. We're not telling you to move anything; just know the risk, keep your body clear of anything that could roll onto you, and wear eye protection if you crack rock. Cold, fast water is its own hazard. You alone are responsible for your safety out there.

▶ Watch a beginner's how-to-pan video →