The places listed below are user submitted gold prospecting locations. Things change over time - these places may or may not still be open. Be sure to fill your holes, pick up your trash and don't trespass. We are losing good spots all the time.
We really need more info on this state! If you know of any other prospecting locations in this or surrounding areas, please fill out this form. What we need here are fairly specific places like "downstream from where Highway 20 crosses Dry Creek". There are lots of books that say something like "The gold belt runs through ABC & XYZ Counties" or "Gold has been found in ABC River and some of its tributaries". That really doesn't say much about where YOU can find gold, private property issues or Forest Circus rules etc. Please use this form only for suggesting fairly specific places to be added to this page where new prospectors or folks visiting from other areas have a good chance of finding gold. Thank you
From Chris
Tooele County
I found
some color in Ophir but lots of mercury. It collects gold but it's not
healthy. Also Simpson Springs in the West Desert toward Dugway There's some
out there beleve it or not. Callieo another good spot in area - watch out for
rattlers
beacuse
they like water too.
From Mr. Brad Kostinuk
I find it interesting about American Fork Canyon. American Fork flood area
is closed by order of the Utah county Sheriff.
Panning may be done outside of National monument boundries.
RD&S (recreational dredging and sluicing) activities are listed in the RD&S application packet availible from the Division of Water Rights. I dredge Mary Ellens and Major Evans as well as Shaffers Fork. A.F. Canyon is known for electrum and tellurides, very fine pinhead gold and an occassional picker can be found above Tibble Fork. For gold you can see without the loop go to Willow Creek, just above the Mona Cemetary. Recirculating systems are needed for summer months. This area is open May 02 - Nov.29. Do not prospect on Mt. Nebo wilderness area , signs are posted , stay west of them. If you are just panning , the Green River(anywhere on the green river) you will be into color and garnet as well as low grade industrial diamonds. Nupa (Northern Utah Prospectors association) has a property for fine coarse gold at Notch Peak. Cresent Creek (Henery Mtns) has a couple of sections open to placer activity that do not require you to have a minerals lease. Check in with the Hanksville BLM before conducting activity. Remember that area is desert, go prepared. I hope I have helped some of you. I have more viable info on this state, I am willing to share localities with interested persons only.
From Alan
A good location to pan in Utah is up American Fork Canyon. To
get there, take the Alpine Scenic Loop up the canyon, past Timpanogas Cave.
Several miles east of the cave, the road forks. Turn to the north towards Tibble
reservoir. The best placers are above the reservoir. The area was
withdrawn from mineral entry in 1964, and few claims remain. There is
private land in some of the higher basins such as Mary Ellen Basin and Mineral
Basins. Most of the gold is fine, but can be found in almost every pan. Good
Luck
From
Mikey
I recently got into panning after 5 years of "paper chasing" for
treasure caches. I live in American Fork, Utah and I must have extremely good
luck. Virtually every place I go I run into flour gold. Not just a few flecks
mind you, but lots of it. I did some test panning at the mouth of American
Fork canyon (which, by the way, is world reknown for its rock climbing faces)
and pulled out a nugget about a quarter inch across. Most would say "Big
deal" but hey, that's damn good for Utah. I found it at the irrigation
diversion of the river that leads out of the canyon. Incidentally, the nugget
had a lot of points and jags on it. If you've been panning for a while or if
you know your stuff you know what that means, if you don't.... study. Knowledge
is power. If you do try A.F. Canyon out, research the laws of the area. I'm
almost sure they allow panning but sluices are out of the question except for
a certain time of the year when, I think it's the GPAA or LMDA is allowed to
go up to a designated area and sluice. Knock 'em dead !!!
From Chance Graham:
Hey I noticed that you didnt have a place to look in Utah.... Well now you do.
The place is American Fork canyon. You have to pay $3 to get in because it is
Forest Service land. It is a recreational panning area. To get there, go to
American Fork (the town) - it's about 5 miles north of Orem then go to Highland
and head east for the canyon. Proceed to Tible fork where you will find Tible
Fork Reservoir. Just hit the river that feeds the Reservoir and you'll have
some small placer gold. Be careful while panning, the gold is very fine.
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