CLEAR CREEK
It sounds impossible, but you can find gold literally minutes from downtown Denver. Clear Creek drains the rich mineral belt of Idaho Springs and Central City, depositing gold right at the feet of the city.
City Limits Rules
Rules change every mile here. Inside **Jefferson County Open Space**, panning is generally allowed (Hands and Pans). Inside **City of Golden**, sluices may be restricted.
Always Check Signage. Do not dig into the river banks or disturb vegetation. This is a high-traffic recreational area. Keep it clean.
Arapahoe Bar
Located just west of Denver. This is a dedicated gold panning park. It gets hit hard, but the flood replenishment keeps it viable for practice.
The Canyon
Hwy 6 winds up the canyon. Pull-outs exist, but parking is tight. The gold here is coarser than at Arapahoe Bar. Look for bedrock rapids.
Lunch Break Gold
This is the only place in the US where you can reasonably pan for gold on your lunch break from a corporate job. Keep a pan in your trunk.
Field Tips: Bedrock Busting
In the canyon sections, the bedrock is often smooth and polished granite. Gold gets trapped in the **micro-fissures**. Bring a sniping tool (crevice sucker) and clean out the cracks that are underwater. You will be amazed at what hides in a 1mm crack.
What Your Gold Is Worth
Rough spot-price estimate of your find. Real payout depends on purity, weight, and who you sell to — but this gives you a ballpark before you head home.
This is a rough calculator — purity, refinery fees, and market spread all affect what you actually get. Check current spot prices before selling.
Gold Knowledge Resources
Optional gold-culture references for readers curious about bars, coins, purity and storage language after prospecting. These are third-party resources, not financial advice.
BullionVault
Third-party resource for learning how vaulted physical gold services describe storage, fees and custody.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.BullionStar
Useful for comparing bars, coins, premiums and purity language after learning field testing basics.
Affiliate link. Paystreak may earn a commission; check the provider’s terms.APMEX
Browse mainstream bullion product formats and premiums as gold-culture background, not prospecting advice.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.JM Bullion
Reference catalogue for seeing common retail names, weights and purity markings used on coins and bars.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.The Digger's Code
- Backfill all holes before you leave.
- Pack out all your trash.
- Respect fence lines and gates.
Legal Disclaimer
Land access rights, safety conditions, and public fossicking zones change. You are solely responsible for verifying regulations with local authorities (DOC/Council/BLM) and assessing river safety before visiting. Paystreak.io accepts no liability for injury, fines, or trespassing. Never dig on private land without explicit permission.
✓ Information last verified: January 2026