FAIRPLAY BEACH
Welcome to "South Park." At 9,953 feet, the air is thin, the water is freezing, and the gold is plentiful. The town maintains a designated **Panning Beach** right on the Middle Fork of the South Platte River.
Hypothermia Warning
The water here is snowmelt. Even in July, it can be near freezing. Hypothermia is a real risk for unwary tourists.
Gear Check: Neoprene waders or arm-length gloves are highly recommended. Do not plan on swimming.
The Beach
Located at the end of Platte Drive. **Fees apply** ($10/day permit required, buy at town hall or kiosk). Digging is allowed, but fill your holes.
Alma
Just upstream is Alma, the highest town in North America. Private claims abound here. Stick to the Fairplay public area unless you have a guide.
Glacial Gold
The gold here is "glacial flour" and small pickers. It is pushed down from the lode mines on Mt. Bross and Mt. Lincoln. Pan carefully—it's fine.
Field Tips: The Willows
On the public beach, the easy gravels are worked out daily. **Get into the willows.** The roots of the willow bushes along the bank capture flood gold that casual panners miss. Dig out the dirt from around the root balls (gently) and pan that.
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