My book on gold prospecting across Colorado is now available here and ‘in stores everywhere’. It has even been updated for 2024. Awarded recognition as the “#1 New Release” in its category on Amazon in June 2018 and an “Amazon Bestseller” in May 2021 and frequently since! Over 10,000 sold in the first 5 years. Re-edited and updated annually. Note: As an affiliate marketer I get fees if you buy certain products through my website.
Get it on Amazon here or in a local store listed below (support your local prospecting shop!).
Released on May 27, 2018, and updated every year, Finding Gold in Colorado: Prospector’s Edition includes 180+ dig sites across the gold mining districts of Colorado. Every site has been properly investigated to avoid private lands and areas subject to mining claim. You don’t have to worry about whether someone filed a claim where I send you, or someone tore down a ‘no trespassing’ sign leaving you to wander onto private land. Driving instructions and GPS coordinates provided for all sites, along with GPS coordinates for the site boundaries to help you stay legal as you dig. Also includes great information on the origin story of each mining town, guides on what is worth seeing while you are in the area: mines and mills open to tourists, ghost towns worth the drive, and local museums with a focus on our gold mining heritage. Even points you to camping and other accommodations “on the gold”. All that, organized by logical areas of the state. 19 chapters and 470 pages of great information.
Want to get it at a real store?
- Alma: Big Nipper’s Mining & Mercantile
- Bailey: Platte River Outfitters
Breckenridge: the Nature’s Own rock shop on Main St., and the Country Boy Mine up French Gulch (which is worth a visit for the tour anyway!) - Central City/Blackhawk: The Hidee Mine gift shop (take the tour too!), Vic’s Gold Panning (take the tour, learn to pan too!)
- Colorado Springs: On the north end of town, the Western Museum of Mining & Industry (which you really should visit anyway.); also at Gold Prospectors of Colorado monthly meetings
- Cortez: San Juan Gems on the north end of town.
- Craig: The Museum of Northwest Colorado
- Cripple Creek: Hotel St. Nicholas at 233 E Eaton Ave
- Delta: Mr. Detector (this is the closest spot for those in the Montrose to Grand Junction area too)
- Denver Metro: Arvada Army Navy Surplus at 5701 Olde Wadsworth St., the Denver Gold Shop at 250 West Jewell Ave, Denver, and Desert Gems at 457 Wadsworth in Lakewood. Also, at Foothills Prospectors Club monthly meetings.
- Dillon: Summit Historical Society at the schoolhouse museum or here
- Fairplay: High Alpine Sports on Front St. or the South Park City Museum gift shop
- Fort Garland: at the Ft Garland Museum bookstore or the History Colorado online bookstore here
- Frisco: Frisco Historic Park’s Museum on Main St., Next Page Books on Main St., or Summit Gold on Main St.
- Georgetown: It Is What It Is right next to City Hall and across the street from the Hotel Paris
- Idaho Springs: Clear Creek Supply aka CARQUEST or the Idaho Springs Visitor Center & Museum or The Argo Gold Mill & Tunnel
- Leadville: The Rock Hut on Main St.
- Nathrup: The Rock Doc right off Highway 24 (about halfway between Buena Vista and Salida)
- Pueblo (& Canon City): The Gold Mine Rock Shop (west of Pueblo on US-50)
- Silverton: The local museum run by the historical society (another place you really should visit, it’s amazing!), Fetch’s Mining & Mercantile in town on the highway
- Taylor Park (& Gunnison): Taylor Park Trading Post
- Victor: The Victor Trading Company
- Auburn California: at the famous Pioneer Mining Supplies or on their website here
- Olathe Kansas: High Plains Prospectors or on their website here
You can also order a copy at www.booksamillion.com, or other online booksellers. Places like Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart.com also offer it, if you prefer to shop there for some reason, but honestly, if you are going to buy from an online store, I’d prefer you use one of the links above to support the Colorado gold prospecting and Colorado history community. Of course, buying stuff on Amazon may be something you are doing anyway. In that case, hit this link to buy your book and all the other stuff you need! I get small referral fees from Amazon for whatever people buy via my links so that’s cool too.
THE BEST WAYS TO BUY THE BOOK:
If you are in Colorado, please go to a real store listed above if it is practical for you. I don’t sell retail in Colorado so please don’t try to order a book directly from me if you are a fellow Coloradan (the sales taxes are too much of a hassle). Of course, you can also buy from Amazon, just click the Amazon ad lower in this article or ask your local bookstore to order a copy from Ingram (the big national book distribution company).
Other Colorado stores will be added along the way. I’d love any suggestions.
The Logo Sticker (buy stickers and lots of other logo merch here)
Buy on Amazon for $25.95 or less, depending on their whims and your Amazon Prime status of course. Amazon also has the Kindle e-book version and the hardcover version. By the way, I am in love with the hardcover edition. It is very well made and far more durable than the paperback. If you don’t mind the extra cost, its a great deal for what you get.
I get an extra buck per book from Amazon if you buy through the link below (so thanks!). If you scroll down, you will see our other books too. Please DON’T buy the other Colorado gold panning book, by another author, which Amazon usually mentions after my book in this link. It has a lot of inaccurate and illegal information in it. Everything it has, that is legal, is in my book too…and SO much more:
Book Chapters include: Metro Denver, Boulder County, Central City and Gilpin County, Idaho Springs and Clear Creek County, Breckenridge and Summit County, Fairplay and Park County, Leadville and the upper Arkansas River, Buena Vista and the lower Arkansas River, Cripple Creek, Taylor Park, Lake City, Summitville and Creede, Ouray and the Uncompahgre River, Telluride and the San Miguel River, Silverton and the Animas River, Rico and the upper Dolores River, Western Colorado River, and lastly Craig and the Yampa River. Also a history of Colorado prospecting and plenty of other helpful information to help plan your trip. Even includes a list of other books you might also enjoy.
For a color map of Colorado showing the areas covered by each chapter, go HERE. For an index of ALL the places discussed in the book, go HERE. The map and index are also included in the book of course. Looking for the full color photo book about Colorado Gold Country? Get Finding Gold in Colorado: Inspiring Images here.
There’s a lot to see and do in Colorado. Come get your share of the gold and fun!
The book was highlighted in a local TV show! Watch here.
Speaking of TV, I was featured on a Discovery Channel reality TV show. That’s me on the right in the photo. Fun times!
Love the book and want to show your colors? Get logo gear here.
Are you looking for the best book on gold prospecting in Utah? Alan Chenworth’s Gold Panning in Utah, 2nd edition is one of the inspirations for my book, for good reason. (Click here to see info.) If you buy his book used, be sure to get the Second Edition, not the first edition. He just about doubled the amount of information in the second edition.
Need other stuff? If you appreciate the info I’m sharing, please click thru one of my Amazon, Sunny Mountain or Gold Cube links/ads the next time you want to shop online. It won’t cost you anything extra and it keeps the site going: Shop at Amazon
Looking for the prospecting log book I designed? Get Finding Gold in Colorado: Prospecting Log here.
47 thoughts on “Buy the Book! Finding Gold in Colorado: Prospector’s Edition”
Thanks! Does your book talk about procedures to strike a claim? I did it back in the 90s with my dad’s friends, but I know it isn’t that difficult. Additionally all the places in your book, they are claim free and open to the masses? I look forward to it!
Yes, every spot in the book is open to the public, claim-free and, most importantly unclaimable. That was really the original reason for the book – to highlight the MANY places a casual or visiting prospector can dig to find gold in Colorado!
Instructions for locating and filing a claim are not in the book but I do have a free article about that on this website. Read it here: http://findinggoldincolorado.com/how-to-file-a-mining-claim/
Kevin
Does your book include information about site that allow gas motor suction with high-banking/suction equipment?
Doug
Only in some cases. I didn’t always check to see if gas power is allowed. I do mention who the land mgmt agency is for every site do you’d know who to ask if I don’t mention it.
BOOK CORRECTIONS and UPDATES:
The history at the beginning of the book says Russellville was 4 miles north of Franktown but it was really 4 miles SOUTH. (Thanks Scott L.)
Site A-09B: Refers to the Cherry Creek confluence but of course I meant the CLEAR CREEK confluence. oops! (Thanks Don B.)
Site D-05: Due to heavy truck traffic, parking along the dirt road which heads under the freeway bridge is no longer allowed. Please park next to the river just past the dirt road instead. There is space for several cars there where your car will be entirely out of the way of the hard-working truck drivers. This is the “alternative” parking I mention in older copies of the book.
Site G-01C: please be careful to stay off of the active mining claim just downstream of the public area. Just stay within the bounds of the GPS coordinates provided and you’ll be fine.
Site G-02 is reopened (yay!) Dennis O’Neill’s Family has made arrangements with Colorado Gold Camp to continue to provide access to this land in his memory. Day/weekend passes are available via the coloradogoldcamp.com website.
Site M-07: Rattlesnake Gulch: the BLM has corrected their signage onsite to confirm they DO allow sluicing here.
Site N-12: Montrose County has decided to close this site to mechanized prospecting so pans and sluices are allowed but nothing more. Please do not use pumps there and limit your digging to areas away from the actual campground. The camping ground remains open for free (donations encouraged) day or overnight use. Here’s a recent news article with the details: https://www.montrosepress.com/news/county-takes-firm-stance-against-mining-at-west-end-ballpark/article_139412a4-73ac-11e9-9621-731af82c4af7.html
Here’s a quote from the county about the new rules: The new ordinance allows panning within the river channel, as long as it occurs at least 2 feet from the bank. Among other provisions, the ordinance prohibits motorized mining activities, including motorized suction dredging.
It also bars activity that undercuts or excavates banks and the ordinance further restricts access to the channel to existing roads and trails.
People cannot disturb more than 1 cubic yard of soil per day and anything that cannot be removed by hand must remain undisturbed.
All digging has to be filled in and the work area must be cleaned up before departure.
Violations are treated as a petty offense, which carry fines between $100 on first occurrence and up to $1,000 for repeat offenses.
If the county property, river or surrounding area sustains damages in excess of $100, violators can be charged with a class-2 misdemeanor punishable by stiffer fines and up to a year in county jail.
Site Q-06 has the wrong GPS coordinates. The correct boundary coordinates are:
Upstream 39.055338 -108.459125 Downstream 39.054997 -108.465440 (thanks Bruce H.)
Site Q-09A and Q-09B have references to Q-08 which should say Q-09. Also the book didn’t emphasize the state park status of Q-09B as much as I’d like. I’ve added cautions about playing nice and practicing “leave no trace” prospecting in the state park. Please read the info in the book intro about digging in state parks before you visit Q-09A.
Site R-05 is pans only, and no buckets allowed, according to the state park rangers. I’ve also added cautions about playing nice and practicing “leave no trace” prospecting in the state park.
Note: all the errors mentioned above (and several others) are corrected in any books with a print date after 10/20/2019. Yay!
As of July 1, 2020, all sites managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife along the Arkansas River (see chapter G & H) and the Dolores River (chapter P) require visitors of ANY sort to have a fishing or hunting license. Please buy your license before heading out prospecting. This rule only applies to the sites owned and managed by CFW, not to BLM or USFS sites, or those owned by local organizations like cities and counties. There IS a day pass available as well.
Site G-02 is now owned by Colorado Gold Camp so I am renaming it as they prefer: CGC Basecamp. I’d also like to add that contrary to what I said about this site before, there is larger gold such as nuggets and pickers to be found here. To access this site, follow the instructions in the book.
Site A-12 parts of the county park along the river are actually owned by the gravel pit company on the east side of the river. While they are happy to welcome casual prospectors, they ask that we avoid the area during duck hunting season (October thru January) since they use their property for hunts.
Note: all the items mentioned above (and several others) are corrected in any books with a print date after 11/29/2020
Site F-06 Now limited to pans only. If you visit, follow all posted rules. Background: This is a small picnic area that is owned by a neighborhood organization. One of the local homeowners, who is also a gold prospector, dug a huge hole in the bank so the Home Owners Association may have decided to end their practice of allowing prospecting.
M-07 at least parts of this site have been closed (temporarily??) by the BLM to protect an endangered species of barbless cactus. Call them in Montrose or Grand Junction to check on status before visiting this site.
R-03B Has had its gate closed frequently according to local reports. Expect a long walk or access the site via R-03A.
F-03 has had a land ownership change. The hotel no longer owns the land along the river. As a result, prospecting may or may not be allowed at this site any longer. Call the front desk to confirm if considering a stay at the hotel.
H-01P Point Barr: the eastern access road is sometimes closed in the spring due to flooding or at other times as the BLM may see fit. Call the BLM office in Canon City to confirm access before traveling.
Note: all items above have been corrected in all books printed after August 2021.
Q-02 Silt River Island Park, Corrected driving instructions are: The park is on the east side of CR-311, south of Silt. Get off I-70 at Exit 97, head south, turning left onto the River Frontage Rd. Follow it to CR-218 which quickly turns into CR-311 and crosses the river bridge onto the island. (the rest of the published instructions are correct)
Note: all items above have been corrected in all books printed after November 2022
H-01O The access coordinates for this site are correct but the gps coordinates for the upstream boundary are wrong. The correct upstream boundary is at 38.5108, -105.9657 and the downstream edge is at 38.5070, -105.9590. The upstream boundary is private property which also extends on the south bank along the outside bend there. There is a claim just downstream, so please respect the claim markers.
E-04 This site no longer offers day use parking. The campground management suggests using the pullout area on the other side of CO-9 about 100 feet to the north. Also, they are nervous about the idea of people using sluices in the immediate area of the campground so adjacent to the campsites they are requesting pans only.
I purchased your book “Finding Gold in Colorado” in July of 2021 from Sunny Mountain Prospector’s store in Golden. It’s version 1.05 and it states “Prospector’s Edition” on the back cover. How is your newly 2022 version different. A fellow at the store named Heath recommended your book to me.
First, yes it’s the same book. Last summer I got a bug in my bonnet to refresh the book. So I designed a new cover and revised the text to fix typos and improve some sloppy grammar. So, no biggie so far for you right?
Second, every year I update the book to reflect rule changes I’ve learned about and to fix important errors if any. Those changes “which matter” are all listed in another comment on this article! So, to update your Vintage 2021 book for 2022, just grab a pen and update your book based on the details in the comment! Make a note to do this every winter and you’ll never need to buy another copy of my book! Well, I mean, unless you love the look of the new cover lol!
We visited H-01Y, Five Points, this past weekend. There’s a huge dry wash that comes down from the canyon on the eastern side of the campground and you can access it under the highway bridge along the pedestrian underpass. I did a few tests and didn’t find much but it was an absolutely gorgeous stretch of the river. Easy comfortable prospecting as well. Though, do watch the weather this is not a spot you’d want to get caught out during a downpour. I’m sure there’s probably gold to find where the wash meets the river. I was tempted to actually grab some samples from farther up the wash but ran out of time. Found about 10 specks of flour gold out of like 2 buckets. Would have been fairly easy to set up a sluice. There’s a large calm area on the other end of the park area but I hesitated to prospect there since it is probably frequented by guests of the park.
Great trip report, thanks Chris! I found the best gold in the actual Arkansas River there when the water was low. As you point out, this would be a sketchy area during a downpour.
Thanks, except the wash is on the western end of the area not the eastern end. Living in Colorado Springs I get east and west confused if I can’t actually see the mountains on one side or the other. Honestly I was overwhelmed with what seemed to be good spots to dig. There seemed to be a recent flood event with the wash as the path under the bridge looked like it had literally been plowed from under the sediment. There were large piles of dirt and scree on either side of the path and the wash certainly looked washed.
A recent flood even seems likely given all the rain we have had this summer. I was down in the Silverton area a few weeks ago and found that same sort of ‘fresh” material in a dry wash that had clearly been moved in recent days!
Thanks Kevin, for your new book. I’m looking so forward to using it once more on our trip to Colorado. You are always spot on finding gold and the places we visit are beautiful.
SUPER BOOK AND INFO Kevin ! If a person is wanting to go to Colorado to find gold , This is the book / info you need to have to read the Winter before you make any definite plans ! Thanks Kevin for getting this info /book out there !
Thanks Russ, very kind of you to share this comment. Have you checked out Volume 2 of my guidebooks as well?