I was walking some trails at a National Park a few weeks back and saw a man and his son panning for gold in one of the creeks. My only question for him was 'Have you found anything yet?' Smart man that he was, if he even had found something, said no. Despite the fact that taking part of the land, including rocks, gems, and minerals from a National Park is illegal, it got me thinking. Does anyone still pan for gold, or have you ever, and have you ever had any success with it?
I'd be quite curious to hear people's experiences regarding this too? And if anyone has panned for gold, how do you find a location to do it at? In other words, how would you go about picking a spot to try panning for gold?
I don't think there is any use in wasting once time indulging in panning and all. Whatever placer gold was there in the streams, was extracted to the maximum extent by 1950s or so. I don't think there is any gold left by now. However, if you are looking for a nice good family outing with a bit of adventure and travel, then for sure you can try your luck. But the chances of finding gold is around one in a million.
You won't find any gold in the streams. The national park will make sure to salvage all possible gold from the stream, so panning will be a waste of your time as well as being illegal. If you did find any gold, it would be a very miniscule amount.
Went Gold panning many many.... many lol years ago while I was on a school trip. I remember I was so excited and thought to myself I would find the biggest piece of gold. Ended up empty handed haha. I agree Unless you find a great hidden spot your luck with be quite small.
I was told by a guy running a metal detecting store that he finds gold in the streams up in the New Hampshire and Vermont area. He said he always finds some gold but you won't get rich doing it. He also was selling gold panning equipment, so its hard to say if he was just exaggerating for sales. It does sound like fun though, so I am curious what quantities people have found in which locations.
Find some gold, but you won't get rich doing it? Right, I think he's out for the sales. If I found gold, you best believe I wouldn't tell anybody else about my spot and I would be there every chance I got to acquire some more. It will take a while to find it, but if you do, it WILL make you rich. Sure a few ounces here and there won't, but they sure don't hurt you at all.
I personally don't feel that it's worth it. It might not be a bad idea if you're going camping and want to try something new; however, I think even using a metal detector would be more profitable than panning. All you would ever find is gold dust.
Agreed. Never understood the idea of panning for gold. Even if you find something, it isn't worth the hours of time you are spending that could be allotted elsewhere.
I would say, go for it. Do it for the exercise and the fun. Chances are you are more likely to find gold panning the sewers in New York city. As someone had just found out.
I don't think panning for gold in a park is worthwhile.. I guess, in that specific public place, there no even one ounce of gold left since a lot of people have gone there. perhaps, if you really wanna experience some kind of adventure and treasure hunt, i think there's about 30% possibility of finding gold in some isolated places.
