It’s just west of Golden Colorado at the edge of metro-Denver. The park is owned and operated by Jefferson County Open Space. Go for the great gold in the center of the creek which no one can safely dig when the water is higher and faster. It’s up to the challenge of capturing fine gold Clear Creek Canyon Open Space Park provides almost 10 miles of access to gold bearing waterway for visitors. Winter access can also be good although often the ice blocks access to the best spots near the banks. On the other hand, in late summer when the weather is dry, the water levels drop dramatically, and you can safely walk right across the creek getting to lots of great spots. When the water is high, it drastically limits prospecting access for most people. Built for the Timberline Dredging Company, the dredge began operations in 1941 and began recovering significant amounts of gold the following year. Once a number of dredges plied the streams and rivers of Park County in search of gold. Water levels in the canyon vary quite a bit through the year. Park County Historic Landmark - designated. Oh, and yes, its ok to climb over the rec path fence to get to the spot you want to dig. This provides easy prospecting access to some areas that were very difficult to get to in the past so there are some new opportunities for good gold now! (Just be sure to avoid digging in any way that would undermine or damage the new rec path…that’s a good way to get fined). The park consists of about 1/2 mile of waterway, some huge dredge tailings piles and a beautiful setting on the South Platte River next to the town that inspired the TV show South Park. One tip: the county recently opened up more recreational path through the canyon. So, both good amounts of gold and some bigger pieces are out there. Just today (as I write this), an acquaintance pulled 2-3 grams out with a 4-inch dredge (brr, ice dredging in December!) and with a sluice I’ve found a 12-mesh piece. That said, with so much waterway to prospect, you can find spots with larger gold if you get away from the spots with easy access that everyone hits. Much of the gold here is -100 mesh so you have to know your equipment to do well. South Park City A restored 19th-century mining camp and museum. Main Attractions South Park City in Fairplay. It was settled during the Gold Rush in 1859, and its name comes from the community protesting for more equitable mining claims. Do you think this type of disturbance to the ecosystem would result. It is within the top 5 highest incorporated towns in Colorado, sitting at 9,953 feet. The dredges leave behind large piles of rocks known as 'tailing piles'. These dredges scooped up large amounts of sand, gravel, and dirt, and then sifts and sorts the material to collect the gold. You can see their map and the delightfully simple gold prospecting rules here: Question: This historic photo shows a gold mining dredge in Fairplay, Colorado. It’s just west of Golden Colorado at the edge of metro-Denver. Used from 1941 to the 1960s, it completed the work of several hundred men as it dug and processed ore in the gold fields between Fairplay and Alma. It’s up to the challenge of capturing fine gold!Ĭlear Creek Canyon Open Space Park provides almost 10 miles of access to gold bearing waterway for visitors. Here I am standing in Clear Creek feeding a Gold Cube with an attached trommel (photo credit: Jefferson County Open Space). Sponsored by the Colorado State Library, the regional library systems of Colorado, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.Ĭolorado School of Mines.Feeding a Gold Cube & Trammel in Clear Creek on a winter day. Dredge operations were suspended in 1942 and resumed in 1945, and finally shut down permanently in 1952. The dredge mined up to 15,000 cubic yards of placer gravels per day and could reach to a depth of 105 feet. The stacker then deposited the tailings along the river channel. The dredge had over 100 buckets that fed gravel from the river bottom into the dredge's interior where it was milled. The Fairplay dredge was electrically operated and was the largest dredge in Colorado. also looking for a area that is dredging permitted in the area. ![]() ![]() The South Platte Dredging Company used it to mine the Fairplay placer along the South Platte River starting in 1941. trying to find areas that i can dredge in the fairplay area that are a gpaa claim or a claim that is a shared usage. This dredge boat was built by the Yuba Manufacturing Company and shipped to Fairplay, Colorado in sections. Slide showing the Fairplay dredge boat, which mined the Fairplay placer, Park County, Colorado. Held in the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. Related slides and photographs: NMHFM-131, NMHFM-241, NMHFM-341, NMHFM-342.
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