Chaffee County Gold Panning

Source: Gold Fever Prospecting — Colorado Gold Panning Locations. Compiled by Tom Ashworth (Prospectors Cache / goldfeverprospecting.com). Documented placer gold or recreational panning area. Map coordinates are approximate (county centroid or geocoded place name). Verify claim status, private land, and current regulations before prospecting. Chaffee County Borders the Continental Divide near central Colorado. Chaffee County produced 370,000 gold ounces, largely from lode mines, but with small amounts from placers and base metal mines. The main area of interest is in the gravel bars and benches all along the Arkansas River from Buena Vista southeast 25 miles to the Fremont County line and near Granite, which is close to the county line 15 miles northwest of Salida. There are many placers. In Lost Canyon Gulch, Chalk Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Pine Creek, Bertscheys Gulch, Cold Run Gulch, Gilson Gulch, Oregon Gulch, and Ritchey's Patch, you will find rich history and all had abundant placer workings. There are many small mines scattered throughout County that produced lode and by-product gold.