CREEDE — Mineral County

Source: Gold Fever Prospecting — Colorado Gold Panning Locations. Compiled by Tom Ashworth (Prospectors Cache / goldfeverprospecting.com). Documented placer gold or recreational panning area. Coordinates geocoded to the named town or district. Verify claim status, private land, and current regulations before prospecting. The area near Creede is the location of the Amethyst (Big) Mine, Last Chance, and New York mines. These mines were primarily lead-silver-zinc mines but produced a by-product of gold. They were early major producers of the county's 149,200 ounces by-product gold. West of Creede 2 miles, at Sunnyside, is where numerous early gold claims that produced lode gold. At Willow Creek area silver mines produced a by-product of gold. North .75 miles from Creede, on Left Fork of West Willow Creek, are the locations of the Commodore Mine that produced a by-product of gold. West of West Willow Creek is the Amethyst Lode that consisted of numerous mines for lode gold. Between the Amethyst Lode and the Commodore, all Creek gravel bars and benches contain placer gold. At end of Route 149 is the King Solomon and Sunnyside mines, at an elevation of 9,000-11,000 feet, both produced by-product gold.