Panning For Gold Still Done Near Buena Vista

This story originally aired in June 2010. It aired again on Colorado Getaways on June 4, 2011.

BUENA VISTA, Colo. (CBS4) - At the Cache Creek Placer Area there are still people from near and far panning for gold in Colorado's high country.

The gold rush in Colorado was a big reason -- if not the primary reason -- for the surge in population of the Colorado territory in the mid 1800s. Now, 150 years later, there's still some panning for gold going on in similar basic methods to what the original argonauts used.

You need a permit to operate a "highbanker," which helps with the panning, but it's popular for tourists who want to experience the hard word of the original Colorado gold miners.

The Cache Creek Placer Area is part of the Royal Gorge field office of the Bureau of Land Management. It's located near Buena Vista. Take U.S. Hwy 24 north from Buena Vista to Granite. Then take the County Road west and follow signs to Cache Creek.

Additional Resources

Contact the Royal Gorge Field Office of the BLM in Canon City at (719) 269-8500 for more information.

Get more info about gold prospecting from Gold Prospectors of Colorado (gpoc.com).