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How to Gold Pan at Bear River in California

The Bear River in Northern California was a popular gold prospecting site during the United States' historic Gold Rush from the late 1840s through the 1870s. Today, the Bear River has several public campgrounds along its shores. Though the amount of gold held in the river's banks has been depleted, many still visit in hopes of finding the precious metal and still practice prospecting methods that are very similar to those used during the Gold Rush.

Things You'll Need

Shovel
Gold pan
Container with cover

Instructions

- 1
  Make your way to the Bear River, which divides Nevada and Northern California's Placer County near the town of Colfax. If you choose to spend more than one day prospecting for gold, settle down in a nearby campground at Bear River Park (placer.ca.gov) or Bear River Lake Resort (bearrivercampground.com).
- 2
  Dig up some gravel, either from the river bank, the river bed or nearby soil. Pour the gravel into the gold pan. The best gravel should have small pieces of stone and loose dirt, as heavy, larger pieces make it more difficult to pan effectively.
- 3
  Choose a seat along or in the river. Lean over and place your gold pan into the water so that the flow of the water moves towards the mouth of the pan.
- 4
  Gently shake the pan from left to right. This will cause the lighter debris to rise up and to be swept away by the current of the river. The heavier debris, and hopefully the gold, will remain at the bottom of the pan. Place the pan on your lap and search through the remaining debris, looking for gold.
- 5
  Rinse off any gold that you find and place it in a container. Cover the container and keep it in a safe place. Continue panning.

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