Hobbies And Interests
Nuggets in National Parks
Much of the Santa Catalina Mountains are contained in a U.S. Forest Service ranger district within Arizona's vast and gold-rich Coronado National Forest. The ranger station there should have a plat map available for viewing that will inform you of where you can stake a claim to any gold you find while panning or prospecting -- and where you can't. According to the U.S. Forest Service, some areas of federal lands are open to claims, others aren't.
History, Methods
The end of the Mexican-American War in 1848 was a major hurdle that was cleared in the Atlantic-to-Pacific conquest known as American manifest destiny, which opened up Arizona's Grand Canyon region as well as other states for mineral mining. Deposits of gold were found throughout the Santa Catalina Mountains, called "placer" mines, where a variety of excavation methods were then employed to extract the most gold. Other gold nuggets have been found using simpler panning or sluicing operations along the stream and river beds in the area.
Arizona Today
The gold -- and silver -- nuggets that were prevalently sought in the Depression-era "rush" days of the 1930s over time became eclipsed by the still-thriving copper-mining operations in Arizona, which fed the nation's electricity wiring needs. That doesn't mean that gold can't and won't be found in the caverns, streams and abandoned mines of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It just means that you won't be the first person who's pored over the place looking for gold.
The Journey
From Tucson, the Catalina Highway will take you to the Santa Catalina Mountains, with a day entry fee per vehicle due to the ranger. From here, you can access the Bear, Sabino and Madera canyons, home to a range of hiking and prospecting opportunities. Though most gold nuggets will be found using sophisticated prospecting and extraction methods, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, what you find as a small-scale prospector is likely yours to keep.