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How to Pan for Gold in Southern California

California was one of the most sought-after spots in North America for gold in the mid-1800s. Countless prospectors traveled from throughout the continent to "strike it rich." The Gold Rush may be in the past, but there is still opportunity to make a few bucks in the mountainous rivers and streams of Southern California. Many of the national parks in the area allow visitors to pan for free, and there is no charge outside of the parks either.

Things You'll Need

Gold pan
Vial
Waders
Small shovel

Instructions

- 1
  Find a stream that courses through foothills or mountains. These areas have the best likelihood of finding gold. National parks in Southern California have a golden reputation. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Red Rock Canyon both have gold in their steams and rivers.
- 2
  Talk to the park office or speak to a chamber of commerce representative to see whether the area you want to pan has a mining claim. Any mining claim would be unlikely in a state park. Mining supply stores, as well as the aforementioned contacts could recommend the best area for mining.
- 3
  Wade into the stream to scoop a small amount of sediment and water with your shovel. Scoop about one foot deep to turn up possible gold deposits. Put the mixture into your gold pan.
- 4
  Swirl the water around your pan while angling the front of your pan toward the water at a 45 degree angle. You want the heavier gold deposits to trickle to the bottom of the pan, while the rest of the sediments wash out with the water. Let a few ounces of water out with the sediments in each swoosh of the gold pan. Remove any gold and put it in a vial.
- 5
  Continue Steps 3 and 4 while moving up and down the stream. Large gold deposits are extremely rare, so you could spend days doing this with no monetary reward.

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