The 5 Best Times To Go Gold Panning

Written By Dan Driscoll - March 22 2016

When gold panning, it takes some strategic thinking and good timing to increase your chances of finding gold! Though a well-planned location does not guarantee you getting some of that shiny stuff, some patience, diligence and planning can sharply increase your chances!

Finding gold can be a difficult, but rewarding, endeavor!

Finding an area that is easily accessible and doesn't require lots of hiking will make the adventure easier, but you may find better rewards traversing to those difficult-to-access spots. Most importantly, always try to go with at least one other person as safety is essential for having a good time!

As mentioned, some of the best time to go gold panning include:

After Heavy Rainfall or Flooding - When there's a lot of rainfall or even a flood in local mountain regions, water helps remove some of the top layers of soil, bringing down a lot more material from the mountains. Gems and gold are often accompanied downstream!
Low Water Levels - Low water levels during the summer or in areas where there is a drought makes it easier to get gain access to areas with black sand, thus making it much easier to find gold!

When the water is low, it's the perfect time to gold pan!
Post-Snow Melt - Snow melts tend to break up the gravel and ore up in the mountains, bringing down the material into the streams and rivers as the weather begins to get a little warmer.
Extreme Low Tides - If you're prospecting on a beach next to the ocean, the farther out the tide is, the less water you have to deal with. When you have less water to deal with, areas with black sand are more easily found. When black sand is easier to access, the chances of getting to gold-bearing levels of sand increase dramatically!

Ocean beaches during low tide are some of the best spots to find some gold.
Sunshine and Warm Weather - Since the first day of spring was only yesterday, we can all look forward to a better season. as long as there is good weather and low tide u can go!

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