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Rock Collecting and Gold Panning
Rock collecting and gold panning are generally permitted on public lands, except for certain designated areas, such as wilderness areas, Wilderness Study Areas, developed special management areas or recreation sites.
ROCK COLLECTING
- Personal use rock permits are required to remove rocks from the GMUG National Forests.
- Personal use rock permits are available through GMUG Ranger District Offices. Please contact the appropriate office to check the availability of personal use permits.
- Grand Valley Ranger District (Grand Junction) - 970-242-8211
- Ouray Ranger District (Montrose) - 970-240-5300
- Norwood Ranger District (Norwood) - 970-327-4261
- Gunnison Ranger District (Gunnison) - 970-641-0471
- Paonia Ranger District (Paonia) - 970-527-4131
- Permits are $12.00 a ton.
- Permits expire on December 31 of each year.
Casual Mineral Collection on Forest Service Lands
Minerals can be collected in reasonable quantities without a permit, as long as the activity is for personal use and not commercial purposes. More information
Non-mechanized sluicing is unregulated on most public lands, dredging and mechanized sluicing are regulated and may require a permit.
There are no designated gold panning locations on the GMUG National Forest. If you wish to engage in gold panning, you must ensure you are not panning on an active unpatented mining claim. Many areas of the National Forest have unpatented mining claims. Due to complex ownership and mining claim boundaries, we suggest going to commercial gold panning businesses for families planning vacation trips. Information on these businesses are available from local Visitor Information Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.
To ensure the enjoyment of all visitors on public lands, please follow all necessary laws, regulations and guidelines:
- Collection and removal is generally limited to battery-operated equipment, equipment that uses recycling processes and dry washers.
- Collection and removal may not be assisted by motorized or mechanized equipment.
- Blasting material of any kind is not permitted.
- Do not contaminate wells, creeks or other water supplies.
- Limit excavation depth to four feet and fill all holes that may be dangerous to livestock or wildlife.
- Do not disturb, damage or destroy the environment; wildlife; cultural, historical or paleontological resources; or government or private property.