Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

[mrbelvetron]

I have two questions.

First, is it legal to pan for gold in National Parks and Forest?

Second, does anyone in the California area know if gold (or other minerals) are found in the park areas?

My family is heading there for vacation August 1 and staying for a week. I figured I could kill some time and maybe find a nugget or two.

Any help is appreciated.

 

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[Hoser John]

NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!Go to jail,do not pass go,big fine,ruin your vacation.Go to the merced,tuoloume,american,mokelume,small creeks but NEVER in that forest!!John

 

[mrbelvetron]

Thanks for the info!!

I do like monopoly just not the jail thing.

 

[gubelube]

dont know much about the places to go or if it is leagle in the seqoias but i just got into dredging and been to keyesville finding some color not much yet the orange county 49ers have a claim at black gulch and i did some panning as aguest while they dredged and they got quite a bit of gold in few hours joing them soon since its close to me im from bakersfield

 

[Yosemite Sam]

National Parks and National Forests are off limits (illegal) to pretty much take, dig, alter, destroy anything. State Forests are legal to pan for gold on, but you need to make sure that you are not on somebody's claim. Placer claims (20-40 acres) should have some kind of distinct marking such as corner poles or metal tags on the trees. You can check BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Microfich and Microfilm at any BLM office for boundries and claims that have already been staked. If you are just panning you can probably get permission from the claims' owner for a day or two. You might also check with GPAA (Gold Prospectors Association of America) if they have any land in the area. They would probably let you pan for the day and check out the club.

Sam

 

[natemaybee]

I know this is an old thread but what on earth is wrong with you people?
"Nearly all National Forest (NF) System land is open and
available for prospecting and mining."
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/maps/brochures/mining.pdf

 

[KevinInColorado]

I think they confused national park (take nothing!) with national forest ("Land of Many Uses") where you usually CAN prospect and mine.