Western NC Gold Hunting

[deepsouthdigger]

I made my first trip to NC to try and find some places to pan. I am planning to join GPAA to get some info and places to go. My question is: Does anyone know of any public access places to pan or run a sluice that you dont have to pay to pan? I would like to meet a local that might know some places to go and could show me around. I spent a little time in Union Mills at a pay site and everyone was nice and the facilities were very nice. I want to learn to nugget shoot but someone there said I was wasting my time because the gold was over 4 feet deep. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Bird Dog]

Gragg NC is good area to look in to. There are some steams in the Pisgah where you can find some nice gold...I've been on Anthony Creek, Timber creek and the Gragg Prong. I found gold in all three but you'll have to work for it. Panning is tough work by itself and I'd suggest you get a good sluice and a hand operated sucker tube along with a pick and shovel. Look for areas in the streams where the bedrock is exposed then you won't have to dig so deep. Make sure you know the Forest Service regulations for the areas you're going to pan.

Nugget shooting is a waste of time as most of the gold is pretty small.

 

[deepsouthdigger]

Thanks for your response Bird Dog. I am really stoked about some of the possibilities of finding gold. I hope you are blessed to find your share and hope it is big nuggets. Reality I guess any gold is good. But many thanks.