I was in the area and had a couple free hours to learn about gold panning. I book 2 hours/$180. I recommend doing 2 or more hours as you will be allowed to sluce. 100x quicker results. I was met by EZ and Leo who were very friendly, knowledgeable, and easy-going. Woods creek is about 100ft from the picnic benches an you will be getting wet. I recommend watershoes or boots. To begin, EZ set me up at the right spot for a solo enthusiast to start. There are important tips to learn about when locating and recovering gold and listening. After 2 hours of sifting untouched dirt, was only able to fill about 3 full buckets worth of slucable dirt. The fun happens when you get color in your pan. Great service and value. Respect the land. Go with friends and family. read more

California Gold Panning - 2 hours of labor - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

My wife and I were really disappointed with this experience. We weren't expecting to strike it rich, but for $200, we did expect to actually be taught the basics of gold panning and prospecting. Our guide showed up, took us down to the creek, gave us a shovel, and told us to dig. After that, we barely saw him until it was time to process what we had sluiced. He cleaned the sluice, panned the material himself, and put a few flakes into a jar for us. What we wanted to learn was how to properly pan, how to read a river or creek, where to look for gold, and the basic techniques of prospecting. Unfortunately, very little of that was explained or demonstrated. Most of what we did learn came from questions we had to ask ourselves. At one point, another young couple arrived and actually thought we were the hosts. They had no idea what they were doing and were ready to leave. Meanwhile, our host/instructor spent most of our session sitting in his vehicle. He even mentioned that he was getting off at noon because no one else was scheduled that afternoon. We essentially spent the majority of our $200 digging a hole in a creek bed with very little instruction or interaction from our guide. We left feeling like we had been given the bare minimum of the experience. The following day, we went out on our own and met another couple who were panning on the river. In just 30 minutes, they taught us more about panning and prospecting than we had learned during our paid experience. They were incredibly helpful, and we even made two new friends in the process. Unfortunately, the free experience the next day was far more educational and enjoyable than the $200 guided experience. We were very disappointed and would not recommend this experience to anyone looking to actually learn the basics of gold prospecting read more

Had a fun time with 5 adults and 2 hours in the water. Hunter, our young (preteen) assistant guide was very helpful during our part of digging in rocks, and sifting down to silt. Wyatt(?) guide did the final panning and found a couple of flakes in our two hours of work. The service was good, and a lot of fun. read more

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Went 5/24/26 with my son and daughter. It was a great experience. Kids had fun. For those with disabilities it could be a little treacherous because there are slippery muddy in some places, walkways. I only say that as I was dealing with a knee injury. The operators were great, friendly and informative. We didnt find a lot of gold but we found gold. I found it affordable, very close to home, a nice change of pace to get the kids out doing something new. They enjoyed the big tadpoles, goofing off in the water, and finding gold obviously. I asked them if they'd like to go back sometime and they said yes without hesitation. We will definitely be back. read more

Great value and fun for lab retreat!! We had an entertaining two hours in the river, getting muddy and even found some gold! Highly recommend read more

Took our family of five and had an amazing time! We did the two our excursion and after the kids said we should have stayed longer. It was definitely work, but it was worth it as our guide told us the nugget we found was the largest he had seen in 9 years of panning there. Next time we will wear swim suits and some crocs to stay cool in the creek! read more

California Gold Panning - Our little gold nugget. - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

If you are thinking about it! DO IT! We had an amazing time, it was fun.. and educational for the whole family, even my 76 year old Mom was able to participate! read more

Wow what an amazing experience! If you have an undeniable longing to go on a quest to find gold this is it. The staff was unbelievably friendly from start to finish and they even cooked us hot dogs at lunch because it was Memorial Day weekend so nice!! Me and my friend are amateur gemstone miners and we've always wanted to find gold so we signed up for the all day dig. It was back breaking work down in a creek and a long sweaty day but at the end we left feeling very satisfied that we found gold! We brought a cooler with lots of drinks and snacks and we wore bucket hats shorts and tshirts. For shoes I would recommend crocs or tall rain boots and bring lots of bug spray and sunscreen. You will get muddy and if you're like us and really want to go for it we were using an axe shovel garden trowel and strainer all provided by the staff. Thank you so much California gold crew!!!! read more

California Gold Panning - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

Had a great time. It was very fun! I got dirty and liked it!! The gentleman that was hosting us was super sweet. read more

California Gold Panning - Me having fun!!! - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

I've read so many great reviews and I'm sad we didn't have the same wonderful experience that so many claimed to have had. There were 7 of us and we were given 3 shovels to share (it was a little pricey for the 2 hours) each person should have had a shovel. The kids lost interest as soon as they realized they couldn't get the shovel in the ground. (Not exaggerating, ground was hard.) We had $aved for this family vacation and gold panning was part of what we had saved for; a little disappointing. We purchased the 2 hour package for 7 people and ended up leaving early. We didn't find it to be a kid friendly event. Honestly, I gave it a try, and I couldn't get the shovel to 2 inches in the ground! And I'm not weak. ‍ read more

Hard work ! Found gold!!! Beautiful location. Jared was a great guide. (We were an extended family of 6). It was 100 degrees and was still cool enough standing in the stream and shady. Wear shoes that you don't mind getting wet and muddy but are also sturdy. read more

Had a great time panning for gold with the family - fun for age 5/6 up to grandparents - the creek kept us cool while we dug sluiced and panned - The kids also loved playing in the creek as a break from the work. Nate was very helpful and explained what was happening during each step of the way. We walked away with a few pieces of gold which the kids were over the moon with. (Note we did the 3 hr experience and had 6 in total working) A very memorable and fun experience. Definitely wear crocs and clothes that you don't mind getting muddy. read more

California Gold Panning - Sluicing - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

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I wish I could give 10 stars. We took my three teenaged nephews out to find gold with CGP and spent 2 hours in the sunshine digging silt out of the river and into buckets. We found gold! No one walked away with a funded college education (or even enough for a full round of cokes;) but we had a fabulous time. It was well worth the time spent driving out and I'd recommend California Gold Panning to anyone wanting to take on the adventure! They had everything set up and ready for us, including the sluice boxes, shovels, etc. They also had rubber boots for everyone. Nate, grandson of the founder, was our guide. He's friendly, warm, personable and fun. He also really knows his stuff and was very careful to steer us where he thought we'd hit a strike. Great experience! read more

Amazing time with my wife, boys and grandma on the river in February. Really couldn't have had a better time. Super friendly last-minute booking (morning of) and instruction. Prepare to get your hands dirty but this is the real gold panning experience. read more

California Gold Panning - We're rich! ...with priceless memories! :) - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

Our Time with Jared was great. Although not the best time for gold, as the creek waters were low, we did find some! Jared said the best time to come is after the rains and winter melt wash new source gold into the creek. Thank You for an awesome experience! Kregg & Maria read more

Everybody needs to book here!!! I had the best time. I called about 8:45 am and they were able to get me in that same morning. My guide/teacher was Jared. He really explained and taught me lots of neat stuff. He really wanted me to find gold and I did. I think he might have been more excited than me about how much I found! I can't say enough good things about my experience! I'm from Texas and on here on business. If I ever come back I will definitely book again. Thank you Jared for such an enjoyable time. read more

California Gold Panning - Jared even took pics for me - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

Despite a few twists and turns thanks to weather-related road closures, we arrived around 8 A.M. to meet Miner Gary on a vacant lot next to a little creek. With 6 kids under 10 between our two families, Gary gave a quick safety presentation and overview of our gold panning plans for the day. Gary distributed boots and gloves to all, and then drove his 4x4 down to the creekside. Our plans for the day included digging out a hole in the creek where a tree had been until a few weeks previous, when heavy rains flooded the area. The earth under the tree had not been touched for what Gary estimated to be at least 50 years, which meant that neither had any gold that settled in that particular part of the creek. The other dad and I spent a few hours digging in the creek, placing our shovelfuls of earth in the sluice machine. After a while, we cleaned out the catch on the sluice and then panned for whatever gold we shoveled up. The kids had a great time panning and playing in the creek, all while Gary shared stories and history of the area. It was hard work, but a fun and informative way to spend the day. We even enjoyed a picnic together right next to the creek. No one got rich or found a huge nugget for the day's take, but everyone went home with a small glass tube containing gold flakes and dust that we found. Whatever you find is what you keep, according to Gary, and he did not disappoint. I genuinely recommend this experience of real gold mining. No seeded gold dust here -- this is the real deal. read more

Great experience. We did the 3 hour tour. There were 6 people in our group, which worked out well because 2 people could do each job and trade off. By the end of the 3 hours, we were all pretty tired. You will get wet up to your calves, so it's best to have higher waterproof boots and waterproof pants. We only ended up with a few flakes of gold to take home in a bottle, but it was a fun family activity. We would definitely recommend this experience. read more

We had such a great adventure today learning how to search for gold. We were a group of 6, my 4 boys my husband and myself. James took care of us since the first second we walked in, he patiently explained to our kiddos how the gold panning worked, and helped them search for gold. His daughter Trinity was amazing, she was helpful with my kids taking them to her own spots to help them find crystals and some delicious blackberries. Overall very positive experience, we take back a lot of wonderful memories! read more

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We had a great time gold panning with James and his son. They were great hosts and taught us how to pan for gold and helped us get started. This was our first time but James and his son were there to help us. We booked for 2 hours but ended up staying for 3, James wanted to make sure we get some gold! Great way to get the kids outdoors and try something new. read more

California Gold Panning - Gold - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

This was a very memorable excursion! Nugget Nick walked us through the steps of digging, sorting, sluicing and panning for gold in great detail. Water was provided for everyone as well! This will give you a true appreciation for the hard work the gold miners had to do to get their gold. After a few hours of work and lots of laughs, we were able to see the results: gold! If you're looking for an authentic gold panning experience (not just given a bag of dirt and a pan), this is the place for you! read more

We enjoyed our time panning for gold on our family trip. The guys were friendly and amazing! Very informative and actually found some gold! I would definitely recommend this for anyone wanting to enjoy a great time panning for gold. Amazing experience and can't wait to visit again. read more

We found gold flakes. We did the two hour tour. You really did and sift the sand and dirt Best of all my 9 year old fell asleep in the car on the way back Hard work pays off. Highly recommended read more

We had a great time experiencing the gold mining experience with Nate. We signed up for the 4 hour sluicing/panning experience and learned as well experienced gold fever as the anticipation of finding the mother lode was in the back of our minds as Nate laid out how the 49ers did it back in the day. Being an early summer day, the creek location shaded by trees and the cool water with some tables and chairs made for a relaxing time during our breaks of shoveling and classifying gravel. Though not as lucky, only a couple of specs and some dust, the experience was well worth it. read more

Miner Gary is a super nice and accommodating guy who'll set you up with all the gear (boots, shovels, sluicer, pans) to dig for Gold just like the '49ers did in the Gold Rush era. I had to move our reservation a couple times as a hastily planned trip to Yosemite (and then exhaustion the following morning) necessitated it. Miner Gary was easy-going and let us pick the time that worked for us. He asked if we wanted to come after 3 when the hours state they're closed. It seems Miner Gary's extremely flexible and affable so don't let the stated business hours deter you. "Come whenever you want, I won't keep watch over the time, either. You can stay for 3 hours or 4, doesn't matter. I'll charge you the same price." $110 for the two of us to dig & pan for gold that also included use of all the necessary gear - all provided by Miner Gary- seemed fair. Miner Gary's family's owned this land and mine for decades. The mine, like most others in town (and there are hundreds of them), inaccessible by environmental restrictions or prohibitively expensive to access. That said, the river coughs up gold all the time. All you have to do is find some- and we did! We took home a vial of gold that Gary helped us pan to find after hours of digging, hefting & throwing rocks and dirt into the sluicer. I used muscles my body forgot they had and found myself walking like the Tin Man for a couple days. My knees also hated me for two weeks. ("Just keep moving!" I told myself so my muscles wouldn't seize up, ha ha). Sheer greed kept me digging like a maniac for 3 1/2 hours and it was all in good fun. Gary gave us a history lesson on the area and the California Gold Rush making it educational for me and my little boy. Great for adults, great for kids of all ages, I highly recommend! Just a note: there's still claim jumping happening all over Gold Country. One unscrupulous miner will take a deposit on the phone then send you to Miner Gary's place where, unbeknownst to him, you've paid this bogus deposit and then pay again. Another business will charge you for all the equipment as well as a fee to pan- bogus. Miner Gary at California Gold Panning is the way to go. So go to *this* business! It's the real deal. read more

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My 15 year old son enjoys the outdoors and wanted to do a full day of gold panning. He had the best time and found gold! James was his guide. He was knowledgeable, kind, and a lot of fun. My son learned a lot and would like to go back the next time we are in the area. read more

California Gold Panning - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

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Fun afternoon searching for gold and learning the process with Nate. He was very thorough and taught us a bunch! Thank you for a great day!! read more

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My husband and I booked a 2 hour session this week and James and his son Leo were our guides. Their passion for this was contagious! I appreciated that James explained and demonstrated every step of the process as we went - he is a wonderful and patient teacher. For two people, 2 hours is plenty to learn the process basics and come away with a few flakes of gold like we did! For a bigger group, you might opt for the 3 hour package. We went a few minutes over our booking time and James did not rush us at all as we were finishing up. It was a great experience and not too far of a drive if you are staying in the Mariposa area like we were. read more

California Gold Panning - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

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This was an amazing experience!! Nate is great and helpful, especially to my 9 year old son. He was patient and explain everything step by step, even showed different techniques to my kids to make it easier and more enjoyable for them. He's great with kids and gave us an awesome experience!!! We will definitely be coming back!!! read more

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We had so much fun on our gold panning adventure! The kids sloshed around in the water all day and didn't want to leave. To be fair the did a lot more frog catching and mud slinging than actual panning. The panning was very hard work for the all day adventure so come prepared to do some serious physical labor. We didn't get rich but we would definitely come back. Wear something that can get completely wet. Board Shorts over a swim suit would have been ideal.... read more

Had a great time with Nick. He's very knowledgeable and great with kids! Perfect spot to pan for some gold and have a lot of fun! read more

California Gold Panning - There's gold in there! - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

California gold panning was literally one of the best experiences of my life! I will cherish the memories made here. Totally a genuine experience and the owner was awesome!!! He was so knowledgeable, patient, kind, and helpful! I would recommend this place over and over again! If you're looking for a true gold panning experience then this is the place for you! & absolutely - we found GOLD! Thank you for an adventure that my family and I will never forget. It was so much fun! read more

California Gold Panning - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

My family (three generations) spent the morning with Nick. We had a great time and found some legit gold during our time. Nick was very nice in educating us about the prospecting process, tools, equipment, and history. A note of caution, this activity is not touristy and you are not guaranteed to find gold. As a participant, you are expected to dig your own holes, haul your own loads of spoils, and filter through the sluice box. I very much liked this since it showed my kids the hard work it takes to look for, and hopefully find, gold. Our backs were sore and hands hurt at the end, but the gold we discovered made it a very enjoyable level of soreness. read more

Our family had a wonderful time with California Gold Panning. It was my son's birthday event, and they made sure he had an epic day. We event hit paydirt! A special shout-out to Andrew and Wyatt for making the day so amazing! read more

This experience was awesome! We did the four hour sluice/panning and we had a blast. It was 100 degrees outside, but with the shade of the trees and the cool stream it was actually pleasant. James was our guide and he was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. He was patient and spent time showing my kids the right technique as well as answered all their questions. James really made the experience extra enjoyable. On top of it all, we found gold! We will definitely be coming back. read more

My family and I did the 1 hour gold panning on our way from Yosemite to Monterey and had so much fun! The kids (6 & 8 years old) probably would have just had fun playing in the creek, but learning how panning is done--and finding a couple gold flakes!!--made it a perfect way to spend time together. Our guide/instructor was friendly, knowledgeable, and put us all at ease so we could have a lot of fun while learning something new! read more

Dropped by for an afternoon of panning with Miner Gary right before New Years. We're rich!! Well, from the experience. LOL. I highly recommend trying California Gold Panning in Jamestown, CA! We were lucky enough to be the only "panners" there that day, and had 100% of Miner Gary's attention. Miner Gary loved to pan so much as a hobby that he made it into a career, and it's evident that he loves every day of it. He "owns" about 500yds of river bank near Jamestown and knows the area quite well. You are guaranteed to find flakes with an expert like him! You meet Gary right off Harvard Mine Road, there are no signs, so listen to his instructions of how to find it. Gary recommends a minimum of 2 hrs to allow for digging, and panning which goes for $60/person. We used cash but cards are also accepted. Everything is provided which means all you have to bring is a fun attitude! And a camera! Our experience involved shoveling the river banks, and dropping the dirt and rocks into a machine that pumped water over them to catch the gold flakes in the tray below.. So not your ordinary sluice box! The shoveling is of course something you can do at your own pace, but we probably worked at it for over an hour to get as much gold as possible :-) When we were ready for panning we emptied the machine tray in a bucket and got lessons from Gary on panning technique. We got the hang of it by the end, but were nowhere near as fast as Gary. We made out pretty well, and Gary even gave us the biggest flake he found that day! Gary loves what he does and is extremely friendly and willing to answer any of your questions. Be prepared to leave with a ton of Gold Country history, LOL. read more

California Gold Panning - We are rich! - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California

We showed up a bit early for our tour and took a quick peek around, but decided against walking around as there were many Private Property signs and we didn't want to risk being on the wrong property. Preacher John showed up with his van full of supplies and a smile on his face. He was extremely friendly and we sat and chatted for a bit until the other group showed up. When it was time to get ready he asked us if we were there just for the experience or to learn how to do it on our own. Of course we wanted to learn, so he said he would go slower with us and answer any questions and describe everything in detail for us. Throughout the five hour experience Preacher John walked us through every step of the panning and sluicing and explained reasons behind everything, including a lot of history of the area around us. It was a great experience, educational and fun. At the end of our time we cleaned out our sluice box, low and behold, we had gold! We didn't strike it rich by any means, but we had a lot of fun and learned a lot. We will definitely go back when we are back in the area. read more

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My wife and I took our 3 grandsons. We had a wonderful time. Really enjoyed watching James teach the boys to pan for gold. Jame's daughter Trinity also helped the boys. She was the same age. They had a great time with Trinity's help. We did the three hour session which was a perfect amount of time with the boys. I would highly recommend this adventure. Thanks James. read more

5 stars for "Miner Gary"! My husband wanted a day trip to California gold country for his birthday and we were not disappointed. Miner Gary is a hobbiest turned professional gold miner. His private property has 5 football field lengths of a creek which is still turning out gold. For a fee, you show up, he'll provide boots, a gold sluicer and pan, shovels, all the equipment, he'll set you all up. He teaches you how to use everything, and let you have at it. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about gold mining. Have any type of question about gold mining/panning? He knows the answer. On top of our gold find, he even showed us a 150 yr old abandoned gold mine on his property and were able to go inside of it! Fun day trip. A+! Thanks Miner Gary! :) read more

California Gold Panning - Crystal, gold flakes, gold flour . - Professional Services Near Me - Jamestown, California