Bring your pans to the river streambeds.
Try your luck and pan for gold at the heart of north-central Washington. Oroville, located in a high desert region, is about 5.5 hours northeast of Seattle. According to the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources, many areas in the Evergreen State are known to contain placer deposits; the streams located in the central and northeastern part of the state offer the greatest chance of finding placer gold. However, gold prospectors must consider the habitats of fish and other plant and wildlife when panning.
Instructions
1. Obtain the most current Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife or WDFW Gold and Fish Pamphlet. Download and print the pamphlet from the WDFW website or request a copy from the WDFW office. The pamphlet serves as your Hydraulic Project Approval or HPA for gold panning in the state. You must follow all rules and regulations stated in the pamphlet to legally pan for gold in Oroville and anywhere else in the state. In gold panning areas owned by local, tribal, federal and other agencies, you must also obtain any necessary permission and abide by their rules and regulations.
2. Visit gold panning sites in Oroville and surrounding areas in Okanogan County, including Myers Creek at Chewsaw and Similkameen River at Nighthawk, located west-northwest of Oroville. Other areas near Oroville include Twisp River and tributaries such as Mary Ann and Squaw creeks.
3. Target streambeds, channels, bottom of river valleys and riverbanks. Use a small shovel and fill pan with sand and gravel from these areas. Remove large stones with your hands.
4. Place your pan just right under the surface of smooth-flowing water to allow all materials to get wet. Mix the contents with your hands.
5. Move the pan quickly from side to side while it's underwater. Rotate the contents without spilling. This action allows the gold particles to settle to the bottom of the pan.
6. Continue the side-to-side motion while gently tipping the pan away from you. Remove lighter materials and bigger pieces or rocks that made their way to the top of your pan. Continue rotating and removing top materials until only a small amount remains.
7. Add water to your pan and inspect the remaining heavy materials. Swirl the contents to look for gold nuggets.
Tags: gold panning, from WDFW, rules regulations, with your, with your hands, your hands
