6 Best Metal Detecting Finds in Colorado

Ever dreamt of unearthing Colorado’s hidden treasures? Dive in to discover the ultimate spots for metal detecting finds!

Colorado is popular among metal detectors as a great place to perform metal detecting. 

The location itself has a great history and this state has been home to many of the native tribes, Spanish explorers, pioneers, and military posts. 

So there’s the potential of finding artifacts, gold nuggets, coins, and treasures from this area.

As per my own research and what I heard from my friends, I was able to collect some of the best findings in Colorado.

So, here are the best metal detecting finds in Colorado,

1. Gold nuggets 
2. Silver nuggets
3. Coins
4. Relics
5. Military artifacts 
6. Native American artifacts 

But that’s just a quick snapshot!

There are some interesting stories behind these findings and places where these can be commonly found. 

In this article, I’ll explore each of the best metal detecting finds in Colorado with the most accurate locations where they can be found.

So if it sounds interesting, keep on reading.

Let’s jump in!

Best Metal Detecting Finds In Colorado

Metal detecting in Colorado has resulted in finding impressive objects that also provide evidence of the state’s history. 

There are a countless number of treasures that can be found. 

Some of them are popular among detectors.

Let’s have a look at each metal finding in detail.

1. Gold Nuggets

The largest gold nugget that was found in 1877 at Breckenridge is the largest gold nugget found in Colorado. 

It weighs around 13 pounds. From this finding, Colorado has become a famous place to search for gold nuggets.

There are some places where small gold nuggets can be found in this area. 

Clear Creek Canyon

This is a popular spot for gold mining in Colorado. 

Detectorists and prospectors have claimed that there are small nuggets of gold often found in the streambeds and nearby hillsides. 

According to my experience, Clear creek Canyon is one of the best places to metal detect in Colorado.

Fairplay Beach

This is located along the South Platte River and it is known to have fine deposits of gold. So it is also a popular spot for recreational gold mining. 

Detectors are free to go here and detect small gold nuggets.

I visited the place once but I couldn’t find any gold nuggets. But I ended up with a few coins. 

Arkansas River

This river runs in the middle, or the heart of Colorado and it is well known for its gold deposits. 

Most of the gold here is fine and flaky. But there’s a chance of finding a few nuggets as well.

Gold Basin

This area is located near La Veta town in southern Colorado. 

It is popular for the gold deposits and famous among gold miners and detectors.

Cripple Creek

Cripple Creek is located in western Colorado. 

This has rich deposits of gold. But most of these deposits are located underground. 

Occasionally, you will be able to come across gold nuggets on the surface while metal detecting.

2. Silver Nuggets 

Areas in Colorado have historical records of producing silver. 

There are significant silver deposits located in a few places around this state. 

Here are some of the locations that would be worth a visit to find some silver nuggets,

Lake County

The famous Leadville mining district belongs to this area. It produced large amounts of silver in the 1870s. 

Most of the silver mines around the area were inactive for decades.

But detectors are still able to find small nuggets of silver from the area. 

San Juan Mountains

This region has silver ore deposits that are of high grade. 

The Red Mountain District in Ouray, the Sneffels Red Mountain Telluride area, and the Silverton District are some of the promising areas in San Juan where silver nuggets can be found.

Front Range

This is a large area that spans several different counties. 

Some of the best areas where silver nuggets could possibly be found are Boulder County and Gilpin County. 

This area also has a few abandoned silver mines that might still have silver ores and silver nuggets.

3. Old Coins

Old coins are famous findings where a lot of people and activities have taken place. 

Colorado has a few places where coins can be found in common.

Denver

Denver is the capital city of Colorado and it has so many different parks and public places. 

Confluence Park, Civic Center Park, and the Colorado State Capitol are some of the best places in Denver where there’s a probability of finding coins.

Colorado Springs

This is another perfect area to detect coins. 

Public parks like Garden of Gods and Cheyenne Mountain State Park and historically valuable sites such as the United States Air Force Academy are great places here to detect coins.

Loveland 

This city has many parks such as North Lake Park and Benson Sculpture Garden that offer potential sites where coins can be found. 

4. Relics

If you are a relic hunter, here are some places in Colorado where relics can be detected. 

Ghost towns 

There are many ghost towns with great history scattered across the Colorado state. 

St. Elmo, Animas Forks, and Independence are some of the places that have records of relics. 

Historic Parks and Trails

Cheyenne Mountain State Park, the Pikes Peak Highway, and the Colorado Trail are famous locations among the metal detectors where a lot of opportunities are offered in different relic finds.

Battlefields 

Colorado owns a few battlefields from civil wars. 

Sand Creek Massacre, the national historic site and fort Garland Museum are some of the best places with relics. 

Beaches and Swimming Areas

Chatfield Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, and Bear Creek Lake Park are some of the potential find spots for relics. 

There will be several relics from ancient colonies as well as from shipwrecks. Therefore these places will be excellent for detection.

5. Military Artifacts 

There are a few places that I’ve found in Colorado where military artifacts are reported to be found. 

Fort Garland, Fort Lyon, and Sand Creek massacre historical sites are battlefields where some civil wars have taken place. 

These places have a probability of having old artifacts that belong to the military.

Fort Logan National Cemetery and the Pikes Peak National Cemetery are some places used as military cemeteries. 

A lot of belongings were buried together with the bodies of the soldiers back then. 

So detecting these places with permission would bring something out of the blue. 

Apart from these, you can also search for the camping sites of the soldiers and places where some other conflicts took place. 

These areas will have some important military-related relics that can be detected. 

6. Native American Artifacts 

Detecting Native American artifacts is somewhat prohibited in Colorado. And the areas that belonged to them are now restricted for metal detecting.

However, there are a few places that are open for metal detecting with permission. 

History has mentioned that these places were used by the Native Americans as dwelling places. 

Mesa Verde National Park

This was the home to some of the Native American tribes. And there are preserved places around this park. 

Some locations are open for metal detecting. But you will have to obtain permits from the park authorities.

In case you find anything, it should be handed over to the park authorities or informed of the location of the artifact.

Pikes Peak

This mountain has been a significant site where Native Americans lived for thousands of years. The site is therefore historically valuable. 

With a relevant permit, anyone is allowed to detect. But the findings should be informed to the Department of Archeology. 

Grand Mesa

This mesa which is located in Western Colorado has a very long history of Native American inhabitation. 

The people who come from several tribes still use this area for traditional practices.

If you get their permission, you will be able to detect this location.

Remember that each of these places has its own rules and regulations for metal detecting. And also some places require a permit. 

Furthermore, you have to inform the authorities if you find anything in some areas. 

Keep all of these in mind and do a thorough research before you head into any of these places.

Now I’m going to share with you some tips that I’ve learned over the past years by participating in metal detecting sessions in different areas of Colorado state.

Some tips and techniques were gathered by interviewing local metal detectorists in Colorado.

The below tips will help you to find treasures from Colorado lands easily without worrying much about your skills because they come from experts.

Tips For Metal Detecting In Colorado 

Detecting around Colorado is not a hassle at all if you follow things right. 

Here are some of the tips that I learned as best to use while metal detecting in Colorado.

Know the rules

Before heading out to detect, familiarize yourself with the metal-detecting rules and regulations in Colorado. 

Some locations require permission or permits. And there are other locations where metal detecting is prohibited. 

So know these well before you do anything. 

Choose Correct Equipment 

Having the correct equipment for metal detecting can increase the chances of finding valuable items accurately. 

Look for a detector with better depth sensitivity, and also buy a good headphone to hear even faint signals.

Most of the areas in Colorado don’t give permission to use a metal shovel. So buy a small scoop that is durable. 

Focus on the Historical Areas

Colorado has a very rich history. And also this place has many old mines and cities that are related to mining scattered around the state.

There are also historic sites that have a lot of historical monuments and relics. 

These areas are often great spots for metal detecting. Many of these places contain coins, jewelry, relics, and other artifacts.

Explore the Public Areas More

Give attention to public parks and beaches as there are many places like this around Colorado. 

Most of the beaches allow metal detecting. Some parks will require a permit and they will allow metal detecting in unrestricted areas. 

Look for the places that are heavily used by the people. These places are likely to have a lot of items in high concentrations.

Join a Metal-Detecting Club

Joining a local metal detecting club will be a great way to meet enthusiasts who have good experiences around Colorado. 

They can also tell you about the best places to search.

The clubs have a lot of hunting activities and even educational events that you can take part in to get more knowledge while having fun.

Read to know the Best Metal Detecting Clubs in Colorado!

If you’re not interested in joining a physical club, join metal detecting forums in Colorado to gather almost the same info from experts just using your electronic devices.

Respect the Nature

When metal detecting around Colorado,  it’s important to respect the function and the structure of the environment. 

Don’t leave any trace or garbage around. Carry them along with you.

And also once you dig a hole, fill in them and restore them when you are done. This will help the particular microenvironment to recover and heal. 

It is a fun and rewarding opportunity to metal detecting in Colorado. The state has beautiful locations with stunning views. 

However, it is important to be a responsible metal detector while finding valuable objects. 

Congrats folks! Now you know all the Best metal detecting finds in Colorado and the specific areas they are located.

I’ve personally been to most of the given areas and able to find lots of treasures. Details of other areas were collected from my friendly local metal detectorists and treasure hunters.

The largest gold nugget found in Colorado was discovered in 1877 at Breckenridge, weighing a staggering 13 pounds

www.denver.org

So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Did I cover all you wanted to know about Best Metal Detecting Finds in Colorado?

In this article, I’ve deeply discussed the best metal detecting finds in Colorado with their locations and how to detect them properly without messing things up.

The best metal detecting finds in Colorado include gold and silver nuggets in mining districts like Leadville, ancient coins, and military artifacts at historic sites such as Fort Garland. Explore responsibly in accordance with state regulations to unearth Colorado’s buried treasures.

Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions as well.

Hope you’ve learned everything you wanted to know about the best metal detecting finds in Colorado in detail.

So, it’s time to take your metal detector and go to the locations mentioned above to collect valuable treasures from Colorado.