Park County Colorado

Gold is the main metal mined in Park County. It had a total production of 1,364,430 ounces of gold between 1859-1959, mostly for the lode mines along the east slope of the Mosquito Mountain Range in the Northwestern portion of the county.

Alma

The Alma district is located east of Leadville and had a total production of 1,320,00 ounces of lode gold and 28,000 ounces of placer gold between 1859-1959. Northeast of Alma about a 1/2 mile, along the east side of the South Platte River, the placers produced great. Coarse gold nuggets to several ounces have been found. All the area tributary creeks and gulches, in gravel deposits contain placer gold. On Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross, rich area lode mines, especially the London Mine (richest producer in the county, closed in 1942) produced most of the gold and silver. Near the head waters of the South Platte River, along the Continental Divide, on North Star Mountain, all area gulches contain placer gold. Northwest of Alma, 2~6 miles, many small mines produced lode gold. North of Alma 5~10 miles is the Consolidated Montgomery Mine. This mine is at an altitude of around 11,000 feet and produced a by product of gold. In Buckskin Gulch, the Sweethome Mine was a good producer. Around Mosquito creek, all streams produce placer gold.

Bailey

In the area of Beaver Creek, in out wash gravels from the South Platte Glacier you can find placer gold. West of Bailey, 14 miles many area mines produced a byproduct of gold.

Como

Northwest of Como, along the upper reaches of Tarryall Creek and its tributaries, is the Tarryall district. This district produced a minimum of around 67,000 of placer gold and 250 ounces of lode gold. On Tarryall Creek, on the east slope of Silverheels Mountain, extending for several miles southeast of town, you can find extensive placer workings. There are many small mines in this area. In Montgomery and Deadwood Gulches, near the headwaters, lode mines are the probable sources of Tarry Creek Placer gold. I dredge on Tarryall Creek in the Michigan Creek Campground in 1983 and found some real nice gold. This is located just above the Tarryall Reservoir.

Fairplay

The Fairplay district produced 202,000 ounces of placer gold, mostly along the South Platte River in the snowstorm and Fairplay Placers. Along Sacramento and Beaver Creek is excellent placer ground. The area Southeast of town in glacial out wash gravels contains placer gold. At the head of Fourmile Creek is the Horseshoe Mine and it was a good producer. North of Fourmile Creek and south of Mosquito Creek is the Sacramento Mine that produced a by product of gold.

Grant

At Geneva Creek on Collier Mountain and at the headwaters of West Geneva Creek you can find placer gold.

Hartsel

East on U.S. 24 from Hartsel to Wilkerson Pass are a few old mines that produced a by product of gold.