Gold Panning at Panorama Pass - Wonderland

Have You Ever Wondered...

What would it feel like to crouch beside a mountain stream, swirling water and sediment in a pan, searching for that telltale glint of gold? Whether those old stories about "gold in them thar hills" are actually true? What the 49'ers experienced during the California Gold Rush—the backbreaking work, the hope, the occasional thrill of discovery?

Now you can find out.

A Genuine Gold Mining Legacy

Two of Panorama Pass's five Wonderlands are associated with historic productive gold mining sites. This isn't manufactured history or tourist theater—these mountains yielded real gold to real miners for over a century.

Why here? Geology. The Wonderlands are positioned against mineral-rich mountain formations where gold-bearing ore naturally concentrates. The same geological forces that created our dramatic landscapes also deposited precious metals in fractures, veins, and stream beds throughout the property.

The Gold Panning Experience

We're developing guided gold panning experiences that go beyond just digging in dirt. Our knowledgeable guides will take you into the field to teach you:

· The fascinating history of California's Gold Rush and local mining operations

· How to read geology—which rock formations and stream features indicate gold deposits

· Proper panning technique (it's harder than it looks)

Availability: Currently by special arrangement for Wonderlands guests. A regular schedule launches February/March 2026. Interested? Contact us through the information line below to check guide availability.

Set Realistic Expectations

Yes, there is genuinely gold on these properties. But let's be honest: gold panning is physically demanding work, and finding significant amounts requires patience, skill, and often luck. During a short guided experience, your chances of finding gold are modest.

So why do it?

Because this isn't really about the gold.

It's about connecting with history—feeling what those 1848 prospectors felt when they knelt beside similar streams with similar hopes. It's about understanding geology in a hands-on way that no textbook can teach. It's about getting your hands dirty, your boots muddy, and your mind engaged with the landscape around you. (PS, if the stream isn’t running your boots won’t get muddy but we still pan.)

It's about the experience of the search itself—the meditative rhythm of swirling the pan, the sharp focus required to spot color in the sediment, the unexpected peace that comes from working closely with earth and water.

And if you do find a gleaming flake you coaxed from the mountain yourself? That's a memory and a story you'll carry forever.

What You'll Take Home

Maybe a vial with gold flakes. Definitely sore muscles. Absolutely a deeper appreciation for the rugged individuals who shaped California's history, and for the wild, mineral-rich mountains that make up our Wonderlands.

This is desert adventure with substance—where wonder meets reality, and both are worth discovering.

Panorama Pass where the boundaries are defined by your imagination.