Known as prospecting, this hobby affords a chance to be out in nature, in some of the most beautiful locations in the country.

Choosing a good location is easy, just Google prospecting sites and you will find various locations and learn about hot spots to pan for gold. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture permits gold panning in National Parks, with a pans and hands policy, that is, no use of machinery or explosives.

To pan for gold, a special plate or pan is used. This can be purchased online from various sources. The pan should have some grooves in it to allow material to filter.

To start, scoop up some river bed material and lift it out of the water. Hold the pan with both hands over the water to discard normal rocks back in.Gently shake the pan. This will allow the finer materials to settle down to the bottom, and keep the large stones on top. Discard these larger stones. Tit the pan and gently immerse in water and then move the pan in a circular motion. This process will keep the smaller, finer materials to settle down. Keep removing larger rocks. As this process continues, you will start seeing gold nuggets of varying size and shape.

It is also a good idea to conduct some research of the location you would like to try prospecting. One place to learn about gold is in Gold Country, located in Nevada County, California. You can go on tours of mines, learn to pan, view mining equipment and buy supplies.

Locally, the Yuba River offers the public a great place to pan for gold, along with amazing natural vistas and swimming locations. In the area are bridges and artifacts from the Gold rush days.Locals say the best time to river pan is in the spring, shortly after the floods. Why? Well, the huge quartz rocks and boulders in the river are carried and banged together, breaking the stones and revealing gold nuggets which can be panned. Some people have hit the mother lode, so to speak, and have been quite successful in their hobby.

If you would like to try a calming, meditative hobby, which could make you rich, or at least put some shiny rocks in your pocket, try panning for gold as an activity for that camping trip. Easy, inexpensive and fun, gold panning can offer you hours of joy. Even if you walk off empty handed, the education and freedom in nature are worth the effort. Persistence is important, however, if you wish to live the dream of harvesting your own money as income.