Thanks to Kathy and John Field of SYRPA for this information.
You can attend a free Docent-led gold panning program at the troughs by the South Yuba River State Park Visitors’ Center. Guided demonstrations are held on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day at South Yuba River State Park every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 2 pm. Docents give step-by-step panning lessons, share stories about the history of our area, and describe other ways the precious metal was extracted during the California Gold Rush, such as hard rock mining and hydraulic mining. Gold panning is fun and educational for the entire family and kids get to keep the treasures they find in the troughs.
When: Through Labor Day every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 2 pm
Where: South Yuba River State Park, 17660 Pleasant Valley Rd., Penn Valley, CA 95946
Contact: (530) 432-2546