Dolores River Rico, CO 81332

This 20-acre unpatented mining claim is in the heart of the rugged San Juan Mountains, nestled between alpine meadows, dense forests, and historic mining towns. Stars & Stripes sits on the Dolores River--a river that has carried gold through its gravels for centuries. The claim is approximately 10 miles south of Rico, a historic mining boomtown established in the 1870s during Colorado's silver and gold rush. It is situated on a stretch of Dolores that remains one of the most promising placer gold regions in the state.
With excellent access off CO HWY 145, you can camp on your claim with tent or RV. A claim owner does not need permission or a permit to camp and prospect. Stars & Stripes has multiple excellent campsites.
The Dolores River is renowned for its brown trout, cutthroat, cutbow, and rainbow trout. There is excellent access to trails for horseback rides and multiple OHV-accessible roads. Hikers can enjoy trails through spruce-fir forests, rugged canyons, and riverside meadows. The claim is an ideal base camp for backcountry elk and deer hunts.
When you aren't prospecting or enjoying the many recreation opportunities, you can discover Rico's Victorian-era charm: the Historic Courthouse, William Kauffman House (circa 1891), and old mercantile buildings offer a rich look into an 1880s silver-boom mining town. Visit the Rico Historical Museum, stroll antique shops, or unwind in the local Prospector Bar & Grill--experiencing the town's laid-back, authentic vibe.
Acquiring a mining claim is more than just the right to access and valuable minerals, it is an opportunity to experience the adventures of an old-time prospector, taking you back in time to experience life in the rugged West in historic Colorado mining country. Although we never guarantee what you will find, the claim is located in a region that has produced millions of dollars in precious metals, and the same mineralized veins that supplied those historic hard rock mines continue to shed placer gold into the Dolores River system. A mining claim is an affordable way to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors, combined with the adventure of exploring the forest and panning for gold.
This is an unpatented mining claim. You are purchasing the rights to locatable placer minerals (gold) on the claim, with incidental rights to surface access and use for prospecting and extraction.