See further down the listing the buying process, my owner financing options to choose from, and how to purchase my claim.

See with the pictures maps and satellite views.

Click on the top listing picture then arrow right to see all.

A lode claim differs from our placer claims, as on a lode claim you can dig into the mountain side and can even go to the extent of building a mine shaft.

Having a lode claim is an advantage as you can dig into the claim with a shaft if you choose,

and with the creek also on the claim, you can also prospect in the creek for gold, increasing your prospecting potential and the rest of the 20 acres you can also prospect for gems.

Our lode claim has veins of valuable minerals including gold in veins (called lodes) cutting thru rocks. Quartz and gold are frequently found together and digging into the quartz vein is called chasing the vein.

Veins of quartz, smoky quartz, and fluorite are on the claim.

On the claim I found a quartz vein with gold traces in the rock.

Pick and shovel, rock hammer, metal detector, and is hard rock mining.

I did not expose the whole vein, though was able to follow it going through the claim, intermittently.

The process of lode, hard rock mining, is the process where gold is extracted directly from the lode vein beneath the ground. Dig down about 3 feet as go through the claim, then pick, shovel, and rock hammer working the sides of that hole. Filling in the holes when leave the claim as required by the national forest.

For the use of any machinery, you need to file a Plan of Operation with the BLM for approval.

Scratch your rock ore against an unglazed white ceramic streak plate.

If it's gold, it will leave a golden streak. Or scratch the surface of the specimen with a knife. Gold is a soft metal that will show scratch marks.

Camping spots are on the claim.

There are some nice bends in the creek making for excellent gold catching areas.

Located in a beautiful forest of pines and aspens.

This area known as the Fraser River Valley is surrounded by mountains including Ptarmigan Peak, that allows for winter snowfall mountain runoff to bring down minerals to Keyser Creek on each annual winter thaw.

Situated in a beautiful alpine valley, Fraser is a good choice for relaxation year round.

The town usually gets recognized together as Winter Park/Fraser, as its only minutes from its ski resort neighbor.

National Forests remained open at all times during the virus with a televised invitation by the Director for families to visit them as safe places for family recreation, making our mining claims some of the safest places for your family to enjoy and get away from all the nonsense.

Rockhounding in Colorado

Starting with the rich gold and silver deposits which were the starting point of so many Colorado towns, the Centennial State, with over 770 types of minerals to be found, is second only to California in the number of different gems and minerals statewide.

Colorado is also host to a dizzying array of rocks and minerals. Some of the higher profile include dinosaur fossils.

Colorado can certainly be considered a rockhound and gem hunters dream.

The vast mountains of national forests gives one a newfound sense of exploration and discovery.

A mining claim is an affordable way to enjoy the beauty of the land combined with the adventure of panning for gold and using your rock hammer for gens up the mountain ridges on the claim.

Owning a mining claim is having access to a lifetime of great family fun and recreation, in a very beautiful, natural setting.

We feel we are selling more than the gold and gems on beautiful land.

You would be acquiring an experience that will give you a good feel for what the old time prospectors must have felt during the days of the original Colorado Gold Rush.

Besides gold, this area is also known for having precious and semi-precious gemstones, including the state named gemstone aquamarine, and gems such as fluorite, turquoise, crystals, opals, topaz, amethyst, and smoky quartz.

About an hour north is the Grand Lake area known with the whole county as the snowmobiling capital of Colorado, and our claims here all have such access during the Winter.

There are several places in the town of Fraser and Grand Lake to rent snowmobiles if you do not have your own, with guided tours if you choose.

See the Snowmobile Trail Map further down the listing pictures.

Another good sign for our claims here are the other experienced prospectors who have claims throughout Grand County as most of the county is now all claimed up.

BUYING PROCESS:

To purchase my claim, I would need how you want your name(s) and street mailing address on the contract, and which payment option you choose, where I would scan and email you a signed contract.

Total price of $3500, that can be paid in one full payment where your ownership is then transferred after receiving payment,

or $3500, paying $1750 first month, and $1750 2nd month,

or $3500, paying $1500 first month, $1000 2nd month, and $1000 3rd month,

or $3500, paying $700 per month for 5 months,

or $3500, paying $500 per month for 7 months,

or $3750, paying $375 per month for 10 months.

A $199 deed processing fee is paid with final monthly payment.

Upon receiving your final payment, your claim ownership will be recorded with the BLM and Grand County via notarized deeds.

I am a retired teacher, and got into prospecting as a hobby with my family.

I am 74 and my wife 71, and we have gained the experience to select the best areas to locate claims.

This is an ideal place to own a mining claim, being only 14 miles from the very cool mountain town of Fraser and then also near Winter Park.

Though you are out in the wilderness, all the necessities are close by.

Outdoor activity does not stop here in the Winter.

Grand County is known as the snowmobiling capital of Colorado.

For the possibility of constructing any building you or others could live in, you need to file a Plan of Operation with the BLM for approval, showing you have developed a full-time operation performing diligent mining, though the BLM is reluctant to approve anything to live in,

You do not need a plan, permission nor a permit to camp and prospect.

You do not need to be a fulltime prospector to file a Plan for a shed type structure.

If within one year you are not satisfied with your claim, you can trade for another comparable claim, just paying the BLM and County transfer fees which will be about $125.

You will also receive a free Prospecting Kit once you have paid for your claim that includes,

a Rockhounding Geology Hammer Tool, Rock Pick Axe, 3 PCS Digging Chisels Kit, with Musette Bag, and a Compass. See picture of that kit with the listing pictures.

Locals are aware of the gold prospecting potential in the mountain ridges and in the creeks in this area, and the whole county area has a number of prospectors owning and working their claims for years.

For any building like a shed, you need to file a Plan of Operation with the BLM for approval. For anything to live in, you would need to file a Plan of Operation with the BLM for approval, and to be considered, you would need to have developed a full-time mining operation.

With an approved BLM Plan of Operation, a building can be built on the land: any building that benefits and improves the claim.

As stated by the BLM, this can be the "construction of a building, road, fence, or enclosure necessary for mining."

Current usage, is what the BLM calls, Casual Use: panning, shovel, rock hammer, metal detector, creek powered sluice box, where no permission nor permit is needed to camp and prospect.

According to geologists, placer and lode gold deposits are present in nearly every creek in this Rocky Mountain area and throughout the mountain ridges.

The area once prospected by early settlers, the area creeks and mountains are still considered to contain placer and lode gold.

Mining Claims as an investment: if you purchase a claim from us, at no charge, I would help you if you ever decided to sell in the future.

Mining Claims are a great investment, as claims go up in value over time, just as land does.

This is also an area where you can explore and prospect for gems off the creek on your claim.

Grand County has a number of beautiful lakes, see listing pictures.

The area also has two state wildlife areas, with great opportunities for wildlife viewing.

This is a 20.66 acre unpatented, gold mining placer claim, the Simpson Creek Lode #8 that also has also has Simpson Creek running thru it, and is in Grand County, Colorado, in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and the Arapaho National Forest. The claim is legally registered with the Bureau of Land Management out of Lakewood, CO and Grand County Recorder.

You own the mineral rights, not sharing with others, on the 20.66 acres, and use your 20.66 acres recreationally for camping and prospecting in an awesome, beautiful area.

20.66 acres = 600 ft. x 1500 ft.

Camp on your claim or in the areas national forest campgrounds.

A claim owner does not need permission nor a permit to camp and prospect.

You can prospect as little or as much as you like.

Now that we have located the claim, you never have to declare to the BLM any gold or gems you find.

On our visits to the claim, we gathered in and around the in the lode vein and creek, approx. 1/4 of an ounce of gold, being worth about $450. As the BLM does not specify the amount of gold to be found to locate a claim other than a valuable mineral needs to be discovered, we use this amount for a 20.66 acre claim as a projection of good gold potential. Someone with more time may find more. Gold prices are over $3000/ounce. Though we could never guarantee what you will find, we did locate this claim in an historical area for gold prospecting.

Gold has gone up over $500 per ounce in just this past year.

We also found some nice crystal and fluorite samples.

You are allowed to post No Trespassing for Prospecting signs in and around the claim.

A mining claim owner may limit or restrict public recreational use of/or public access across claims or portions of claims that are actively used for prospecting, mining, or processing operations where public recreational use of a claim would endanger or materially interfere with legitimate mining pursuits.

Grand County is brimming with natural beauty, adventure, and authentic Colorado heritage. Each town has its own distinct character and story to tell. Home to Colorados largest natural lake, Grand Lake, and the headwaters of the Colorado River, Grand County offers the most accessible water for recreation in Colorado. Only 67 miles from Denver, Grand County is the ultimate getaway for a genuine Colorado experience.

Search for riches continues in Grand County where Gold Rush miners left off. In 1875 silver, lead, copper, and gold ore were discovered in the Never Summer Range, less than 20 miles from the shores of Grand Lake. A mining boom soon echoed across the region, creating such towns as Gaskill, Dutchtown, Teller City, and Lulu City. Mines like the Ruby, Eureka, Bonanza, and the Wolverine brought eager miners from Georgetown, Denver, and points east.

People in Grand County have mastered the art of relaxation. It would only seem natural, given the spectacular surroundings and the away-from-it-all tranquility of the valleys.

Known for its outdoor activities means Grand County offers ways of restoring sore muscles with the right dose of hot springs soaking, spa treatment, and even a few sips of local vino.

So if you find yourself in need of a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, come on up to Grand County.

Nearby Towns:

Fraser

Fraser doesn't shut down for any season. Winter has downhill and cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and snowmobiling.

Nearly 600 miles of hiking, biking,,horseback riding, and ATV trails can be found in the area, and plan a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

The national forest is a playground for campers, hunters, fishers and scenic drivers.

Arapaho National Forest

Established in 1908 and named after one of the several Native American tribes who spent their summers in the Grand Lake area, the Arapaho National Forest encompasses more than 440,000 acres of mountain peaks, trails, campsites, lakes, rivers and forests in Grand County. In addition to Rocky Mountain National Park, much of the land surrounding Grand Lake is part of the Arapaho National Forest, including the Never Summer Wilderness, the Byers Peak Wilderness, the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Vasquez Peak Wilderness.

These beautiful, rugged wilderness areas offer some of the most spectacular places for hiking, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking and more

Grand Lake

Grand Lake was established by pioneers in 1879 and incoproated in 1944; the first settler-prospector was Joseph L. Wescott. Grand Lake Town & Improvement Company as a mining settlement founded Grand Lake, but as the mines played out, beautiful Grand Lake and tourism became the focus of the town

Granby

Granby was founded in 1905. The town was named after attorney Granby Hillyer, who worked to lay out the town site. Granby was created along the railroad being build by Denver, Northwestern, & Pacific. The site was chosen because of the dry ground and great views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.

Winter Park

The town of Winter Park is home to the Winter Park Resort, Colorado's longest continually operated ski resort.

The area also has abundant cross-country skiing opportunities, and in the spring and summer, Winter Park is known for mountain biking, concerts, hiking, and fishing. This and the many pubs and restaurants make for a fun filled visit.

Hot Sulphur Springs

Hot Sulphur Springs, founded in 1860, is named for the famous and refreshing hot spring in the area. In the past, Ute and Arapaho tribes used the hot springs as their healing waters.

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This claim has direct legal road access on a good National Forest dirt road, with areas for camping, and gold and gems discovered in prospecting.

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A transfer of ownership is a sale of legal, exclusive ownership of a mining claim site. To be a legally recorded claim, gold had to be found on the claim, which was completed by us, as we are the original claim locators.

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Your ownership is legally conveyed via a Quit Claim deed, and legally recorded with the BLM and Grand County. A Quit Claim deed is the required legal document per the BLM.

Each year, on or before September 1st, you need to file a simple form with the Bureau of Land Management, along with $200. By doing this, you keep the claim forever.

I have paid the fee for the new claim year, not due again until September 1, 2025.

You must be a current US citizen with a US address to own a mining claim in the US.

There are no separate taxes on mining claims in Colorado,

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An unpatented mining claim is a specific parcel of federal land, valuable for a specific mineral deposit or deposits. It is a parcel for which an individual has asserted a legal right of possession and the right to develop and extract a discovered, valuable, mineral deposit.

Mining claims are real property that you can buy, sell, or inherit. After proving the existence of valuable minerals on the land, the claim is legally recorded with the Bureau of Land Management and Grand County.

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The Simpson Creek Lode #8 is a gold and gem lode mining claim ideally situated on a mountain, with also Simpson Creek running through the claim, surrounded by beautiful Rocky Mountain ranges.

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Your 20.66 acres is located in the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 and part of the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 28, Township 1 South, Range 77 West, 6th Prime Meridian, known as the Simpson Creek Lode #8 mining claim, in the Rocky Mountains.

BLM Claim Number: CO106391602

Driving Directions:

13 miles west of the quaint mountain town of Fraser.

Hwy 73 West out of Fraser to County Road 50 South, to CO Road 32,

Then left, North still on County Road 32 which is the claim road,

Also known as Keyser Creek Road.

Then using mining claim GPS coordinates below to the claim.

About 90 miles west of Denver

GPS Coordinates:

Simpson Creek Lode #8

NW 39.9206, -106.0154

NE 39.9206, -106.0120

SW 39.9196, -106.0154

SE 39.9196, -106.0120

The claim location monument has a 4 foot wooden post near the creek on the claim, with copy of Location Notice attached, as required by the Bureau of Land Management.

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The lode vein running thru the claim and the creek on the claim is a unique advantage for gold prospecting.

Gold occurs in gravels in the metallic state and when so found has various physical characteristics. Gold is dense and heavy, it has a characteristic metallic color, and it is soft and easily malleable (it is easily formed by hammering). These are the characteristics used by prospectors to identify gold in the field.

Lode gold occurs on the claim usually in quartz veins derived from gossan formed by weathering, and oxidation of the gold, copper and iron rich veins. Gold is derived from the erosion of mineralized fault zones on the claim.

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Additional Features:

Flatter camping areas on the claim.

Beautiful Rock specimens for you Rock Hounds, as this also is a gem prospecting area.

Located in one of the most beautiful mountain areas in the US.

Creek on the claim for panning and fishing.

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The Federal Government owns the land.

You are purchasing the mineral rights.

You own the mineral rights, including gold and gems on the claim, as real property, being the same legal ownership as for land and homes.

Prospect, explore, on the whole 20.66 acres.

You can camp on a claim while prospecting.

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BUYING PROCESS:

To purchase my claim, I would need how you want your name(s) and street mailing address on the contract, and which payment option you choose, where I would scan and email you a signed contract.

Total price of $3500, that can be paid in one full payment where your ownership is then transferred after receiving payment,

or $3500, paying $1750 first month, and $1750 2nd month,

or $3500, paying $1500 first month, $1000 2nd month, and $1000 3rd month,

or $3500, paying $700 per month for 5 months,

or $3500, paying $500 per month for 7 months,

or $3750, paying $375 per month for 10 months.

A $199 deed processing fee is paid with final monthly payment.

After receiving your final payment, your ownership of the 20.66 acre claim will be legally recorded with the local Bureau of Land Management and Grand County. The quit claim deed is the correct document to be recorded for a mining claim, as stated by the BLM. This is not a sharing with others of your 20.66 acre claim.

We live in Ohio. Our connection to Colorado is our daughter lives in Denver, though she is not involved with our claims. We visited her in September, then went to prospect and locate mining claims, as we have been doing for a number of years.

And just a note of encouragement for you on your purchase:

My wife and I have located, prospected on, and sold mining claims in

Colorado for over 25 years.

You can trust we will process your notarized deeds correctly and quickly.

In that mining claims are processed thru the Bureau of Land Management, a

Federal Govt. agency, not following thru per our legally signed contract, would be a federal crime. I certainly will do what I say, and would never put myself nor my wife in any legal jeopardy.

Also, we have sold properties on 4 sites online for over 25 years:

Landcom, Landwatch, LandandFarm, and LandsofAmerica.

Our continued good status on these sites is due to our always following thru, as just one time we would not, we would not be allowed to sell on these sites ever again.

COMMENTS FROM SATISFIED CLAIM BUYERS:

You are awesome!!! I cannot thank you enough.

I seriously cant say thanks enough for making this process so seamless. I look forward to visiting the claim in the coming weeks! If more claims pop up around this Colorado location, I have a buddy who is interested as well.

I'm looking forward to having some time on the mining claim.

We used to go camping 4-6 weeks out of the year.

Even though I realize this is a retirement business for you. I wanted to say thank you for giving so many people over the years the opportunity to purchase your claims. I've seen them available for a long time, but never had the opportunity to purchase anything. They have probably brought many smiles to so many people. It will be the same for us.

"We purchased 2 mining claims from Michael Leu over the last 2 years, one in California, and one In Colorado. We have been to our claims on several occasions, and we could not be happier! They are exactly as described, and our camping on our claims and prospecting in the creek on each claim is the highlight of our vacations. You can trust Mr. Leu. If you are looking for a great time in the awesome beauty of the west, buying a mining claim from Mr. Leu will be a blessing."