Howes Gulch Mines: Gold Prospecting in Larimer County, Colorado

Updated July 2026

Howes Gulch Mines is a mapped rockhounding spot in Larimer County, Colorado. Reported finds include chalcopyrite, gold, pyrite, copper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Larimer County
State: Colorado
Nearest road: Clear Ridge Road
Postcode: 80837
Coordinates: 40.59111, -105.22500

Geology at Howes Gulch Mines

This spot sits on Hornblende gneiss and amphibolite, mapped as gneiss and amphibolite that formed roughly 2500 to 1600 million years ago. Gold in metamorphic belts like this is typically tied to quartz veins and shear zones, with placer color in the creeks that cut them.

Mapped unit: Hornblende gneiss and amphibolite
Age: 2500–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)
Rock types: gneiss and amphibolite
Elevation: 6,810 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Howes Gulch Mines

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 43°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BUCKHORN MTN 1E station (4 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Howes Gulch Mines

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Howes Gulch Mines.

Across the state line from Howes Gulch Mines

Howes Gulch Mines is close enough to the Colorado border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Howes Gulch Mines FAQ

Where is Howes Gulch Mines?+

Howes Gulch Mines is in Larimer County, Colorado, at 40.59111, -105.22500. Nearest road: Clear Ridge Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Howes Gulch Mines?+

Howes Gulch Mines is reported to produce Chalcopyrite, Gold, Pyrite, Copper.

Is collecting allowed at Howes Gulch Mines?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Howes Gulch Mines?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Howes Gulch Mines?+

The most comfortable months at Howes Gulch Mines are March to November.

How do I get to Howes Gulch Mines?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.59111, -105.22500 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Clear Ridge Road.

More rockhounding in Colorado

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Open Howes Gulch Mines on the map

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