Have you looked up your local clubs yet? Some are affiliated with the Western Slope Chapter and can probably tell you everything you need to know.
http://www.rmpth.com/
http://www.foothillsprospectors.com/
http://gpoc.club/
http://www.goldprospectorsoftherockies.com/
http://rmpth.com/
Colorado has many clubs you can join without having to spend a red cent, some are GPAA and some are private, but as a GPAA member you can always look at the claims on the website and find the nearest claim near you. But your best bet in getting help and getting started is to join a local club, the reason for this is we all have our own private claims we guard from anybody without membership.
Check out one in your area and give them a email or call, as the President of our Western Slope Chapter I give out my private cell phone number to everybody for references and have taken time to get to know local law enforcement and BLM authorities so we can protect our claims.
I showed up to my first meeting having never met a soul, no referral, no background, and had just moved to Colorado. Within a few months I was pulling gold out of the river with my Chapter. All you need to do is reach out and ask, most mining groups are open to new members and very family oriented.
Benjamin Crain
President of the Western Colorado Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America.
214-733-6096