Lynx Creek Gold Panning area Day use

From AZ-69 from either east or west, turn SOUTH onto Walker Road (by the COSTCO). There is a traffic light at this busy intersection. Go South on Walker for about 1.5 miles. There will be a Prescott Forest Sign for "Lynx Creek Ruins." Although the Ruins are a "Fee Paid" site, NO WORRIES as the panning area is free. Take the left turn onto Gold Pan - Lynx Creek Ruins maintained dirt road. About 3/4 mile the road turns widely to the left. Just past this bend, a nice bladed free DAYTIME parking-picnic area on the right allows immediate access to Lynx Creek. Other local groups and families hike North and South along the Creek for panning. Around Salida Gulch to the North, private claims covering both sides of Lynx Creek exist. Obey any trespassing or private property signs.

If you put the ingress coordinates in Google Maps, they will lead you to the Linx Creek Gold Day Panning Area. The area opens at 6 and closes at 8. Met several people in the area that have been working the area for several years and have found gold. I was at Linx Creek on 6/17/2021 and found flake gold and some pickers.

The directions from the Lynx Creek Ruins road take you to the part of the claim below Lynx Lake. If you continue south on Walker road until you get to mile marker 5 and then turn left you can access the area above the lake. It's about 1/2 mile on a dirt road to the creek. This is a wilderness camping area so you can camp there on a first-come first-serve basis. There are several camping spots right on the river.

When in the area on Google maps search "dispersed campsite #2"
Follow the road down, while it is rough as long as weather permits any vehicle should make it down.
Go down probably a half mile until you see a creek, which is Lynx Creek. Lots of old timer tailings there. Can also cross Lynx Creek and keep left, even more tailings.
And no hand and pan.

I thought I would add a corrections to one post above, according to the Forestry and the panning rules at lynx creek see the Following: Pick/shovel excavations may only be done in conjunction with gold panning and metal detecting and must be made below the high water mark of the stream channel. All excavations must be filled in before leaving the area. Do not cut trees, limbs or brush, do not dig up ground cover. You are allowed to use a SHOVEL, PICK, PRYBAR and other hand tools. No Battery operated or fossil fuel motors allowed, nor generators, vacuums etc.