Mornings · Classroom
Detector mastery, step by step
Settings, threshold, ground balance, target tones, coil control, and the geology that tells you where gold is likely to be — taught so it sticks.
Gold Trails - Metal Detecting Hands-On Masterclass - Morristown, AZ
A two-day Metal Detecting Hands-On Masterclass with Kevin Hoagland — classroom mornings at the 1899 Historic Hotel in Morristown, afternoons on the Maricopa Group GPAA claims.
March 6, 2027 - March 7, 2027Morristown, AZ · 1899 Historic HotelClassroom + claimsCourse handbookLunch includedGPAA membersBring a gold detector
Reserve this session
Sonoran Desert gold country · Arizona
2 + ½
Days of training
30
Classroom seats
120 ac
GPAA claim ground
15 min
Classroom to claims
The venue
Classroom at the 1899 Historic Hotel
Mornings are held at the 1899 Historic Hotel in Morristown — a National Register landmark that once hosted travelers on their way to Castle Hot Springs by stagecoach, and later served as the town's general store, post office, and saloon.
Afternoons move to the Maricopa Group — roughly 120 acres of GPAA claims about 15 minutes from the classroom. You'll take what you learned that morning straight to mineralized desert ground with Kevin coaching nearby.
See the Maricopa Group in the GPAA Property Guide →
Afternoons · On the claims
Real ground, real targets
Put the morning's lessons to work on the Maricopa Group GPAA claims — Yahoo #2, Yahoo #4, Golden Dreams, and King #1 — with hands-on coaching.
Your two days
Classroom, lunch, then the claims
Each day follows the same rhythm so skills build on each other — learn it in the morning, prove it in the dirt that afternoon.
Days 1 & 2
- Morning
Classroom at the 1899 Historic Hotel
Detector setup and settings, ground balance in hot ground, reading tones, and practical geology for detecting.
- Midday
Lunch included
Lunch is provided both days.
- Afternoon
Field time on the Maricopa Group claims
About 15 minutes from the classroom. Put the morning's lessons to work on GPAA claim ground with Kevin nearby.
Optional half day
Optional- Morning
Prospect on your own
Hunt the claims at your own pace the day after the event, with Kevin available to help.
Your course handbook goes with you all weekend. Exact start times and field meeting details are sent with your registration confirmation.
Why attend
The system for learning in the field
All detecting, all weekend
This is a metal detecting masterclass — settings, ground balance, tones, coil control, and recovery, with just enough geology to know where to swing.
Hands-on with Kevin
Learn from Kevin Hoagland in the classroom, then get coached on real ground the same afternoon.
Real GPAA claim ground
Practice on the Maricopa Group claims — mineralized Arizona desert ground where good habits pay off.
Your course handbook
Every attendee gets a course handbook — a field textbook that guides you through each lesson, with room for notes you'll use long after the weekend.
Lunch included
Lunch is provided both days so you can stay focused on learning, not hunting for a drive-thru.
Optional half day on the claims
Stay the day after the event to prospect on your own at your own pace, with Kevin available for help.
Immersive field work
Learn it in the morning. Prove it that afternoon.
Every classroom lesson goes straight to the dirt. You'll dial in ground balance on hot desert soil, learn what your detector is telling you, and recover targets with Kevin coaching nearby — then come back the next day and do it better.
This session
Reserve your spot
Choose your event option and complete secure checkout. Seats are capped so everyone gets real hands-on time.
Before you register
Active GPAA membership required. Field sessions are held on GPAA claims. Not a member yet? Learn about GPAA membership →
Bring your own gold detector. Demo detectors are not available. Bring a gold detector such as a Garrett GoldMaster 24k, Fisher Gold Bug 2, or Minelab Gold Monster 1000 or 2000. Shop gold detectors →
Gold Trails - Metal Detecting Hands-On Masterclass - Morristown, AZ
March 6, 2027 - March 7, 2027Morristown, AZ · 1899 Historic Hotel
A two-day Metal Detecting Hands-On Masterclass with Kevin Hoagland in Morristown, Arizona. Classroom mornings at the 1899 Historic Hotel build the skills; afternoons on the Maricopa Group GPAA claims put them to work.
Included with registration
- Classroom instruction with Kevin both mornings at the 1899 Historic Hotel (41037 W Grand Ave, Morristown, AZ 85342)
- Your course handbook — a field textbook that guides you through the training, with room for notes
- Lunch both days
Schedule
- March 6–7, 2027: Morning classroom session, lunch, then afternoon field time on the Maricopa Group claims, about 15 minutes away.
- March 8, 2027 (optional): Prospect on your own on the claims with Kevin available for help.
Exact start times and field meeting details are sent with your registration confirmation.
What you'll learn
- Detector setup and settings you can repeat in the field
- Ground balance in hot, mineralized ground
- Reading tones, coil control, and clean target recovery
- The geology you need to know where to detect
Requirements
- Active GPAA membership required. Not a member yet? Join at goldprospectors.org/join.
- Bring your own gold detector. Demo detectors are not available — bring a gold detector such as a Garrett GoldMaster 24k, Fisher Gold Bug 2, or Minelab Gold Monster 1000 or 2000.
- Also bring headphones, a pinpointer, a digging tool, sturdy boots, gloves, water, and sun protection.
Lodging
RV sites are available at the 1899 Historic Hotel for $30/night, booked directly with the venue (480-493-9329). Hotels and full-hookup RV parks are about 15 minutes away in Wickenburg. Lodging is not included with registration.
Good to know
- $600 per person. Classroom seating is capped at 30 attendees.
- Cancellation: refunds are available when you request cancellation at least 7 days before the event start date.
About your registration fee
Your registration fee covers the classroom instruction at the 1899 Historic Hotel, your course handbook, and lunch. No fee is charged for access to or use of public lands. Afternoon field time takes place on the Maricopa Group, GPAA mining claims located on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Access to the claims is a benefit of active GPAA membership and is subject to GPAA claim rules and BLM regulations. Field meeting details are shared with registered attendees.
USD 600.00
Cancellation policy
We plan and cap these events so everyone gets real hands-on time. Refunds are available only when you request cancellation at least 7 days before the event start date. Requests inside that window help us cover committed costs and staffing.
About your registration fee
Your registration fee covers the classroom instruction at the 1899 Historic Hotel, your course handbook, and lunch. No fee is charged for access to or use of public lands. Afternoon field time takes place on the Maricopa Group, GPAA mining claims located on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Access to the claims is a benefit of active GPAA membership and is subject to GPAA claim rules and BLM regulations. Field meeting details are shared with registered attendees.
Know before you go
Plan your trip
- Included with registration: Classroom instruction with Kevin, your course handbook, and lunch both days.
- GPAA membership required: You must be an active GPAA member to attend, since the field sessions are on GPAA claims. Not a member yet? Join before you register.
- Season: Sessions run in Arizona's cooler months — still, expect strong sun in the afternoons. Bring water, a hat, and sun protection.
- Getting to the claims: The Maricopa Group claims are about 15 minutes from the classroom. Directions are shared with registered attendees.
- Gold detector required: Demo detectors are not available — bring your own gold detector, such as a Garrett GoldMaster 24k, Fisher Gold Bug 2, or Minelab Gold Monster 1000 or 2000. Shop gold detectors →
- What else to bring: Headphones, a pinpointer, and a digging tool, plus sturdy boots, gloves, water, and field clothes.
Lodging, RV, and hotel options are on the Morristown location page.
Location
Morristown, Arizona
Field sessions (afternoons)
Maricopa Group GPAA claims
About 15 minutes from the classroom. Directions are shared with registered attendees.
Nearby
- Wickenburg — Western town with restaurants and supplies, ~15 minutes west
- Phoenix — About 40 minutes southeast
- Vulture Mine — Arizona's most famous historic gold mine, near Wickenburg
Looking for another date or location?