Auburn State Recreational Area?

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Hello all, I'm a "noob" still learning the ropes and I'm curious as to which part of the california mother lode i should really focus my attention on.

I've found some color outside of the San Andreas area, a little in Jamestown, and even a nice picker in Sonora.

Although finding any gold is a win in my book, I have the fever and WANT MORE...I'm considering heading north to the Auburn State Recreational Area this Sunday. Given that we are in this drought, might i find better results on the American?... or has it been overworked?

Any thoughts/ comments will be much appreciated

 

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[tyeechinook]

That area has been worked for a long time. You should be able to find some there though. Just look farther off the beaten trail than most do. I've found pickers in asra before.


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[ALewis]

Last Sun I saw a Bear driving out on Iowa Hill Rd, 1st one this year....But, so far have never had any issues, knock on wood....came across a few last year, thankfully they always scared off quickly....

Last trip out, off of Pennyweight Trail.....

 

[bedrock bubba]

Last Sun I saw a Bear driving out on Iowa Hill Rd, 1st one this year....But, so far have never had any issues, knock on wood....came across a few last year, thankfully they always scared off quickly....

Last trip out, off of Pennyweight Trail.....

View attachment 1001767 View attachment 1001768

What kind of vehicle was the bear driving?

 

[ALewis]

It was one of those mini Shriner cars.... and yes, he was wearing a Red hat w/ black tassle....

 

[Reed Lukens]

Everything is still green up here in the north, we didn't have as much of a dry year as you guys did down south so the water is still running a bit high for the year but everything is still nice and green so you will definitely enjoy it. I always find gold on the American everytime and everywhere I go. Even the main bar at the confluence still has gold, so the ASRA is a great place to go EXCEPT that they make you pay to park almost everywhere now by the river, which is total money grabbing bs. I mean the rangers do scrape the body parts up from below the Foresthill bridge but how often do they have to do any work? The river was great for everyone before they came in and started closing roads and gating off access points to most of the river that was open to everyone for 10,000,000+ years before they came.

 

[Armchair prospector]

Reed, didn't some group buy some of the Area in ASRA recently? It wasn't that long ago.

 

[Goldwasher]

NOTHING IS WORKED OVER....there is a lot of color to be had all over the motherlode. Walk 1/8 mile past easy access and you might as well be a two miles away. South Fork of the American near Coloma/Lotus is good too.

 

[GoldenNerd]

If you're off the ASRA though you have to play "minesweeper" (pun intended) with all of the claims. So annoying.

 

[Clay Diggins]

If you're off the ASRA though you have to play "minesweeper" (pun intended) with all of the claims. So annoying.

The ASRA has claims too - and a lot of private land, neither one of which you can prospect without written permission.

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Thanks for all of the comments, and even a couple pictures.. much appreciated!

I'm definitely headin out there this Sunday. Better pick up some bear spray first though!

 

[Goldwasher]

Do your research its not hard to find open areas.

 

[TheGoldProspector]

This year; most of my findings have been from ASRA- other than a few other claimed sites....

Learn the riverflow, and study. Plat Maps/privatized land ownership lines

 

[goldchaser3]

I've been there many times and have yet to see a bear. There's so much activity around Mineral Bar Campground I'm a little surprised you saw one, especially on the Colfax side on Iowa Hill Rd.

 

[arizau]

Is this area still restricted as to pans only or are some digging tools and sluices allowed?

 

[Goldwasher]

the hands and pans restrictions were dropped.

 

[GoldenNerd]

the hands and pans restrictions were dropped.

I just called them to confirm because I couldn't find anything online (all of their websites and such are out of date.)

Shovels, picks and such are all okay. No displacing large rocks. Try to leave things as you find them.
Allowed to work the gravel-bars only. Sluices okay so long as they're running gravel-bars and not taking from the surrounding areas and putting into the rivers.
No metal detecting west of 49 is still in place but no other restrictions .
No taking of historical artifacts.

I didn't ask about highbanking or drywashing. Oops. (530) 885-4527 then '0' to get the front desk if you want to know.

Thanks for letting us know @Goldwasher!

 

[arizau]

I just called them to confirm because I couldn't find anything online (all of their websites and such are out of date.)

Shovels, picks and such are all okay. No displacing large rocks. Try to leave things as you find them.
Allowed to work the gravel-bars only. Sluices okay so long as they're running gravel-bars and not taking from the surrounding areas and putting into the rivers.
No metal detecting west of 49 is still in place but no other restrictions .
No taking of historical artifacts.

I didn't ask about highbanking or drywashing. Oops. (530) 885-4527 then '0' to get the front desk if you want to know.

Thanks for letting us know @Goldwasher!

Thanks to you both for info.

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Sweet, Thanks for the information!

Don't think i'm going to get some bear spray just yet, hopefully my shovel will keep the bears at bay. I have high hopes for Sunday, gonna try out the Pennyweight trail area

 

[TheGoldProspector]

Sweet, Thanks for the information! Don't think i'm going to get some bear spray just yet, hopefully my shovel will keep the bears at bay. I have high hopes for Sunday, gonna try out the Pennyweight trail area

..you may come across some of my holes/crevicing work. . Enjoy it out there