Gold Prospecting in California - any suggestions?

[RookmanGold]

I am a small time prospector from Switzerland and am thinking about doing a bit of prospecting in California next year...trouble is I have no clue about locations. I will be heading east from San Francisco for a few hours drive and am open to hike to an area / up a river.

Can anyone recommend some good places? or where to find links to good places?

Clearly that is the "magic question", but I am just interested in finding a few nice flakes from California.... Ideally I would like to sluice / pan and not just pan...

Any starting points or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

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[russau]

I say , "join a California club" (goggle that topic)or theres a lot of people here that can offer ideas. they will have everything setup for your visit. you could get all your research / maps / ideas of where togo ahead of time so you wont waste any of it! and STUDY Californias "laws" pertaining to what you want to do and carry them with you while out prospecting to help prevent these Waco CDFG guys that wanna make your day a living h%ll! Good Luck! and post how your trip went!

 

[Hoser John]

Detector, hands and pans as state has gone insanely anti-mining. Try another state, Idaho is good as they stood up for what's right and pushed back the insanity- Lotza luck-John

 

[goldenIrishman]

Given your from Switzerland you have two ways you can go.

1. Contact several clubs that are located in the area(s) you want to visit. They will know the lay of the land, have claims that you could work as a guest and you'd be pretty sure to be able to take some gold home with you. A club in many cases will also have equipment you could use. Unless you have a lot of time while here in the U.S.A. this would be your best bet.

2. Research the area, get your gear together and strike out on your own. While this would be highly educational, it would be VERY time consuming and it also has the highest potential to get you into trouble. Between the chance of ending up on someones claim by mistake, there are also little things like Rattlesnakes to worry about. Researching areas in an attempt to find gold can take months or even years so if you're not willing to learn everything from geology to map reading and survival skills I'd strongly suggest going for option #1.

Good luck and I hope you have a great time.

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Look up the Auburn State Recreation Area. Probably around 3-4 hours from san francisco but decent gold and good access. Shoot, send me a PM in advance of your arrival and I'll show you some spots! There are some dangers out there like bears, mountain lions, rattle snakes, etc. but are usually scared of humans and not an issue. Most importantly watch where you place your hands and feet so you don't get bit by any little critters. Have fun and HEAVY PANS!

 

[Clay Diggins]

Unfortunately RookmanGold the public lands of the United States are open to mineral exploration only by "citizens of the United States and those who have declared their intention to become such". Unless you fit that description you will not be able to prospect at will.

Luckily for you private lands and lands already under claim can be prospected with the permission of the owners no matter what your nationality. That would include most of the excellent suggestions you have already received. While you can't explore for undiscovered deposits to claim you can join a club, prospect another's claim with permission and engage in the recreational aspect permitted in some reserved areas.

You will have plenty of opportunities to pan and sluice within those restrictions. With a little luck, planning and hard work you should be able to get more than a few flakes of California gold.

Enjoy your holiday in California, I think you will find it a great adventure.

Heavy Pans

 

[KevinInColorado]

There are quite a few places you can dig on state or locally owned land as a visitor to that part of the state right??

 

[Reed Lukens]

There are quite a few places you can dig on state or locally owned land as a visitor to that part of the state right??

Yes

 

[ratled]

There are quite a few places you can dig on state or locally owned land as a visitor to that part of the state right??

Actually no, except for Auburn State Rec area it is illegal to remove anything from state owned/run land with out prior permission.

ratled

 

[Clay Diggins]

You can't prospect on California State land. You can prospect on private lands with the permission of the landowner.

Auburn Recreation Area isn't State Land. It's mostly private land with some BLM managed lands and some Bureau of Reclamation (a federal western water management agency) managed lands.

The California State Parks have a recreation management contract for some of the federal lands in that area but that contract doesn't include minerals management.

There is one small parcel of State owned land in the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.

Heavy Pans

 

[Reed Lukens]

I was thinking of the Auburn State Rec area, Yuba and Bear River public access areas, along with many of the campgrounds along the Yuba, yes there are lots open to panning and sluicing and there are multiple spots within each of them.

http://www.mobilemaplets.com/thumbnails/1333_thumbnail-1024.jpg

 

[Reed Lukens]

There are quite a few places you can dig on state or locally owned land as a visitor to that part of the state right??

Don't worry Kevin we can hook you up

 

[Goldwasher]

I live six miles from Coloma Ca. I have a mining claim and an extensive knowledge of the local area and the Motherlode region. I will make sure you have a great time and find color GAURANTEED !!!!!! promise pm me and I will help you with anything logistical on this side. Seriously get in touch with me I will make sure you don't dig where you aren't supposed to and you will get to experience way more than panning you pay for local lodging..depending on time of year camping by the river is great if you camp. I can provide tents wood for fire whatever you would need gear wise. Just let me know when your thinking and it will happen.

 

[Clay Diggins]

I live six miles from Coloma Ca. I have a mining claim and an extensive knowledge of the local area and the Motherlode region. I will make sure you have a great time and find color GAURANTEED !!!!!! promise pm me and I will help you with anything logistical on this side. Seriously get in touch with me I will make sure you don't dig where you aren't supposed to and you will get to experience way more than panning you pay for local lodging..depending on time of year camping by the river is great if you camp. I can provide tents wood for fire whatever you would need gear wise. Just let me know when your thinking and it will happen.

WOW!

That is an offer anyone would be a fool to refuse.

You are one in a million Goldwasher!

Heavy Pans

 

[stefen]

Goldwasher...

 

[Goldwasher]

I've worked all over the country lived in a van ,hitchiked thousands of miles, snowboarded my brains out, cooked for thousands and thousands of people. Met and lived with people from all over the world. I like to have a good time and enjoy with others. Helping a fella from Switzerland come have what could be a once in a lifetime thing. A chance to make it as good as it could get for him would be my pleasure

 

[RookmanGold]

Thanks all for your input.. let me do some research and I will get back to you...

I was aware of people being upset at some sorts of prospecting in CA, but I wasn't aware it was so frenzied!

 

[QNCrazy]

I too am just minutes away from good prospecting area's around the Columbia/Sonora area and would be glad to assist you. I am also a board member for one of the local clubs. When you get a timeframe dialed in, I will attempt to schedule our monthly outing at the same time you are in the area. Good Fun with lots of good people. Otherwise I will take you out myself. As Goldwasher suggested, pm me and we can make arrangements.

 

[goldog]

While Goldwasher is truly 1 in a million at least a few others in this thread would fit the description as well.