Placerville area (Calif.) group hunt

**UncleVinnys** · Mar 31, 2008, 11:11 PM

Looking for folks to plan a half-day trip to somewhere in the gold country
around Placerville area.

Trouble is, I'm the newbie, and don't know where to go.
Anyone interested in mentoring an appreciative novice for
a short trip, please let me know. Just got the MXT and
I'm rarin' to go.
I'm in Folsom. Pretty much anywhere along Route 49 is OK with me,
or the Folsom area.
Retired, so almost any day would work, 'cept Tuesdays.

UV

**Hemisteve** · Apr 01, 2008, 12:40 AM

Hi Vinny,
How about off of 80 between Gold run and Colfax. I,m near Truckee and looking for somewhere to go and somebody to go with.

Steve

**UncleVinnys** · Apr 01, 2008, 08:53 AM

Sounds like a good area.
Let me hit the books and maps, and maybe we can find a specific location

(which means we won't get shot at or bitten by a rattler).

**Gabev71** · Apr 01, 2008, 07:28 PM

i heard good things about the american river where the Iowa Hill Rd bridge crosses it, its just outside of colfax. When i went about a month and a half ago i didnt have any luck, was my first time so it was more of a learning experience. but the 2 other people i saw out there were mainly digging out crevices and haveing success. All i had was my pan and metal detector but managed to find some change along the river and a mans titanium ring with a gold inlay about 3 inches down at the waters edge.

**Hemisteve** · Apr 01, 2008, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by UncleVinnys

Sounds like a good area.
Let me hit the books and maps, and maybe we can find a specific location

(which means we won't get shot at or bitten by a rattler).

Sounds good. I am more worried about two legged snakes myself!
I was south of Colfax about 22 years ago and found a cool spot where the old 49'ers had diverted a stream. I'll look on Google Earth for the spot.
Does anyone have info on the old Sluice tailings around Gold run? Anything not on Private property or claimed up?

Steve

**Hemisteve** · Apr 01, 2008, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Gabev71

i heard good things about the american river where the Iowa Hill Rd bridge crosses it, its just outside of colfax. When i went about a month and a half ago i didnt have any luck, was my first time so it was more of a learning experience. but the 2 other people i saw out there were mainly digging out crevices and haveing success. All i had was my pan and metal detector but managed to find some change along the river and a mans titanium ring with a gold inlay about 3 inches down at the waters edge.

Gabe,
Sounds like you had a good day there. You found gold! Just was'nt a nug, so i'd say you had some luck.
Iowa hill road could be where I was. About a mile or so south of the river there was an old adit in the hillside right on the road.

Steve

**UncleVinnys** · Apr 01, 2008, 08:57 PM

I like Gabe's idea too - it's a specific site, and people have
been successful there.

They say gold is found where gold is found.
I'll look that one up too.

Meanwhile, let's start thinking about a date.

UV

**tymcmurray** · Apr 04, 2008, 08:50 PM

I am going to be in california from the 8th to the 14th of
April. If anyone wants to get together and hunt, I am in with
My partner. We are flying in from Maryland and have not
been able to firm up any plans from the 11th to the 14th.
Anyone interested I would be greatly appreciative!!!

**UncleVinnys** · Apr 04, 2008, 09:19 PM

The 11th is a Friday, which might be a good choice, as there will
be fewer week-enders visiting the river.
I hope to be able to visit that bridge crossing soon, and
I will get back to you on whether or not that's a
worthwhile destination.
Meanwhile, I'm open if others want to chime in on this.

**tymcmurray** · Apr 05, 2008, 07:36 PM

I do not know the area at all.

**UncleVinnys** · Apr 05, 2008, 08:25 PM

Good News: Bad News

Well, I took a trip up there - instead of turning off on Iowa Hill Road,
I turned off on Placer Hill road (sounded more promising!). That's exit
133 on Hwy 80, a stop or two before Iowa Hill Road.
Anyway, that road leads to Bear River Camp, which has gold panning.

When I got there, there's maybe a dozen people already panning there.
They are ALL finding and keeping flecks and specs of gold.
One group using a sluice, but most just panning

You can see in the photos trenches where they dig the river bed and
pan it.

Spoke to an old timer there:
"You won't find any nuggets here, but plenty of flakes by panning."
Sure enough, everyone I spoke to was finding flakes. I spent 2 hours there,
and NOTHING on the MXT for nuggets.

It MIGHT be the same on the Iowa Hill site.
Long story short: looks like panning is a better bet there.

UV.

Photos - you can see outcropping of bedrock, which they say is good for
finding flakes in the cracks
Photo of sluicing
Photo of some of the trenches they've dug for panning.
Enjoy!

**Hemisteve** · Apr 06, 2008, 05:40 PM

Hi vinny,
Nice pics!
I,m suprised the water is so low. The snow is melting quick and I figured the rivers would be roaring by now.
Are you using the stock 950 coil? If so, you might want to pick up the 6x9 or 4x6 DD for nugget shooting.

The spot I visited years ago was Mexican Gulch. Took a while to figure out where I was. Take Yankee Jims road.

Due to Family and work obligations I can't make it over Donner summit till sometime in May, so I will have to hunt locally but will drop you a line when
I can get down to the foothills.

Find some Gold!
HH
Steve

**UncleVinnys** · Apr 15, 2008, 10:03 PM

Whoa! Ty - - forgot to follow up on this and now it's way past the 11th.
I hope you did not feel abandoned!

(When ya get old like me, time just seems to fly by! It's called a senior moment, ha, ha!)

Anyway, did you get out to Placer Hill or Iowa Hill Road? Anyone else join up with you?

**Gabev71** · Apr 18, 2008, 04:36 PM

Finally had some time to post some pics from when i was at the American River on Iowa Hill Rd. gives u an idea of what to expect if u ever go there, most people that were there were going thru the cracks on the bedrock that line parts of the river.

**Urban Prospector** · May 14, 2008, 07:19 PM

Check out the Auburn State Rec Area. There were plans to build a dam in that area and flood it. The State bought up land and claims and then the Dam plans fell through. Now there are around 30 miles of river open to recreational panning with no worries your claim jumping. I'm down in HelLA but would drive up for a nice get together, its only a few hundred miles.

**Muddy_Udders** · May 18, 2008, 11:02 PM

I was in the Auburn State Rec Area on Saturday with my Lobo ST and found some change on a goat trail to the river. Pulled out the pan for the first time ever and got some flakes. I am available for Fridays and Saturdays if anyone wants to join up.

**Urban Prospector** · May 19, 2008, 09:27 AM

Thanks for the report Muddy. Congrats on you success. Never been there so it's nice to hear a positive report. Do you happen to know about the camping situation there or in the area? I like the Lotus area when around there but new areas are always welcome.