from alaska to mckinleyville ca humboldt county

[juneaupanner]

I've been reading this forum almost on a daily basis and I like what I've seen. I live in juneau Alaska and am taking a trip to California to visit a friend of mine who I haven't seen in quite a while. I am hoping to at least hit some open ground with a sluice and goldpan while I visit from the 5th to the 14th.

I have done some google research about placer gold in the mckinleyville area with no luck i figure it may be a long drive to areas the average Joe can prospect. Im hoping that someone can point me to a few places that are hopefully close and worth while. We can drive and stay at a hotel if need be I dont mind camping eaither.

I have a good ten years prospecting experience for the flour gold and occasional picker here in Juneau but I would love to find a nice nugget at some point in life.

Any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks! Conrad.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Fullpan]

You did find the history of placer mining on the trinity river didn't you?

 

[Lanny in AB]

You might check out clubs you can join before you leave on your trip--that will give you easy access to areas where you'll have a shot at a nugget. I spent many years panning fine gold, then switched to metal detecting for gold. I dug buckets of trash and then hit a beauty the size of my thumbnail! You never forget your first one--never.

Good luck out there, and all the best,

Lanny

P.S. you might get lucky and get an invitation from a forum member in California too--it's happened before.

Here's a picture of that nugget for you Conrad.

 

[calnatv]

Weren't you down several years ago?

 

[juneaupanner]

Thanks for the advice it would be cool to hook up with some forum members. As for having been down there I have yet to go but I did post something on a forum because I had planned on going but it never worked out.

So this will be a new adventure for me I've only been to the Seattle area besides Alaska and its been a while since then.

 

[SpiritRelic]

What! Humboldt!I have dreams about going there.I heard that is one beautiful place!Good luck to you. :-$

 

[juneaupanner]

Yep I'm pretty excited! I've seen lots of cool pictures from my friends hiking adventures and the scenery looks awseome!

 

[juneaupanner]

Does anyone know of prospecting stores in or near mckinleyville? One of the first things I'm going to do is buy a sluice classifier and pans for me and my friend when I get there. I am super excited!!!!

 

[juneaupanner]

Well I made it anyone have some creek or river names? Possibly public areas or pay to play spots?

 

[delnorter]

Well I made it anyone have some creek or river names? Possibly public areas or pay to play spots?

The Smith River, about 2 hours north of you. I'll post more this evening. Gotta head out to work right now. Pans and small hand tools only. Almost the entire system is open. I believe only 3 claims left. mostly all national forest inland. Maps available at USFS in Gasquet,

Mike

 

[juneaupanner]

Awesome thanks!

 

[Fullpan]

The trinity river and its tributaries has produced an awesome amount of gold, from about Salyer all the way east to Redding. Don't know about the regs.

 

[delnorter]

Conrad, if you decide to try the Smith River I would hit the South Fork. With a Six Rivers National Forest Map you should be able to determine if you are on public or private land. There are no federal claims on this fork of the river so you should be ok as long as you avoid private property. Most of it's length is USFS / public land.

There is gold to found all along this stem. A good pace to start would be Craig's Beach, a few miles up South Fork Road. You can park in a large turnout on your left, a concrete restroom is there as well. It's a short walk down a good trail to the river.

Try where the gravel bar meets the rather steep bank on the lower (downstream) end of the bar. You should fine pretty good color as well as on most inside bends along this stretch. I would not be surprised if you get checked out by the Forest Service or by Ca. Dept of Fish and Game (they are out more due to deer season). Remember, just pans and small hand tools. No long handled shovels, pry bars, sluices etc.

If you get further up Highway 199 I'll be the only Caltrans worker on that highway, to the Oregon border, over the weekend. I'll be driving a flatbed white Ford F450 with overhead lights and a plow on front. I can talk with you for a while if you would like.

Take care and have fun,
Mike