Since the days of the California gold rush in 1849, prospectors, treasure hunters and vacationers have flocked to California to hunt for gold. They use gold pans, sluice boxes, metal detectors, dredges and dry washers in their prospecting efforts. Rockhounding is done in the gold producing areas.

Recreational gold panning is a popular hobby in California. A simple gold pan is effective in detecting and recovering gold from a streambed.

Metal detectors are used to detect nuggets in the dry washes, dry streambeds and desert areas. Inexpensive light weight sluice boxes are often used in flowing streams to increase the amount of material being washed for gold. Dry washers are used to recover gold in arid areas. Experienced prospectors may be seen dredging for California gold. However, if you want to find some gold and have fun doing it, pans will suffice and provide many happy hours of outdoor activity for you and your family.

The great California Gold Rush was of such importance, and has received so much publicity, that many people are not aware that the California Gold Rush was preceded by gold rushes in the Southeastern States. The first documented discovery of gold in the United States was in North Carolina in 1799 and gold mining started there in 1803. A major gold rush took place in Georgia in 1828 and a lesser rush occurred in Alabama in the 1830's. Most of the gold mining districts in the West were located by pioneers, many of whom were experienced gold miners from Alabama and Georgia. 

Gold mining and prospecting sites in California range from the Mexican border to the Oregon state line and eastward to the Arizona and Nevada state lines. Both Northern and Southern California provide ample locations where you may pan for gold.

Knowledge of those places where gold has been found earlier is useful in searching for more gold.

Prior work by geologists of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Division of Mines and Geology is acknowledged. Of special mention is the prior work of William B. Clark and Ralph Loyd of the California Division of Mines and Geology and that of Waldemar P. Lindgren of the U.S. Geological Survey. The excellent California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 193, by William B. Clark, was drawn upon for details of specific gold districts throughout the state and for text regarding the Klamath Mountains region of Northern California.  Lindgren's work published in the year 1911 as regards the ancient Tertiary Rivers is considered a classic.

Note: The above paragraphs to this point are common to each of the six (6) California gold regions. If you should read about gold in the other California gold regions, just scroll down to the point in the text where the particular region is discussed and continue on from there.

CALIFORNIA GOLD REGION 3

California Gold Region 3 includes Oxnard, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, the greater Los Angeles area, Pomona, San Bernardino, Big Bear Lake, Twentynine Palms, Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville, Edwards, Barstow and Yucca Valley. 

The Angeles, Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests are in California Gold  Region 3. Some of the mountain ranges here are: San Gabriel, Santa Susana, San Bernardino, Tehachapi, Emigdio, Bullion, Bristol, Piute, Granite, and Old Woman.

Other features in this region are: Mojave Desert, Edwards Air Force Base, Marine Corps Base at Twentynine Palms, Fort Irwin, Indian reservations, Sespe Condor Sanctuary, Mint Canyon, Soledad Canyon, San Andreas Rift (fault), NASA Flight Test Center, Antelope Valley, Ward Valley, Fenner Valley, San Gorgonio Wilderness and Joshua Tree National Monument.

Big Ten's California Gold Map 3 covers California Gold Region 3. It shows 513 gold mines and prospecting sites from official geological records of the State of California and the federal government. Specific gold deposit sites are shown in parts of these counties: 

Kern      Los Angeles      Riverside      San Bernardino      Ventura
 

GOLD MINES AND GOLD PROSPECTING IN CALIFORNIA GOLD REGION 3

Five hundred thirteen gold mines and prospects are spread throughout California Gold Region 3. There are heavy localized concentrations of gold sites as well as isolated deposits. 

Ninety six (96) gold deposit sites are within 30 miles of Pasadena. There are one hundred twenty five (125) sites within 40 miles of Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County and fifty (50) sites in the area neighboring Frazier Mountain in Ventura County.

Placer gold was mined in the San Gabriel Mountains as early as 1834 in the Acton District about 20 miles north of Los Angeles. Lode mining began there about 1880 and a number of mines in the district were active in the 1900's.

The Piru District is in northeastern Ventura County near Piru Creek and just south of the Frazier Mountain District. Gold from placer mining in the Piru District was shipped to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia in 1842.

The Saugus District, also known as the Newhall District and the San Gabriel District, includes a number of canyons and the Santa Clara River in the vicinity of the city of Newhall in Los Angeles County. Placer mining has been carried on here with gold being recovered from gravels in stream channels and from benches and terraces along the banks.

Placer gold has been recovered in some of the canyons and washes along the south flank of the San Gabriel Mountains north and east of Los Angeles. Two of the most important sources have been the San Gabriel Canyon, near Azusa, and the Tujunga Canyon to the west. 

Some other concentrations of gold deposits occur to the east of George Air Force Base and around the city of Barstow. There is a group of 25 gold mines and prospects near the San Bernardino County/Riverside County line 10 miles south of Twentynine Palms. Another 15 to 20 miles to the east, and bridging the foregoing county lines, is the prolific Dale Mining District.  

Many gold sites in east-central San Bernardino County are west of the Ward Valley on both sides of Interstate 40, and on both sides of the Fenner Valley. This area has hundreds of dry washes.

COMMENTS ON GOLD PROSPECTING IN CALIFORNIA GOLD REGION 3

The varied topography of this area enhances the recreational prospecting experience. California Gold Region 3 has many physical variations, such as mountains, canyons, valleys, streams, dry washes and a desert.