Gold panning and mining have been popular activities in Plumas County since the 1800s. Although most of the camps that sprang up during the gold rush are now gone, there are some spots where visitors can relive history and even find a few remaining flakes of gold.
Experienced gold panners with equipment are welcome to seek gold anywhere on public national forest land that has not been staked (usually where posted). However, since most of
Living History Day - Plumas County Museum
the land is staked, you’ll need to do some research during the week at the County Recorder’s office, which keeps mining claim locations on file. A few areas exist where claims are not allowed and recreational gold panning is permitted. Contact the Plumas, Lassen and Tahoe National Forest offices for more details on gold panning regulations. If you’re interested in learning how to pan for gold on your own, the Plumas County Museum, located
behind the courthouse in Quincy, has a good reference book for sale. The book explains how and where to pan, what equipment is needed, safety tips, and includes diagrams, drawings and photos. Equipment for gold panning can be purchased at area sporting goods and department stores. For more information about gold panning and mining, contact one of the visitor centers listed on page 10.
roc k h o u n d i n g Plumas County is renowned for its rocks and unique rock formations. Rockhounds can find treasures in natural quartz crystals, rose quartz, fossils and petrified wood. The area’s diverse geology is caused by the meeting of two mountain ranges (Sierra Nevada and Cascade) and the Great Basin to the east, with a close proximity to an active volcano, Mount Lassen, located on the north side of the county. Such geology has produced truly unique formations, including the giant layers of exfoliating granite in the Feather River Canyon and the towering lava conglomerates in Little Last Chance Creek Canyon on the way to Frenchman Lake.
Other geological treats include deposits of columnar basalt and gold-bearing gravel. There are good fossil hunting opportunities from Mount Hough and Mount Jura in the Indian Valley area to Clover Valley in Eastern Plumas, and petrified wood has been found in the area of Hartman Bar Ridge. Rose quartz is commonly found on Last Chance Creek east of Antelope Lake. To see a large display of local minerals visit the Mt. Jura Gem & Museum Society in the Indian Valley Museum in Taylorsville, open weekend afternoons during summer or visit the Plumas-Eureka State Park Museum in Johnsville, open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in summer. Contact information can be found in Museums, page 116.
2016 - 2017 PLUMAS COUNTY VISITORS GUIDE
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G O L D PA N N I N G & R O C K H O U N D I N G
Finding a large gold nugget lured miners to the area from around the world in the 1850’s and today gold fever is again rising in popularity. With the current price of gold ranging between $1,050 - 1,350 an ounce, Plumas County’s thousand miles of gold-bearing streams are still a big draw for miners.
Laura Beaton
f i n d s o m e gol d !