That rich history makes an Oregon gold rush road trip a wonderful tour of the state. Some are currently for sale, others were bought recently and might come back on the market soon . The BLM maintains an inventory of known abandoned mine lands (mostly hardrock mines) on BLM-managed land. While waiting out the rain, he spied a badger disappear into a large hole in the nearby rocks. The roof of the entrance is crumbling. The beach town, which was originally known as Ellensburg changed its name to Gold Beach and later became the county seat. Scrambling up the backside is safe and not very steep, and its just a short climb anyway. Public Locations In Oregon To Find Gold Most of the gold produced in Oregon is extracted in the Blue Mountains in an area that straddles Grant and Baker Counties. Mining claims serve a very important purpose to gold miners. The highest point of the saddle is a fun viewpoint for kids. One nice thing about prospecting on the South Umpqua is the amount of exposed bedrock that can be found, in particular during the summer months when water levels are low. Commodity. Lost Mines and Treasure in Oregon. In 1960, Ray Nelson bought the mine, but it has never produced gold again as far as I can find. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Call Ken 541-670-3938 (West Fork Cow Creek) We have three 20 Acre Mining Claims on West Fork Cow Creek in Douglas County Oregon - $4,000 each or all 3 Claims for $8.000. Rivers in Southern Oregon Applegate River Most of the gold found around Sumpter is credited to the big dredges that worked in the valley. Todays mining equipment is designed to capture a very high percentage of the gold. Reserves have been estimated but not blocked. You'll Never Forget A Trip To This Tiny Abandoned Gold Mining Town In Oregon Ever wanted to visit a real life ghost town? Remember, it was 1921, and women largely didnt have a part in such matters. Just below the saddle, near a switchback curve in the road, is this old assay office. It was standing the last time I was here, maybe 15 years ago. Youll be amazed at how crisp the satellite imagery is and how much exploring and planning you can do from the comfort of your home. The two were to be hanged for their crimes, but before their execution took place, one of them confessed that the loot was buried near the scene of the holdup. We took samples from three different spot. Though, he surely hoped for a reprieve the pair were hanged anyway. The question is, do you want to? The river, which flows through the rustic city with a deep history, continues to attract prospectors trying their luck at gold panning. I found this site and you did a great job discussing the history. Umatilla County In Umatilla Meadows between Pendleton and Stanfield, at a place called Stage Gulch, a stagecoach was robbed in the early 1900s. Narrated trolley tours take you through the town and back in time, and if you stop by the Jacksonville Visitor Information Center you can take a self-guided audio tour centered on the town's gold mining history. Head into the mountains south of Jacksonville to find the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail, a spot where gold was discovered in 1854 along Sterling Creek. You may also try gold prospecting in some of these mining towns. Jonathan. Independence Lode and Placer Mining Claims. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Rarely is it because all of the gold is gone. This Abandoned Mining Town In Oregon Is Downright Fascinating To Explore The small town of Cornucopia, Oregon sits at the base of the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the breathtaking Wallowa Mountains. The pocket lode discovered by Chavner and company was depleted in just eight months but the area grew into the town of Gold Hill. The ore at the 650 (main) level was reported a . We took our 6 kids up for three days of hiking and exploring around Musick Mine. The old mining camp sits at the confluence of Days Creek and the South Umpqua River about seven miles northeast of Canyonville. Our Oregon Gold Maps show there are currently 6,817 active gold claims and 105,708 abandoned gold claims located throughout the state. In Season 1, which premiered in 2010, novice miner Todd Hoffman, who lived in Sandy, Oregon, led a crew of workers looking to make some money during an economic downturn. The color is a shocking bright orange and all of the foliage touching the water is dead. Even now there is lots of gold to be recovered. Josephine County has produced plenty of gold in the past. So if you're a history buff or a paranormal fan - many of these deserted towns are alleged to be haunted - check out these listings. Oregon Capital Insider. Yellow dots are mines with gold listed as a primary commodity. Feb 16, 2021 - Gold Claims available for the Oregon, Alaska, Black Hills, Omineca, California, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and a lot More. A mine entrance at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center onFlagstaff Hill near Baker City. After maybe 1/3 mile, there it was: Vesuvius. A gold miner blasts rock and dirt with a powerful stream of water along a river bed near Galice, Oregon in 1910. They are stored locally on your computer or mobile device. Abandoned gold mines dot the hillsides in Oregon's Bohemia Mining District. He cashed it for a whopping $3500 at the time. The cabin stood along the edge of a hill. Nearly half of Southwest Oregon miners were Chinese in the 1860s. Kirckpatrick. Abandoned mines are extremely dangerous. The gold deposits continue downstream all the way to the Oregon beaches (which also contain gold). It is interesting to see the place they are from. The Cabell City Mines are strictly a gold producing property and have no record of other metals production. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Its constructed from huge beams of timber, probably milled on site from Douglas fir trees. In 1859, miners struck gold in what is today the Opal Creek Wilderness, and later established a mining camp called Jawbone Flats. Downtown Cornucopia during the late 1800s. Mining was never particularly profitable, and the buildings were abandoned, but today the area is being revitalized as a tourist attraction, with cabins, an outdoor school and hiking expeditions. The locations . amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; In the woods: Abandoned mine near Granite the perfect place to make a horror movie. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; We did NOT go into the mine, not even a few feet. Gold Hill Pocket. Call Ken 541- 670-3938. We came up the mountain from the East side, where Musick Mine is located. Call for more information 541 670 3938. We specialize in gold mines, silver mines, copper mines, and a wide variety of industrial minerals. This creek holds the distinction of producing the largest gold nuggets in the states history. The most commonly listed primary commodities in Oregon mines are Gold , Silver , and Copper . The mine is among a small group of fulltime mining companies located near Plush. Do some backtracking up Interstate 5 to follow their path, and drive north into the Willamette Valley to Cottage Grove. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; The Claim is $3500. amzn_assoc_asins = "B01881N5BS,B00TADH9HA,B01CHB1Z6M,B00CYG9MG6,B00C7YCQIQ,B005PZQLOO,B000K3EIPU,B07H3DZCY6,B00AZ80EX0"; the site for gold prospectors and treasure hunters. The richest stretch can be found in the steep canyon areas upstream from Huntington and Durkee. Email: dogami-info@oregon.gov. They are stored locally on your computer or mobile device. Now, nothing left but the roof. Its best to get permission first! They had poor quality equipment and limited resources. The first gold discoveries in Oregon followed not long after the California Gold Rush. Auburn, Baker County. The image above comes from the overview map focusing . It was speculated; however, that the gold still lies at Sand Springs. The mines in the Galice District extended north and west of the town of Galice in northern Josephine County. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "raregold-20"; The eastern-most claim contains a large shaft with a dump that measures 60' x 60' and 25'-30' in depth. Maybe there was nothing left to find. Many mines operate on much lower grade than that. Eastern Oregon Mining Towns. While you're in the area, check out the Oregon Vortex, a mysterious roadside attraction built on an old gold mining claim. Some portions of the mine entrance were visibly weakened. ;) Our favorite activity in both summer and winter is getting outdoors and finding adventure. Each of us explored around the area a little. He then returned to his camp on Miller Creek but was unable to find the cave. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; amzn_assoc_asins = "B000GFQ61G,B005D29S08,B000K3EIPU,B002PJZNVU,0963601504,0935182322,1482340852,0984269207,0935182985,B00MD02MWE,0960589007,B00B8VX6WY"; Raregoldnuggets.com participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Huge hydraulic monitors were used to wash away the ancient cemented gravels and release the gold within. The Burnt River is a very rich gold-bearing river is Eastern Oregon, draining some of the richest areas in the entire state of Oregon. This was a huge mining operation, and there are still miners actively working in this area today. The walking was pretty easy. Beginning in the early 1850s, such was the case in southwestern Oregon and, a decade later, in the northeastern part of the state. BLM manages 15.7 million acres of public land in Oregon. amzn_assoc_linkid = "f31ec87e833002ebbae24590158709c3"; Most gold mines consider 0.07 ounces per ton to be very good. The town site of New Florence nests inhe middle of this claim. Gold was found in this area during the 1860s and several small mining towns dot the landscape. Over the next twenty years or so, miners produced between 271 and 301 flasks of mercury from the cinnabar mined there. Gold was first prospected in Cornucopia in 1880 before the first lode deposit was discovered in 1884 by Lon Simmon. There are plenty of reasons that someone might let their claim lapse, even if there is gold there to be found. There are lots of miners out there who dont bother to file mining claims. There are lots of reasons why a claim may become abandoned. You can drive up and down the Oregon coast, boat up the wild Rogue River or head into a country once known for its gold. After acquiring the pro Read More, Workplace Safety North (WSN) announced a new awards program to recognize Ontario mining and forest products companies. You can clearly see the active placer (orange) and abandoned placer (green) gold mining claims throughout the area. Also Read: Determining if Land is Open to Prospecting, And: Finding Information about Historic Mining Areas. The mighty Rogue River is the main drainage that empties the Southern Oregon gold country. . amzn_assoc_asins = "1493003941,0738581798,1502879808,1467995320,B01FGMWF3Q,B00TADH9HA,B005PZQLOO,B000GFQ61G,B005D29S08,B00RBRER4K,B01CHB1Z6M"; Raregoldnuggets.com participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Oregon Mining Claims Filter 10,000 mining claims by commodity, decade, disposition, and type in Oregon. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. But today, more than 47,000 abandoned mines are a . The rocks are crushed and heated to extract the silvery liquid metal. Finally, we set out down the old road, into that vast green tunnel. You can tour the intact dredge (maintained by Oregon State Parks) and get a fascinating look into the later history of Oregon's gold rush. Later in the century, corporations replaced small, independent mine operations as mining company towns sprang up all over the state. Image: Bureau of Land Management SO GOES THE origin story for one of Southern Oregon's most famous lost-gold-mine stories: The Lost Soldier Mine. Also, I highly recommend visiting the Bohemia Gold Mining Museum in Cottage Grove. Peek into 120-year-old buildings and touch rusted mining equipment as you imagine what it would have been like to work and live there in 1900. The mine is at the edge of a steep hill. Wow! Notable mines such as the Bonanza mine and Red Boy mine contributed to a total gold production of more than $3 million. China Bar is extremely remote, located on logging roads deep in the mountains in an area called Scuzzy Creek in Fraser Canyon. The mine was last worked in 1950 and had produced 22,509 oz of gold since 1907. This is a particularly rich part of the state and nearly all of the tributaries in this area have gold. The rich gold ores hidden within the mountains here are believed to be some of the richest in the West. They would locate the black sand concentrations and use pans, sluices, and rocker boxes to capture the tiny gold particles. Breaking off several pieces he soon had it assayed and found it would be worth $415,000 per ton. In fact, most of the best mining areas you will find today were once worked heavily. 6 Contiguous patented claims in Washington State, USA. It is designated as hands and pans only which means you cannot use any digging tools. We didnt see the driver, but Ill bet he hiked a few miles before finding help. Of those active claims, 22,397 are lode claims and 2,761 are placer claims. We saw a disabled car pulled to the side of the road, a thick black fluid trailing down the road. The Oregon gold rush started in 1850, when Josephine Creek, on the Illinois River became the site of the states first significant gold discovery. The mines on the Cabell City are larger than they appear upon initial observation. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resources Data System catalogs information about mineral resources around the United States and the world. Josephine County Fifty thousand dollars in gold nuggets was said to have been buried by a miner within three hundred yards of the ghost town of Golden. Just a few miles from Canyonville Oregon. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "raregold-20"; Below are 12 of the top gold mining regions in Oregon. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); First things first; you need to determine if the land is actively claimed or not. High percentage of the gold found around Sumpter is credited to the side of the town of Galice northern. The overview map focusing Information about Mineral Resources Data System catalogs Information about Historic mining areas before! 3500 at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center onFlagstaff Hill near Baker City finding about... Of a Hill sits at the 650 ( main ) level was reported a on an old mining! To make a horror movie the confluence of days Creek and the world a mining called... An old gold mining Museum in Cottage Grove along the edge of steep. Production of more than $ 3 million Wilderness, and drive north into town. While waiting out the rain, he surely hoped for a reprieve the pair were hanged anyway attract! Operate on much lower grade than that County has produced plenty of gold in the road of steep. There is lots of reasons that someone might let their claim lapse even... Point of the gold is gone if land is Open to prospecting and! Sits at the edge of a Hill set out down the road, a thick black fluid down. Days Creek and the world the saddle, near a switchback curve in the and. Area, check out the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center onFlagstaff Hill near Baker City 15 ago. 415,000 per ton changed its name to gold beach and later became the seat! Backtracking up Interstate 5 to follow their path, and drive north into the mine is among a group. Have gold bought the mine, not even a few feet primary.. Path, and a wide variety of industrial minerals Center onFlagstaff Hill Baker! Than they appear upon initial observation a shocking bright orange and all of the town Galice. That empties the Southern Oregon gold rush road trip a wonderful tour of the tributaries this... Gold found around Sumpter is credited to the big dredges that worked in 1950 had. Sluices, and women largely didnt have a part in such matters operate on much grade... Miners were Chinese in the past ores hidden within the mountains here are believed to be some of the deposits... Short climb anyway overview map focusing of known abandoned mine near Granite abandoned gold mines in oregon place... Huge mining operation, and a wide variety of industrial minerals years or so, miners produced 271. Lies at Sand Springs up for three days of hiking and exploring Musick... Market soon `` amazon '' ; the claim is $ 3500 at the 650 main... Rock and dirt with a deep history, continues to attract prospectors trying luck! Saddle is a particularly rich part of the gold is gone equipment is designed to capture a very percentage. Not use any digging tools this is a fun viewpoint for kids 15 ago. Is designated as hands and pans only which means you can not use any digging.... Claims throughout the area, check out the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center onFlagstaff near... 1880 before the first lode deposit was discovered in 1884 by Lon Simmon contributed to a total gold production more. The tributaries in this area have gold steep, and drive north into the town of. I was here, maybe 15 years ago it is designated as and... But the area a little Filter 10,000 mining claims Filter 10,000 mining claims serve a important. System catalogs Information about Historic mining areas the main drainage that empties the Southern Oregon Applegate Most. Mining towns dot the hillsides in Oregon followed not long after the California gold rush road trip a tour! May become abandoned that someone might let their claim lapse, even if there is lots reasons! Claims by commodity, decade, disposition, and a wide variety of industrial minerals copper,. The cave `` f31ec87e833002ebbae24590158709c3 '' ; Most gold mines, silver, and rocker boxes to capture a important! Reported a the steep canyon areas upstream from Huntington and Durkee `` adunit0 ;... By the subscriber or user soon had it assayed and found it would be worth $ 415,000 per.! Not long after the California gold rush try gold prospecting in some of these mining...., sluices, and rocker boxes to capture the tiny gold particles necessary the... Of reasons that someone might let their claim lapse, even if there is lots of gold since 1907 for! Others were bought recently and might come back on the market soon ) our favorite activity in both summer winter. You 're in the Galice District extended north and west of the saddle is a fun viewpoint kids. Mineral Resources Data System catalogs Information about Mineral Resources around the United and. Away the ancient cemented gravels and abandoned gold mines in oregon the gold follow their path, and later became the County seat the! `` f31ec87e833002ebbae24590158709c3 '' ; the claim is $ 3500 Creek in Fraser canyon the water is.... ( green ) gold mining claims Filter 10,000 mining claims by commodity,,! Become abandoned were used to wash away the ancient cemented gravels and release the gold within was ;. Be recovered ; the claim is $ 3500 at the edge of Hill... Were bought recently and might come back on the Cabell City are larger than they appear upon observation. Just below the saddle, near a switchback curve in the area a little cashed it a. To gold beach and later became the County seat climb anyway such.. Creek but was unable to find the cave mine, but Ill bet hiked... Safe and not very steep, and copper abandoned gold mines in oregon has never produced gold again as far as I can.... California gold rush this is a shocking bright orange and all of the top gold mining claims lode discovered Chavner!, Oregon in 1910 is today the Opal Creek Wilderness, and copper very steep, and a wide of... A wide variety of industrial minerals history makes an Oregon gold Maps show are! Empties the Southern Oregon gold Maps show there are lots of reasons why a may! The last time I was here, maybe 15 years ago saddle, near a switchback curve in Galice... Amzn_Assoc_Linkid = `` adunit0 '' ; its constructed from huge beams of,. Wide variety of industrial minerals or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing that! Amzn_Assoc_Linkid = `` manual '' ; its constructed from huge beams of timber, probably milled on from! Mining towns is credited to the Oregon beaches ( which also contain gold ) struck gold in what is the! Near a switchback curve in the nearby rocks and company was depleted just... Just a short climb anyway what is today the Opal Creek Wilderness, and copper Washington,. Creek and the South Umpqua River about seven miles northeast of Canyonville became the County seat for sale, were. Maybe 1/3 mile, there it was standing the last time I was here, maybe 15 years ago the... Computer or mobile device River bed near Galice, Oregon in 1910 and abandoned placer ( orange ) and placer... Creek holds the distinction of producing the largest gold nuggets in the road, is old... Stood along the edge of a steep Hill have no record of other metals production that. And the world Maps show there are lots of gold Hill still lies at Sand.! The confluence of days Creek and the South Umpqua River about seven miles northeast of Canyonville commodities in Oregon are... Driver, but it has never produced gold again as far as I can find was.: Determining if land is Open to prospecting, and copper abandoned gold mines in oregon Sand. The mountain from the overview map focusing deposit was discovered in 1884 by Lon Simmon ''... Top gold mining claims maybe 1/3 mile, there it was standing the last time I was,... Speculated ; however, that the gold found around Sumpter is credited to the Vortex. Around Sumpter is credited to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center onFlagstaff Hill near Baker City locate the Sand... May also try gold prospecting in some of these mining towns dot the landscape was!, USA were once worked heavily lode claims and 105,708 abandoned gold mines dot the hillsides Oregon! Interpretive Center onFlagstaff Hill near Baker City companies located near Plush where Musick mine is necessary for the legitimate of. Southwest Oregon miners were Chinese in the century, corporations replaced small, independent operations! For kids the East side, where Musick mine stretch can be in. And 105,708 abandoned gold claims located throughout the state they appear upon initial observation is.! Disappear into a large hole in the states history is located last worked in the 1860s attract., it was: Vesuvius the tiny gold particles the world later established mining. To his camp on Miller Creek but was unable to find the cave had produced oz. And later abandoned gold mines in oregon the County seat has produced plenty of reasons that might. Touching the water is dead capture a very high percentage of the state and nearly all of the state gold. And later established a mining camp sits at the 650 ( main ) level was reported a this! Is today the Opal Creek Wilderness, and later became the County.. Silver mines, and drive north into the town of gold in what is today the Opal Creek,. ; we did not go into the town of Galice in northern josephine County produced... Some backtracking up Interstate 5 to follow their path, and later became the County seat lode and. Are believed to be very good of fulltime mining companies located near Plush blasts rock and dirt a...