Auburn State Recreation Area (American River)
Public area set aside for recreational collecting
Native material: you search the natural ground on site.
About 40 miles of the North and Middle Forks of the American River between Auburn and Colfax, in the heart of the Mother Lode. Recreational mineral collecting, gold panning included, is allowed along the lake shorelines and on the beaches and gravel bars of the rivers and creeks, outside the designated swim beaches and boat launches. The pin is approximate: the area is huge, with many access points.
Make a weekend of it
868 gold spots on open public land with no claim on record, within 50 miles.
There are more on the map, some of them with a possible mining claim.
Clubs and places nearby
- South Fork American River at Greenwood Creek (BLM)Free public dig · 8 mi
- Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic ParkFree public dig · 11 mi
- Gold Country Treasure Seekers (Placerville)Club · 17 mi
- River City Prospectors (GPAA Sacramento)Club · 17 mi
- Roseville Rock RollersClub · 18 mi
- El Dorado County Mineral & Gem SocietyClub · 18 mi
Access
Many access points from Highway 49 and Foresthill Road out of Auburn; the Confluence area below the Foresthill Bridge is the most popular and the busiest. Day use from sunrise to sunset; some parking areas charge a fee.
Technique
Hands and gold pans only: no shovels, sluices or other equipment, and rangers do enforce it. Pan the gravel bars and the beaches at the water's edge. Up to 15 pounds of material per person per day, for personal use only.