E-2 EAST FORK OF ELK CREEK CLAIMS

LOCATION

RIVER: Elk Creek

COUNTY: Siskiyou County

STATE: California

Can be located by turning left on Forest Service road #45N19, just before the 5 mile bridge on Elk Creek. The first creek access and camping area is located about .75 of a mile up this road. There is a New 49'er directional sign pointing the way. The access road is primitive and narrow, and we recommend you look before driving into this area. There is very little room at the bottom to turn a trailer around. There is no lower boundary posted, because these claims connect to the E-3 Elk Creek claims at the confluence of Elk Creek and East Fork of Elk Creek. The upper creek boundary is posted alongside the road .3 of mile beyond a green gate. There is also an access point and small campground at this location. The remainder of the creek is reasonably accessible from the main road. Watch out for poison oak!

This is an excellent place to learn how to dredge, because the creek is shallow, boulders are generally not big problem, the gravel is generally shallow to bedrock and there are gold nuggets. The Nuggets are associated with hardpacked streambed and lie along the bedrock in the cracks. The claim is quite long and for the most part has not been tested or mined. The gold tends to be a bit spotty, so you have to have some patience. When you find it, it tends to be in small pockets along the bedrock. The prospects for gold recovery on these claims are good.