E-4 ELK CREEK CLAIMS AT THE 10-MILE BRIDGE

LOCATION

RIVER: Elk Creek

COUNTY: Siskiyou County

STATE: California

Can be reached by driving a little more than nine miles up Elk Creek Road and watching for the first substantial road that turns left. There is bridge, which is located at about the center of the claims. After crossing the bridge, you can turn right or left to gain access to camping and other creek access points further up or downstream on Elk Creek. If you go downstream, you will be turning left on Forest Service road #15N02, and you will find the lower creek boundary posted on a tree .6 of a mile alongside the road. There are various primitive access roads extending down toward the creek. The last one is best and is marked with a New 49'er directional sign. This access road extends directly to the creek. The upper end of the creek claims can be located by continuing upstream on Elk Creek Road. The upper creek boundary is posted on a tree alongside the road .5 mile upstream from the 10-mile bridge.

There has been very little prospecting and mining activity on these claims, even though the area has a rich gold mining history, with old mine workings along the banks near Doolittle Creek. We had several members say that they found good gold while dredging in the creek near the lowest access point toward the lower end of the claim. Other than that, we don't have much more information. But because of past mining history on this area, we know the prospects are good.