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LANE COUNTY, OREGON

by Tom Ashworth

Gold mining begin in Lane County in 1858 and continues today. Gold has not been an important commodity in Lane County and only about 50,00 ounces have been reported. All of this came from two locations. The Blue River District is actually in Lane and Linn Counties, but its only productive mine, the Lucky Boy, was located in Lane County. It produced about 10,000 ounces, all from lode deposits. About 40,000 ounces came from the Bohemia District about 35 miles southeast of Cottage Grove. Mining continues today in Lane County.

Most Forestry campgrounds are "Mineral Withdrawal Sites" and may be used for gold panning, nugget hunting with a metal detector. The larger "Mineral Withdrawal Sites" within the Forestry Service have plainly marked boundaries to indicate the "Free Use Sites" where dredging, gold panning, sluicing and nugget sniping can be done.

BLUE RIVER

Well east of Springfield on U.S. 126, this district overlaps into Linn County. The Total Production between 1887-1959 was 10,200 ounces of lode gold. The Lucky Boy Mine is 14 patented claims lapping into Linn County. See Linn County for more information.

COTTAGE GROVE

Southeast of Cottage Grove 35 miles on a divide between the Willamette and Umpqua rivers is the Bohemia district. This was the largest and most productive gold district in the West Cascade Mountains. Along Sharps, Martin and Steamboat creeks the gravel bars and benches contain placer gold. There are many lode mines in the area. The Champion (Evening Star) Mine had an 18,000 foot underground tunnel with a by product of gold from copper zinc ores. The Music Mine (14 Claims) along Sharps Creek had a rich history and has produced about $300,000 in gold from 1891-1949. The Crystal (Lizzie Bullock) Mine had a by product of gold from copper ore. The Helena Mine produced $250,000 in gold from 1896-1950. The Mayflower Mine on Horseheaven Creek also had a good history. Other area mines are Star, Capitan, President, Grizzly, Leroy, Shotgun, Carlisle all produced lode gold.

BRICE CREEK

Parts of Brice Creek are open to the public through Mineral Withdrawal as a "Free Use Site". Brice Creek can be reached by traveling from Cottage Grove exit 174 on I-5 and driving east past Dorena Lake for 18 miles. Follow the Row River on the Brice Creek Road past Culp Creek to Disston, turn right onto the County Road #2470 and Forest Service Road #22 which leads to Champion Creek located on Forest Service Road #2470. Grass Creek is past the Champion Creek turnoff on Forest service Road #2213. There are patented mining claims in the area, stay off of private property. Brice Creek and its tributaries share heavily in the distribution of flood gold particles after each spring thaw and summer thunderstorms. It has easy access, good roads, and camping. The forest service "Hobo Recreation Site" allows recreational gold panning. It is an out of the way camp along road #2470, just above Brice Creek. It has a history of producing gold.

CEDAR CREEK

Cedar Creek Recreation Site is situated on a river terrace next to Brice and Cedar Creeks. Cedar Creek contains some small nuggets. This area has a rich history of placer gold. This is located further up Brice Creek from the Hobo Recreation Area.

MARTIN CREEK

Martin Creek meets up with Clark Creek and it has a reach history as well. To reach it go past Mineral Camp and turn left on Martin Creek Road.

SHARPS CREEK

Sharps Creek first gained popularity in 1858 and is part of the Bohemian Mining District because of its excessive gold placer content. Sharps Creek is resupplied with fine gold and flake every year. Mineral Camp and Martin Creek Recreation Sites also have great gold and produce larger nuggets. Please respect private property. To reach Mineral Camp, take exit 174 east out of Cottage Grove from I-5. Follow the Row River Road #2400 13 miles east to Sharps Creek road #2460. Turn Right on the Sharps Creek Road and drive south for about 10 miles, You will pass Sharps Creek Recreation area as mentioned above. Turn left in and go EAST (Thanks Jerry) about 2 miles to Mineral Camp.

by: Jerry Eagle

A minor correction: In the directions to Sharp's Creek, when you go south on Sharp's Creek Road #2460 for about 10 miles, you turn left and go EAST, not west, up the creek to Mineral Campground.

I was there several times last autumn. This 2 mile section of road is now very hazardous. We had very heavy rains last autumn and there was a lot of heavy flow and flooding down Sharp's Creek. Each time I went, I was amazed at how much change and damage had been done, with huge trees washed down and an amazing amount of erosion. This short segment of road washed out last autumn (into Sharp's Creek) and the county repaired it, but it was still very dangerous, with nearly vertical drop to the creek. And that is through soft soil, not rock. There has been a huge amount of snow this winter and I'll be amazed if this road is open this spring. The last time I went last autumn I was afraid to drive up to Mineral, and walked the two miles instead. It's got to be worse now.

OAKRIDGE

North of Oakridge about 12 miles between Fall and Christy creeks is the Fall Creek District. It had a low production with numerous prospects in secs. 13, 18 and 19 on the USGS maps. The Golden Eagle Prospect had a 1300 foot underground working and the Ironside Mine was worked intermittently for many years. There is some placer being found in Fall and Christy Creeks.