By the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association
The Shasta Cascade region remains a popular destination for those seeking to strike it rich by gold panning, or to simply try something new.
Many of the towns throughout the region are rich in gold mining and gold-rush era history, many of which have literally stood the test of time.
If you are interested in feeling the “rush” that so many hopefuls experienced, then grab a pan and try your luck in one of the many creeks or rivers.
A great place to start is the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area where visitors can get a unique look into the past, while getting an informative lesson of the Gold Rush Days and a chance to pan for gold.
The park offers free Camden House tours along with a complimentary gold panning session. Visitors over the age of 17 years of age can also purchase a Gold Panning Pass for $1.00 that enables you to pan for gold in ten different creeks all within the park.
Another historic gold discovery area is along the Trinity River, where the precious metal has been found since 1849.
Before heading out in search of gold it is often times recommended stopping into the local ranger station for local knowledge, recommendations, and restrictions. Some of the best places to look for gold are under large rocks, gravel bars, and around exposed tree roots.
Siskiyou County is another promising location to search for gold, especially along the Klamath River, which is one of the more notable gold producing rivers. There is no permit required to pan for gold along the Klamath River as long as you remain on BLM land.
Also in Siskiyou County is the Yreka Courthouse, which has the largest gold display south of Alaska on display. Open daily from 8 am-5 pm.
The largest nugget in California was found in Paradise in 1859 weighing in at 54 pounds. Paradise celebrates this with a celebration called Gold Nugget Days that takes place every year welcoming visitors and locals alike to join in on the fun history the town has to offer.
Enjoy parades, live music, food, vendors, and much more.
Come experience something new, while enjoying the beauty of the Shasta Cascade region and you might even strike it rich!
The Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association is a non-profit organization seeking to promote economic development through recreation and tourism in Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Modoc, Trinity Counties.
For a free copy of the 64-page visitor’s guide call 1-800-4SHASTA (474-2782) or visit www.shastacascade.com to download an electronic version.