Scott River — Siskiyou County

Source: Tom Ashworth's Prospectors Cache (tomashworth.com / Mike Higbee / 49erMike). Author: Tom Ashworth. Original page: siskiyou_ca.shtml. State index: https://web.archive.org/web/20040830075749/http://www.tomashworth.com/goldloc.shtml Area: SCOTT RIVER. Map coordinates are an approximate county centroid — not a precise claim site. Callahan A large amount of gold was recovered from the Scott River near the town of Callahan with most of the recorded production coming from a dredge operation which worked the stream for about five miles. There were also many lode deposits near Callahan. The veins were small, but they were rich. One lode mine is reported to have recovered between 15,000 and 20,000 ounces. Callahan is located 44 miles Southwest of Yreka at South end of Scott Valley. This is an area with enormous amount of mining activity. The bed of the South Fork of Scott River, from Callahan South toward headwaters there were great hydraulic operations and Chinese rock piles which still contain placer gold. Gold is still found after every winter runoff. Also placer gold is found in all gulches and creeks, with many lode mines hidden back in steep mountains. North along the Scott River, several miles of dredging operations which were halted in 1955 by law. Southwest of Callahan, by jeep road, the Martin McKeen Mine, was a producer of 12,100 ounces of lode gold. The Porphyry Dike Mine, was also an important producer of lode gold. Go North of Callahan 5 mile to Sugar Creek and follow west on USFS road to a hydraulic workings which contains very rich placer gold. Go South a few mile to Camp Eden, then go Southeast across canyon you will find the Blue Jay Mine, and in the gravels of nearby Jackson creek is an area which was a rich producer of gold nuggets after winter floods. Go East of Callahan 10-12 miles along Grouse Creek and you will also find additional rich placers. The Copper King Mine was a silver mine that had a by product of gold. South of Callahan 14 miles, Carter Meadows Recreation Area in Trail creek there is also rich placer showings. Fort Jones Fort Jones is located by traveling southwest along the Scott River road to Indian Creek, it had extensively dredged gold placers. All access roads into the Scott Bar Mountains lead to productive mines, most which were lode gold producers. Placer gold can be found in all regional gulches, canyons, streambeds, and bench deposits (some extensively worked). If you travel north 12 mile you will find the vanished town of Deadwood on old road. to Yreka and all area canyons and gulches contain gold. If you travel west down Scott River road you will find Cottonwood and Rancheria Creeks which had large scale dredging operations which produced over $4,000,000 in 1850s. There are many area lode gold mines, especially the Golden Eagle, produced 48,500 ounces until 1931. Greenview Greenview is located in Scott Valley. If you go west 3 miles you will find Oro Fino area mines on south and east sides of Quartz Mountain and it was the site of a gold rush camp. The Quartz Hill Mine was a lode gold mine located in this area Oro Fino Placer mining began early during the gold rush in the area about five miles west of Fort Jones. Rich lode mines were found later in this area. Muccinsville West of Greenview 4 miles, in Quartz Valley, is where you will find Muccinsville which had several old mines on west side of Quartz Mountain and site of a 5 stamp mill remnant near Quartz Valley School. The area stream gravels contain pannable colors. Scott Bar Scott Bar is located where the Scott River meets the Klamath River. It is 3 miles east of Hamburg on highway 96. The Scott Bar Mine operated from 1850 until 1970 and had lode gold in hesitite. Placer gold was discovered here at the beginning of the gold rush and for many years the nearby area supported hydraulic and lode mines. It is worthy of note to amateur prospectors for many rich pockets were found here.