Since the days of the California Gold Rush in 1849, persons intent on mining, prospecting and panning have flocked to California to hunt for gold. They use gold pans, sluice boxes, metal detectors, dredges and dry washers in their prospecting efforts. Rockhounding is done in the gold producing areas.

The great California Gold Rush in 1849 was of such importance, and has received so much publicity, that many people are not aware that the California Gold Rush was preceded by gold rushes in the Southeastern States. Nor are they aware that much gold mining was done to the south in what is now Southern California long before the discovery at Sutter's mill that set off the 1849 gold rush.

The first documented discovery of gold in the United States was in North Carolina in 1799 and gold mining started there in 1803. A major gold rush took place in Georgia in 1828 and a lesser rush occurred in Alabama in the 1830's. Most of the gold mining districts in the West were located by pioneers, many of whom were experienced gold miners from Alabama and Georgia. 

Gold mining, prospecting and panning locations in California extend from the Mexican border to the Oregon state line and eastward to the Arizona and Nevada state lines. Both Northern and Southern California provide ample prospecting and panning locations where you may find gold.

Knowledge of places where gold has been found in the past is useful in searching for more gold. Big Ten's six California Gold Prospecting and Panning Maps show those locations.

Prior work by geologists of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Division of Mines and Geology is acknowledged. Of special mention is the prior work of William B. Clark and Ralph Loyd of the California Division of Mines and Geology and that of Waldemar P. Lindgren of the U.S. Geological Survey. The excellent California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 193, by William B. Clark, was drawn upon for details of specific gold districts throughout the state and for text regarding the Klamath Mountains region of Northern California.  Lindgren's work published in the year 1911 as regards the ancient Tertiary Rivers is considered a classic.

Note: The above paragraphs are common to each of the six (6) California gold regions. If you should read about gold mining, prospecting and panning in the other California gold regions, just scroll down to the point in the text where the particular region is discussed and continue on from there. The numbers of the California Gold Prospecting and Panning Maps correspond to the numbers of the California gold regions.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR AND FIND GOLD IN CALIFORNIA GOLD REGION 3

Big Ten, Inc.'s California Gold Prospecting and Panning Map 3 shows places where to look to find gold near 

Alhambra, Altadena, Apple Valley, Azusa, Big Bear Lake, Barstow, Burbank, Edwards, El Monte, Fenner, Glendale, Glendora, Frazier Mountain, Hesperia, La Canada, Lake Arrowhead, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Ludlow, Mint Canyon, Mitchell Caverns State Park, Monrovia, Newhall, Palmdale, Pasadena, Pomona, Ontario, Rancho Santa Clarita, Redlands, Rialto, Rosamond, San Bernardino, San Fernando, Simi Valley, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Twentynine Palms, Victorville, West Covina, West Hollywood, Yucaipa and Yucca Valley. 

It shows five hundred thirteen (513) gold mines and gold prospecting and panning locations from official geological records of the State of California and the federal government. Locations for finding gold are shown within 15 miles of each of the above listed places. These gold deposit locations, which show where gold has been found in the past, are clearly marked. Christmas gift.

The map is done in color. The margin of the map has text that tells where to look for gold in a streambed, how to tell "fools gold" from real gold and gives step-by-step gold panning instructions. You can quickly learn to pan by following the instructions on the map.

GOLD MINES, PROSPECTING AND PANNING IN CALIFORNIA GOLD REGION 3

Included in Map 3's five hundred thirteen gold mines and prospecting sites are heavy localized concentrations of gold deposits and many isolated deposits. 

Ninety six (96) gold mining and prospecting locations are shown within 30 miles of Pasadena. There are one hundred twenty five (125) gold deposit sites within 40 miles of Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County and fifty (50) gold mining and prospecting locations in Ventura County in the area neighboring Frazier Mountain.

Placer gold was mined in the San Gabriel Mountains as early as 1834 in the Acton Gold District about 20 miles north of Los Angeles. Lode mining began there about 1880 and a number of mines in the district were active in the 1900's.

The Piru Gold District is in northeastern Ventura County near Piru Creek and just south of the Frazier Mountain Gold District. Gold from placer mining in the Piru Gold District was shipped to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia in 1842.

The Saugus Gold District (also known as the Newhall Gold District and the San Gabriel Gold District) includes a number of canyons and the Santa Clara River in the vicinity of the city of Newhall in Los Angeles County. Placer mining has been carried on here with gold being recovered from gravels in stream channels and from benches and terraces along the banks.

Placer gold has been recovered in some of the canyons and washes along the south flank of the San Gabriel Mountains north and east of Los Angeles. 

Some other concentrations of gold deposits are shown on California Gold Prospecting and Panning Map 3 to the east of George Air Force Base and around the city of Barstow. There is a group of 25 gold mines and prospecting locations  near the San Bernardino County and Riverside County lines 10 miles south of Twentynine Palms. Another 15 to 20 miles to the east, and bridging the foregoing county lines, is the prolific Dale Gold Mining District.  

Many of the gold mines and prospecting locations that appear on the map in east-central San Bernardino County are west of the Ward Valley on both sides of Interstate 40, and on both sides of the Fenner Valley. This gold mining and prospecting area has hundreds of dry washes.

The varied topography of this Southern California gold region enhances the recreational gold prospecting and panning experience. California Gold Region 3 has many physical variations, such as desert, mountains, canyons, valleys, dry washes and beautiful streams.

Gold mines and prospecting and panning sites continue on adjoining California Gold Prospecting and Panning Maps 1, 2, and 4.

The economical and popular set of Southern California Gold Prospecting and Panning Maps includes Maps 1, 2, 3 and 4.