Gold Prices

Our Auburn claim is located near the site where the first gold was found in Oregon. It is a great location for family fun with plenty of camping while you prospect for that big nugget. Auburn is also a great place to metal detect where you can find some interesting old mining treasures not to mention gold and quartz nuggets.

This claim will accommodate any camper from tents to motor homes. Auburn is also a great starting point to explore the many other mining areas and back roads of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest with your 4x4 or ATV.

This claim has been very successful for recovering a variety of gold. With the river running through the claim all season its ideal for dredging (with an Oregon Dredging Permit), panning and high banking.

Camping is ideal for all types of vehicles although the road in is a bit bumpy. Burnt River claim is an ideal place to camp if you want to do some exploring toward the old mining town of Greenhorn. Don't be surprised if you see some elk, especially in the fall.

There are several spots that are virgin. A creek runs year round but no dredging is allowed.

The road is steep and narrow but good for trailers up to 25'. We don't recommend 5th wheelers or Motorhomes so please check it out before you take an RV in.

California Gulch also has an area that has an old historic home site. Look for a small sign on a tree for the location. No camping is allowed in that area.

Camp Creek is an excellent area for relaxation under the trees while you camp out. Gold in this area is of fine flakes. It is a pick and shovel area with nuggets having been found on the lower end of the claim. A holding pond is located near the campsite which is used for high bankers and a creek runs through the claim all year long.

Walk in before you take your big campers in to make sure you can clear the trees. Camping is also available in the meadow just up the road. This site is also a good spot to camp and explore the area with your ATV's.

Hardpan is our newest claim. Burnt River runs through the middle of the claim. There is no bridge access to the south side of the river and it runs high in the spring but crossable (by foot) in summer and fall.

This claim offers several excellent opportunities to search for gold. This claim offers it all from dredging (with Oregon Dredging Permit), panning, non-motorized sluicing and metal detecting. At the current time, the claim is a "Casual Use" claim. Use only non motorized tools and fill in your holes right away. Please do not run your tailings (rocks etc) into the river. Bring good hiking (waterproof) boots if you want to cross the river and check out the virgin area.

There are several spots for camping beside the road and one spot includes a good swimming hole.

There are several spots that are virgin in the area which have provided good size nuggets. A creek runs year round which allows for dredging (with an Oregon Dredging Permit) and panning.

The road is steep and narrow but good for trailers up to 25'. We don't recommend 5th wheelers or Motorhomes. Please check it out before you go in.

Access to the lower part of the claim is easily available with any type of vehicle and camping is within a mile or so. The town of Granite (old mining town) is close by.

The claim has two ponds for high banking but getting to those ponds will take an ATV or some walking through steep terrain. There is a road down to the ponds but it is overgrown with trees and has a dirt barrier.

Yellow Gold has a year round stream but hasn't been seriously worked for nearly 40 years. This claim has potential but is difficult for most of our members to get to the upper end and ponds.