GGoldvein
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Mokelumne River Corridor

CAbeginner

Central Mother Lode · near Jackson · ~800 ft

Map
High likelihood

Foothill river with bars and side channels that rebuild after storms. Fine to medium gold typical.

DirectionsLog dig
RiverGravel barPlacer

Access

Mixed access

Best season

Year-round

Water

perennial

Geology & history

Mother Lode quartz vein erosion products.

Historic yield: Mother Lode camp rivers

Dispersion radius: ~12 km corridor on the map

Coordinates: 38.3500, -120.7800

Best features

  • Side channels
  • Storm bars

Field tips

  1. Side channels after storms
  2. Classify for fine gold
  3. Mixed public/private

Nearby corridors

~34 mi away

Woods Creek / Jamestown Area

CA

Southern Mother Lode · near Jamestown

Great starter ground for families. Try both wet panning and dry banks near historic camps.

Solid
Dry creekPlacerGravel bar
DetailsMap

~41 mi away

American River — North Fork

CA

Sierra Nevada Foothills · near Auburn

Classic California placer ground. Gold sheds from Sierra quartz veins and settles in river bends, behind boulders, and on false bedrock.

Exceptional
RiverGravel barBedrockPlacer
DetailsMap

~69 mi away

Yuba River — South Fork

CA

Northern Mother Lode · near Nevada City

Steep gradient dumps coarse gold on bedrock shelves. Historic dredge fields and modern recreational digs both pay.

Exceptional
RiverBedrockPlacer
DetailsMap

Verify claims and land status before any excavation. Coordinates are approximate corridor centers for education. See Terms.