Gold in Mariposa County – History, Panning and Museums

The First Quartz Mill In California was in Mariposa

Gold Panning in Mariposa County

The hope to “Strike It Rich” is something that many people have shown an interest in for many years.
Gold Fever is contracted the moment you find your first speck, and will awaken in you something that cannot be explained.

We are fortunate that this area offers a number of places where you can still go out and find some color in the historic Mother Lode.

Paid  Panning in Mariposa County

Sugar Pine Railroad

Travel South on Highway 49 to Oakhurst.  Turn left onto Hwy 41, towards Yosemite.  Go 12 miles north, look for sign on the right.
They supply all equipment and seed the pans with gold.  Phone: (559) 683-7273

Dials Rock & Fossil Shop

From Mariposa, go West (towards Merced) on Hwy. 140, 7 miles to the Shop on the left.
Seeded sand for panning in a trough, and gold panning in a seasonal creek, for a fee.
Mike sells equipment & will show you how to pan.
Phone: (209) 966-2127

Jackson’s Creekside Excursions
We find gold—sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.  Learn some history of local gold prospecting.
We offer 1/2 or full day panning excursions in Mariposa area.  All equipment is included for excursion.
Call for an appointment: Ask for Kevin
Phone: (209) 966-4827 Or (800) 288-7759

Natural Panning Areas

No supplies are available so bring your own equipment, food and water.

Bureau of Land Management

Because of the Mother Lode Region’s history as a gold-producing area, there is high public interest in casually looking for a gold nugget or two. Unfortunately, the most promising public lands are already under claim, and cannot be worked without the claim holder’s permission. Three areas within the jurisdiction of the Mother Lode Field Office, however, are available for casual prospecting: the South Fork of the Yuba River and the lower Merced River. Gold seekers who use the traditional shovel and pan can try their luck in these areas without having to get permission.
Briceburg Recreation Area on the Merced River

From Mariposa, go East on Hwy 140 about 15 miles to Briceburg, turn left on the road next to the right side of the Visitor Center. There is a parking area. Panning is allowed downstream from the bridge on the Merced River, and in Bear Creek which enters the Merced River at this point.  The Visitor Center at Briceburg is run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is open seasonally.
For other available areas of Gold Panning, contact BLM at  (209)966-3192
For more information from BLM

Bagby Recreation Area

From Mariposa, go North about 15 miles on Hwy 49 North to Bagby where you can pan in the Merced River for a nominal day use fee. For more info., call the MID Parks Department at 1-800-468-8889
For more information: Lake McClure

Coulterville Area

Coulterville has some local places to pan for gold, with the availability of water.  Stop by the Coulterville Visitor Center on Main Street.  For more information call  the Mariposa County Visitors Center in Coulterville, California (209) 878-3074

Gold Rush History & Mining Information

The 'Fricot Nugget' in Mariposa, California

The “Fricot Nugget” is actually not a nugget but an almost fourteen pound piece of Crystalline Gold otherwise know as ‘Sponge Gold” or “Specimen Gold.”  This is the largest mass of Crystalline Gold that survived from the 19th Century California Gold Mining era and can be seen at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa, California.

California State Mining and Mineral Museum

Before you start panning come and look at gold in its raw form…. nuggets and fine gold dust that you might find in your pan.Gold pans and “seeded gold–bearing gravel” to practice your technique are available in the gift shop. They also have books and maps showing locations of gold areas.  See the famous Fricot Nugget, the largest remaining specimen of rare crystallized gold  from the 1800’s.  Replica underground mine tunnel depicting underground mining in the 1850’s.  Also see spectacular mineral crystals from around the world.

From Mariposa, go South on Hwy 49 about 2 miles (towards Oakhurst) to the Mariposa Fairgrounds.  Turn left into the parking lot.
Phone: (209) 742-7625
Museum Open
Thursday – Sunday
Summer Hours: 10:00—5:00(May 1st -Sept. 30th)
Winter Hours: 10:00—4:00(Oct. 1st—April 30th)

Gold Panning at the Mariposa Museum and History Center

Mariposa Museum and History Center

Located at 5119 Jessie Street in Mariposa.
Gold panning is on the Museum Grounds and is available by appointment (for 12 or more) or with tours and special events.
Gold find guaranteed!  All necessary gold panning equipment is furnished. Also see great mining equipment and local history displays.
They also have a gift shop with books on history and gold panning.
Open daily 10:00 am—4:00 pm.
Phone: (209) 966-2924

Prospecting Supplies

Coast Hardware “Do It Best”
5028 Hwy 140 in downtown Mariposa.
Phone: (209) 966-2527

True Value Hardware
5188 Hwy. 49 North, Mariposa
Phone; (209) 966-2692

Beaver Creek Equipment
Full line of supplies for more serious prospectors.
Go 3 miles north of Mariposa on Hwy. 49 N.  Left on Gold Leaf Dr., Right on Copper Leaf Dr.
5671 Copper Leaf Dr., Mariposa
Phone: (209) 966-8165

Information provided by:
Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce and Mariposa County Visitor Center
5158 Highway 140
P.O.Box 425
Mariposa, CA 95338
(209) 966-2456

and

California State Mining and Mineral Museum
2 miles South of Mariposa (at Mariposa County Fairgrounds)
PO Box 1192
Mariposa, CA 95338
(209) 742-7625

Museum Open
Thursday – Sunday
Summer Hours: 10:00—5:00
(May 1st -Sept. 30th)
Winter Hours: 10:00—4:00
(Oct. 1st—April 30th)

The  above information was provided by Randy Bolt of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa, California.