Explore / North America / California
California
Merced River at Briceburg CA
BLM gold panning
Gold ground Documented siteLegal to collect
What you could find
Reported finds from this ground.
GoldAlso reported: black sands, occasional flakes in bedrock crevices.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: BLM Alaska (Public domain).
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Why this spot
Rockhounding locality: southern Mother Lode river canyon placered since 1850, now a BLM Wild and Scenic corridor that expressly welcomes recreational panning
BLM's Merced River Recreation Management Area page lists recreational gold panning and prospecting among sanctioned uses
Before you go
Hazards noted for this site.
Powerful spring flowsSlick bedrock, poison oak, canyon heat in summer
narrow suspension bridge access road
Keep exploring nearby
More spots in this area.