Gold Districts in El Dorado County

Greenwood
The district of Greenwood became well known because of the Fricot nugget that was found in 1865 in the Grit Mine. A lot of the placer gold came from the middle fork of the American River. The seam deposits in this area were worked on by hydraulicing.

A lot of wing dams and flumes were built here by the miners so that they could redirect the river to work the gravels on the stream bed. the camp of Greenwood is located off of Highway 193 right in between Highway 49 and Georgetown.

Grizzly Flat
The district of Grizzly Flat was very productive for prospectors a few years ago and it is a placer and lode mining area. Grizzly Flat can be reached by taking Highway 50 to Snows Road and by going south on this road till you get to Grizzly Flat Road and by then going east. Here you will find the Grizzly Flat district. The Hazel Creek Mine in this area was found in 1948 and it yielded over a million dollars in gold. 

Indian Diggings
The district of Indian Diggings still has some places that prospectors do well in. This place mostly consists of placer mining and there have been a few good gold quartz veins located in this area. A few very rich potholes have been found in the limestone bedrock as well. if you are interested in getting to Indian Diggings simply use the same directions you would use to get to Fairplay. Once you have reached Fairplay keep going on the Fairplay Road until you get to Titmo Ranch Road. Then take a left and continue going until you reach Indian Diggings Road.

Kelsey
The district of Kelsey was the place that James Marshall passed away in 1885. Marshall was 74 years old at the time of his death. The placer deposits in Kelsey were worked on during the time of the gold rush and later on in the 1860’s lode mining started up. The gold quartz veins can be seen in grayblack slate.

Nashville
The district of Nashville is located on the left after having crossed the Consumnes River going north on Highway 49. Some rich ore deposits were found in the surface deposits in Nashville in the past.

Newtown
Newtown is a placer mining district and it was located in the area around the junction of Pleasant Valley and Snow Roads. To get to Newtown take Pleasant Valley Road east off of Highway 49 at Diamond Springs.

Pacific
The district of Pacific is a placer mining district. To get here you will need to take Highway 50 east around 20 miles from Placerville. The gold in Pacific can be found in the Tertiary channel gravels.

Pilot Hill
The district of Pilot Hill has Tertiary channel gravels that are on bedrock of green schist and greenstone. The gravels in this area complete an area of around twenty to thirty acres. To get to Pilot Hill go to Highway 49, north of Placerville.