Other Gold Districts in
El Dorado County

Placerville
Placerville used to be known as a very rich mining area and more than $25 million dollars worth of gold were taken out of the Tertiary gravels here. The area of Placerville consists of Diamond Springs, Coon Hollow, Texas Hill, Negro Hill, Smith Flat, and the White Rock areas.

The gold quartz veins that could be found in this area used to be very big and were up to twenty feet thick. The first gold that was found in this area was in Hangtown Creek in 1848. Hangtown Creek was originally known as Old Dry Diggings however after three bandits were hung here (in 1849) they changed the name to Old Hangtown; later on the name was changed to Placerville.

There was a claim in Coon Hollow that produced more than five million dollars that was done through hydraulic mining here. Coon Hollow is located on the south side of Sacramento Hill. In certain areas the Tertiary channel gravels are overlain with thick beds of rhyolite tuff and drift mining was done here. A part of the Big Blue was also found in this area; it started in White Rock, went through Smiths Flat and into the area of Texas Hill.

Placerville is located on Highway 49.

Rattlesnake Bar
Rattlesnake Bar used to be a placer mining camp that was located on the American River. It was given the name Rattlesnake due to all the rattlesnakes that can be found in the Mother Lode. It is important to be careful with the rattlesnakes in the area especially during the summer months.

If you are interested in visiting Rattlesnake Road, take the Rattlesnake Bar Road off of Highway 49 at Pilot Hill. The district of Rattlesnake Bar is also located in Placer County.

Shingle Springs
The district of Shingle Springs is mostly a hard rock mining district. To get to Shingle Springs take the Pleasant Hills Road west off of Highway 49 at El Dorado. The Pleasant Hills Road meets with the Mother Lode Drive and the Mother Lode Drive will take you to the area.

Slate Mountain
Slate Mountain is a small lode mining district. In the past there used to be some rich surface deposits in this area. To get to Slate Mountain take Rock Creek Road, off of Highway 193 just north of Placerville, and east until you find Mosquito Road. Mosquito Road will go right past Slate Mountain.

Spanish Flat
Placer mining used to be done in this area during the gold rush, however there are no remains of the camp these days. The biggest producer in this area was the Alhambra Mine that had a production of one and a half million dollars. To get to Spanish Flat you will need to go right on Bear Valley Road off of Highway 193 north of Kelsey and then turn right on Travers Creek Road. You will find Spanish Flat around one mile up the road.

Volcanoville
Volcanoville has a number of placer and lode deposits. The gold that can be found in this area is coarse and it can be found in the Tertiary gravels. To get to the Volcanoville area you will need to take the Wentworth Springs Road off of Highway 193 at Georgetown. Then you will need to turn left on the Volcanoville Road and continue on it until you reach an old cemetery that will be located on the left.