CA Gold Country

[scra99tch]

I'm passing through the area this weekend on a national parks road trip with my wife and 9 yr son.  We plan on going through Jackson CA up 88 to South Lake Tahoe.  I'm looking for quick stops that may be accessible to a river to drop a pan into and go swimming.  Does anyone know of some parks that may be open to such a thing? I figure most if not all the wilderness has a claim on it so I'll be mindful of where I stop.

I remember making the trip with my mom and brother at one point when I was his age to the American River near Sacramento, where we did some panning but most I remember about it was diving down and getting the coke/beer bottles filled with eels.

We also plan on heading over to Mammoth Lakes and ski for the day.  Show my kid what Western Skiing has to offer as opposed to the ice and trees of New England Skiing (This late in the season they're practically going to be the same conditions as he's used to).

Evan my Son also is really into fishing (not sure where he got that from) but we plan on casting a few around the area hoping he'll be able to catch something.

 

[pehayes]

What vehicle will  you be using?

I have no stop recommendations.  I do have a warning.  This past winter was epic snowfall.  That snow is now melting and all of the rivers are running high.  Those rivers are not to be toyed with.  News reports already show several people falling in and being lost.  Just be more cautious than a normal  year.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[scra99tch]

Thanks PEhayes,

Looks like it'll be a sedan type vehical. 

I figured the rivers will be fairly high and swollen.  I'll be careful and pick a spot that has slowed down a bit to at least get calf deep.  Anything higher in elevation looks to be too rocky and narrow.  There are a few picnic areas that seem reasonable and safe for any activity I am looking for.  Plus I like cold water.

[midnite]

If you head out of Jackson toward Mokelumne Hill, look up Electra Road; it runs alongside the Mokelmne river, and provides access to swimming/wading and gold panning. As was mentioned, the water is high this year due to heavy snowfall in the Sierras, and adults and children have been swept away in the past, so be careful.

Here’s a cautionary tale from few years ago about a moto journalist who died around there: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-journalist-idUSKCN1TM2SX

Great riding in those parts - especially up 88 from Jackson to the Rahoe area. Be safe!

Matt

[SemperVee]

   I lived off the 49 outside of Auburn and if you continue up the 49 just past Cool You will see the site to Goldpan and an Old cemetary.




     

[scra99tch]

We eventually made it through.  Going up 88 to Tahoe.

I tried a few scoops with the kid maybe saw some tiny flakes but they could have been mica.

It was fun.  Water was cold and flowing pretty good.

We tried out PiPi campground, small river and nice grounds.

We skied today in Mammoth and now onto Death Valley during a heat wave.  Wish us luck!