The historic town of Coarsegold

• Overview

  The historic town of Coarsegold, located on the lower slopes of the Sierra Mountains along Yosemite Highway 41, offers a glimpse into the 1849 California Gold Rush. The first gold nuggets were found here in 1852, and even today visitors and gold prospectors find the valuable mineral in the area's streams and mines. While much of the area is claimed and inaccessible to the casual gold-panning enthusiast, you may find a bit of the yellow stuff in the local river or in the village.
  

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  Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  You can pan for gold on your own in Coarsegold's streams and rivers.

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• History

  The small town of Coarsegold got its name from the coarse chunks of gold found in the area's streams and rivers in the mid-1800s. The possibility of more gold helped the town spring to life, harboring miners who worked the area known to be the southernmost tip of the Mother Lode. By 1851, the population of Coarsegold reached 10,000, but once the gold became more difficult to find, the small town became better known as a stop for travelers heading to Yosemite National Park.

• Attractions

  A good place to start your gold-panning adventure is at the Coarsegold Historic Village (coarsegoldhistoricvillage.com). Rattle Snake Rick, a local gold-panning expert, helps you get your hands wet in a special area set up for panning. You get to keep any gold flakes you find. When you tire of gold panning, take a look at the village's other offerings. You'll find a variety of artists offering crafts and fine art, along with shops selling collectibles and antiques. You'll also find a restaurant on the premises. The village hosts several special events, including the World Famous Peddler Fairs. The fairs feature an eclectic mix of booths selling antiques, collectibles and treasures.

• Events

  The Coarsegold Gold Prospectors (coarsegoldprospectors.com), a nonprofit organization established in 1997, offers monthly events for gold-prospecting enthusiasts. To look for gold at the organization's current mining claims, you must fill out and submit a short online application. Once approved, you'll be invited to participate at events that take place at several local claims, including Smith, Bonnel Gulch, Big Creek and Willow Creek.

• Panning

  If you prefer to try your hand at gold panning in one of Coarsegold's streams or in the Fresno River, make sure you confirm the spot is not restricted or considered a private claim or mine. If you're allowed to pan for gold, buy a 12- or 15-inch steel pan before you head to the water. A good place to look for gold is in mid-stream gravel bars. Once you gather a pan full of gravel, keep rotating the pan to get rid of the large gravel, allowing the heavier gold to settle to the bottom of your pan. Once your pan contains only black sand, look through it carefully to find any gold flakes.