Sharps Creek Recreation Site

I was only able to spend a few hours here and after doing a little detecting and not finding much more then trash and some hot rocks I decided to get out the crevice equipment. First crevice was right in what seemed to be a popular swimming spot. But I was getting anxious so see some gold, and the water was high during spring runnoff. The crevice looked like it might have been recently worked but someone didn't have a narrow enough tool to reach deep. No detector hits on it but first pan pulled out a few pieces of flood gold. I got about the same out of the few other crevices I could get to. All in all I think if I had more time it would have been a pretty good day just working crevices and panning.

During my visit I was pretty limited to just a couple places on the river. Right where you walk down to from the trail. Unfortunately I was visiting during spring runnoff and was not interested in swimming through the frigid water. With the right gear you could access much more of the area during high water. I did find some gold working crevices and panning it out the day I was there. Would be nice to visit at low water as the feature here's is very cool. This is an ancient water fall and a deep plunge pool that is clearly visible from up on the cliffs.

A BLM mineral withdrawal does not mean that there is no prospecting. It means that the parcel has been withdrawn and is not available to be privately claimed. We have 8 suck areas in the Upper Applegate region in Southern Oregon. We are allowed to pan, sluice, detect in them but we cannot file a claim. That is why it is a recreational area.

A BLM mineral withdrawal does not mean that there is no prospecting. It means that the parcel has been withdrawn and is not available to be privately claimed. We have 8 such areas in the Upper Applegate region in Southern Oregon. We are allowed to pan, sluice, detect in them but we cannot file a claim. That is why it is a recreational area.

Thanks for letting me know.