Lost California Treasure
LOST MINE Claim / Rule Check

Hickory Gulch Pocket Strike

In August 1897, a major pocket mine strike occurred at Hickory Gulch in the Coffee Creek Mining District of Trinity County. Prospectors Burgess and Murphy uncovered a large vein of decomposed porphyry yielding immense quantities of gold, reportedly selling a baking powder can.

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  • Target Name: Hickory Gulch Pocket Strike
  • Registry Category: lost mine
  • Geographic Location: Hickory Gulch, Coffee Creek Mining District, Trinity County (Coordinates: 41.08250, -122.73500)
  • Land Status: Shasta-Trinity National Forest (Allowed; respect active claims) (Classified as Claim / Rule Check)
  • Primary Historic Source: The San Francisco Call - August 15, 1897
  • Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 79/100 (Field Readiness: Claim Check First)
  • Summary Overview: In August 1897, a major pocket mine strike occurred at Hickory Gulch in the Coffee Creek Mining District of Trinity County. Prospectors Burgess and Murphy uncovered a large vein of decomposed.

Historical Overview

In August 1897, a major pocket mine strike occurred at Hickory Gulch in the Coffee Creek Mining District of Trinity County. Prospectors Burgess and Murphy uncovered a large vein of decomposed porphyry yielding immense quantities of gold, reportedly selling a baking powder can full of gold to a storekeeper at the Nash Mine on upper Coffee Creek. This sparked a minor gold rush of prospectors into the upper Trinity region.

Field Search & Recovery Tips

Hickory Gulch is located in the rugged Upper Coffee Creek area of Trinity County. Placer gold can still be found in the gravels of Coffee Creek and its tributaries. Check Shasta-Trinity National Forest guidelines regarding mineral collecting and panning; note that much of the creek remains under active mining claims.

Field Action Checklist

1
Check BLM MLRS or county parcel maps for active claims, patented ground, and private inholdings.
2
Call the ranger district or field office for current closures, fire restrictions, and collecting rules.
3
Mark legal parking, turnaround points, and no-dig zones before leaving cell coverage.
4
Stay out of adits, shafts, and unstable hydraulic cuts; old mine workings can collapse without warning.

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Research Dossier
79
Usefulness Rating High Potential
Land Status Designation Claim / Rule Check

Shasta-Trinity National Forest (Allowed; respect active claims)

Field Readiness Mode Claim Check First
Research Coordinates
41.08250, -122.73500

Recommended Outfitting

Gold Pan Sluice Box Crevice Tools Shasta-Trinity Forest Map
Reference Work Citation

The San Francisco Call - August 15, 1897

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