Lost California Treasure
GHOST TOWN Permission Required

La Porte Placer District

Originally settled as 'Rabbit Creek' in 1850, La Porte became one of the most famous hydraulic and drift mining districts in the Northern Sierra. The district targeted a highly productive Tertiary river channel (the La Porte channel) containing heavy deposits of coarse gold.

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AI Summary & Quick Facts

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  • Target Name: La Porte Placer District
  • Registry Category: ghost town
  • Geographic Location: La Porte (formerly Rabbit Creek), Plumas County (Coordinates: 39.68210, -120.98410)
  • Land Status: Plumas National Forest / Private Properties (Allowed for mineral panning on open USFS land, respect claims) (Classified as Permission Required)
  • Primary Historic Source: California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 193 (La Porte District)
  • Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 62/100 (Field Readiness: Permission First)
  • Summary Overview: Originally settled as 'Rabbit Creek' in 1850, La Porte became one of the most famous hydraulic and drift mining districts in the Northern Sierra. The district targeted a highly productive Tertiary.

Historical Overview

Originally settled as 'Rabbit Creek' in 1850, La Porte became one of the most famous hydraulic and drift mining districts in the Northern Sierra. The district targeted a highly productive Tertiary river channel (the La Porte channel) containing heavy deposits of coarse gold.

Field Search & Recovery Tips

Gold panning and metal detecting are permitted in open, unpatented sections of the Plumas National Forest surrounding La Porte. Always verify that you are not on active mining claims by checking the BLM LR2000 database. Respect private property lines inside the townsite.

Field Action Checklist

1
Identify the parcel owner and get written permission before stepping off public roads.
2
Agree in writing how finds, trash removal, holes, gates, and livestock areas will be handled.
3
Carry a printed permission note and leave if access boundaries are unclear in the field.

Related ghost towns

  • Columbia Placer District ghost town · Columbia State Historic Park, Tuolumne County · High probability

    Known as the 'Gem of the Southern Mines,' Columbia was established in 1850. Placer miners discovered gold trapped in a labyrinth of limestone karst formations. Miners used high-pressure water hoses to wash away the.

Research Dossier
62
Usefulness Rating Medium Potential
Land Status Designation Permission Required

Plumas National Forest / Private Properties (Allowed for mineral panning on open USFS land, respect claims)

Field Readiness Mode Permission First
Research Coordinates
39.68210, -120.98410
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Legal & Permit Review

REQUIRED BLM MLRS Check active mining claims, serial records, and land-record context before any prospecting or detecting. ↗ REQUIRED California County Assessors Use county assessor or parcel resources to identify ownership before leaving public roads. ↗ REQUIRED USFS Visitor Map Confirm the managing forest, road access, wilderness boundaries, and current closures. ↗ RECOMMENDED BLM Mining Claims Review BLM claim filing and maintenance rules so claim status is interpreted correctly. ↗ RECOMMENDED USFS Collecting Guidance Review Forest Service mineral, rock collecting, and metal-detecting guidance before fieldwork. ↗

Recommended Outfitting

Dry washer or sluice box Gold pan Shovel BLM Claim Maps
Reference Work Citation

California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 193 (La Porte District)

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