It is an inactive volcanic mountain range with the highest point being Crow Peak at 9,414 ft (2,869 m), right next to Elkhorn Peak, 9,381 ft (2,859 m). Get directions, maps, and traffic for Elkhorn, OR. Elkhorn Gold. Suction dredging, sluicing, and metal detecting are all good ways to recover gold nuggets in Oregon. Bring our travel magazine along. The byway follows OR-7 through ranchlands, turning west along the Powder River. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; As the byway climbs toward Blue Springs Summit, you’ll get great views of the Elkhorn Mountains and their unusual layered geology: sedimentary rock topped with granite and capped with flows of volcanic basalt. The first gold discovery in the county was in 1852 on Jackson Creek. Please add your email address and specify your topics of interest. Flows and Access: Elkhorn Creek is one of the main tributaries of the Little North Santiam, coming into the river just below the Opal Creek section. Some placer gold was mined from Cracker Creek, but the vast majority of the gold mined here was from large lode mines in the Elkhorn Mountains. Independence Lode and Placer Claims. Additional Information: Ore samples taken by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (1995) ran 3.8 ounces per ton gold, 0.67-percent copper, 2.7-percent lead, and 3.9-percent zinc. This is a huge gold area, with the primary gold belt spans from John Day across to the Snake River at the Idaho border, north to include parts of Union County, and south including some parts of Malheur County. The Park Mine is differentiated because of its notability as a high value gold mine. More information on the gold mining districts of Josephine County can be viewed at the Josephine County Oregon Gold Production article. Gold Creek District: Some miles west of the Rock Creek District is the old Gold Creek Mining District which is also located in Clatsop County. It is most common in mature Douglas fir forests and apparently dependent on mature and old-growth stands. Historically the area has been associated with the North Santiam Mining District which is now part of the Willamette National Forest. Elk Creek is also large enough to sustain a 5″ dredge through the mining season. Sumpter ’s mining heyday came around 1900, when thousands of miners chiseled and dredged millions in gold from the Elkhorn Mountains and Powder River. Mining Town Archive | The massive, floating Sumpter Valley Dredge is the centerpiece of a State Heritage Area. This byway packs plenty of sights into a 106-mile/171-kilometer loop through the mountains west of Baker City, long the lucrative hunting grounds of the Plateau Indian tribes and, later, where miners came to seek their fortunes. ©2021 Travel Oregon | The official guide to Oregon travel and tourism information. Document Archive | The stunning Elkhorn Crest National Recreation Trail takes a high ridge along the length of the Elkhorn Range past some of the highest peaks in Oregon's Blue Mountains. Chromium mines are also common, with 530 mines in the database with chromium as a primary commodity. Downtown storefronts and homes still show off Baker City’s opulence, especially the 1889 Geiser Grand Hotel, a meticulously restored Italianate beauty with mahogany columns and a stainedglass ceiling. State:  and others. Privacy. Regular viewers of the popular Discovery Channel series, “Gold Rush,” know that the show has long featured cast members with Oregon roots. Elkhorn Creek is situated nearby to Elkhorn Woods. Already established as an agricultural center, Baker City flourished with the discovery of gold in Oregon in the 19th century. Probably 2000 cfs would be better as a few of the logs would be underwater and wouldn't require portages. A few miles west in McEwen, the Sumpter Valley Railroad Stump Dodger follows the narrow-gauge track used by miners and loggers over a century ago. At the North Fork John Day Campground, the byway meets the eastern end of the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway. JACKSON COUNTY OREGON. The Capital Claims is a underground mining operation. The gold boom has passed, but there are still a few active claims left in the area. Gold mining in Oregon had its beginnings in historic Jackson County. Placer gold was discovered in Briggs Creek and it’s tributaries in 1852 or 1868 (conflicting accounts), and over 5,000 ounces of gold was recovered from the drainage area. #5 Elkhorn Creek Marion County, Oregon River Updated: 2020-01-06 Elkhorn Creek is a 7.6 mi long stream in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It was here along the Nehalem River in Cruiser’s Gulch, that in 1901, a man named Sebastian Glaser filed a number of lode claims about two miles from the small town of Elsie. Fishing Fishing for rainbow and Eastern brook trout is available on the North Powder River and Anthony Creek, which flow through Elkhorn Wildlife Area. Its source is on the northern edge of the Willamette National Forest, about 3.5 mi north of Big Cliff Reservoir. The Elkhorn Crest trail can be accessed from either Marble Pass, or … Bourne is a small mining town located a few miles north of Sumpter. The Baisley-Elkhorn Mine is a gold mine located in Baker county, Oregon at an elevation of 6,699 feet. When the whistle blows... With a core group of dedicated local bikers building miles of new trails in the region, Anthony Lakes has established itself as a year-round destination for all things adventure. The Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway turns right here, paralleling the North Fork John Day River, then climbs to the Elkhorn Mountains’ summit. At 7,392 feet/2,253 meters, it’s the highest point on the route. The district includes the mountain region between Baisley-Elkhorn and Cracker creek, covering a distance of six miles. Baker, Elevation: From a USFS Case study Circa 2016 Reported: It should be assumed that all mines are on private property. As strange as it may seem, one of the women apparently said it was too bad the Indians left before they could get a few more shots in. Historic Baker City is emerging as one of the coolest little foodie towns in Eastern Oregon. $60,000; Sumpter, Baker County, Oregon, 97877, United States of America. Is any of the information on this page incorrect? The Elkhorn Mountains are situated in the central portion of the extensive Blue Mountains that extend from southeast Washington into adjacent Oregon in a northeast to southeast orientation. The round-trip train ride to Sumpter takes about two hours. Two days in Oregon will give you time to explore the Oregon Trail and native American history, including the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute around Pendleton or further east in Baker City at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. (2,042 Meters). ... system of Elkhorn, Cracker Creek, and Cable Cove, shown on the map. var cx = 'partner-pub-9736755019159052:xpuzw9d2li5'; Sumpter’s mining heyday came around 1900, when thousands of miners chiseled and dredged millions in gold from the Elkhorn Mountains and Powder River. Anthony Lakes is also home to an alpine ski area known for its deep, dry powder — accessible by ski lift from the small, family-friendly ski area or via snow cat for back-country shredding and epic mountain biking in the summertime. The byway continues northeast into a beautiful area of mountain lakes, including Grande Ronde and Anthony, popular for camping, hiking and other recreation. Elkhorn Creek is a stream in Oregon and has an elevation of 1073 feet. Let's keep in touch. })(); Copyright © 2021 | Gold mines are the most common mine type, with 841 mines being listed with gold as a primary commodity. Just about any creek or river that is adjacent to some of these old mining towns in the Blue Mountains is worth prospecting for gold. Head south to Haines, where the Eastern Oregon Museum exhibits bootleggers’ stills and other artifacts from the region’s pioneer past. Order a free Oregon Scenic Byways guide, or view a map of the Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway online. It had 16 saloons, three newspapers and an opera house, until a fire destroyed its business district in 1917. gcse.async = true; Elkhorn Creek is within the expected range of the Oregon slender salamander, the only amphibian endemic to Oregon. Jackson County is a placer miners dream. Lode & Placer Mineral Claim, Lode Mineral Claim, Oregon Since acquiring the property, we have focused our analysis, design, planning, and permitting efforts on … The Crown Mine is a underground mining operation. Check out geologic history in the Painted Hills and the John Day Fossil Beds, including the amazing Thomas Condon Paleontology…, Alert: COVID-19 updates and travel advisories, : Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area by Nickie Bournias, September 21, 2011 (Updated September 1, 2017), Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. Elkhorn Goldfields has four known deposits: Golden Dream, East Butte, Gold Hill, and Carmody. Many of its now-abandoned buildings still exist, along with stories of local characters like ’49 Jimmie, whose only companion was a rooster with whom he shared all his meals. The Crown Mine is near Elkhorn, Oregon. Elkhorn, OR Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. The Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge worked a short distance up Cracker Creek, stopping a few miles below Bourne. Elkhorn Golf Course Originally opened in 1974, Elkhorn Golf Club was created in the last collaboration between the famous design team of father and son Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior. From Anthony Lakes, the byway descends steeply through a narrow canyon before emerging in the broad Baker Valley. To contact us, call 1-800-547-7842 or email. (function() { var gcse = document.createElement('script'); The beauty of traveling Oregon’s back roads and byways is the unexpected treasure that you may find along the way – not just the scenery, but interesting lessons about Oregon’s past. ODFW also stocks fish at some high lakes in the Elkhorn The Oregon Gold Mining Company in Cornucopia reported a 20-stamp mill in 1889. s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); Ready to hit the road? West of Baker City is the Cracker Creek district, with veins running north and south. Historically the site has been associated with the North Santiam Mining District which is now part of the Willamette National Forest. The ore mined is composed of pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite with waste material consisting primarily of quartz. All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The Baisley-Elkhorn Mine is a gold mine located in Baker county, Oregon at an elevation of 6,699 feet. Contact Gold Rush Expeditions, Inc for a GRMP-43 report that details the history of the Elkhorn Mining Claim. There is no trail to Rock Creek Butte’s summit, but the Elkhorn Crest trail crosses it’s southwestern slope, and the final half mile is an easy scramble. An email has been sent to the address you entered, please click the link in that email to confirm your address. Elk Creek Sold Claims . On the Northwest side of Briggs Creek, in section 24, of township 36S, and range 9W, you will find the Elkhorn placers, which were very productive. It wasn’t until after the Indians left the women found a saucerful of lead bullets under the bed. function ml_webform_success_2150690(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-2150690 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-2150690 .row-form").hide()}. Elkhorn Valley provides excellent overnight camping opportunities in the secluded spots of old-growth forest for those who plan to visit other places along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River including Opal Creek Wilderness. After an extensive renovation in 2004, the club reopened in 2005 and … From Mapcarta, the free map. Ref: Gold And Silver In Oregon… The district is four miles wide and 18 miles long. The Elkhorn and Park Mines are hereforth referred to solely as the Elkhorn Mines. The Powder River’s Mason Dam forms 2,235-acre Phillips Lake, a popular spot for boating, fishing and waterfront camping. The Elkhorn Crest trail is a fantastic singletrack trail that hugs a high route through the Elkhorn Mountains of Eastern Oregon. The 5,864-foot/ 1787-meter summit is a popular snowmobile staging area in winter, offering access to more than 150 miles/ 241 kilometers of trails. Scissor-sharp peaks and ridges define the Elkhorn Mountains of northeast Oregon, where gold-mining boomtowns have given way to a mother lode of natural beauty on this 106-mile/171-kilometer tour. gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; The county produced over 500,000 ounces of placer gold Each summer sees very many amateur and professional gold dredgers trying to strike it rich. The Elkhorn Creek current carried off the dead Indian down river, later to be found wedged against some rocks. Baisley-Elkhorn Mine, Rock Creek Mining District, Baker Co., Oregon, USA : An Au mine located on the north fork of Pine Creek about 18 miles from Baker. Oregon, County:  The Elkhorn Mountains are a mountain range in southwestern Montana, part of the Rocky Mountains and are roughly 300,000 acres (1200 km²) in size. Elkhorn Golf Course | 32295 North Fork Road Southeast | Lyons, OR 97358 | 503.897.3368 The true treasures are the Elkhorn Mountains and Baker Valley themselves, rich in beauty and history. Elk Creek is one of the prominent gold bearing drainages known for its history, incredible yields with an open dredging season that miners constantly search for. Past Phillips Lake, the Tailings Overlook gives evidence of the intensive gold mining that occurred in this area in the mid-19th century. We have a lot of ideas for you. The Capital Claims are near Elkhorn, Oregon. 6,699 Feet We ran the creek when the Little North Santiam at Mehama was reading 1100 cfs. It threads through the basalt Blue Canyon and enters the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, where grasslands and juniper hills give way to ponderosa pine forest. Just before the Anthony Lakes Campground, the 23-mile/37-kilometer Elkhorn Crest National Recreation Trail departs south, skimming along the ridgeline above clear streams, mountain meadows and lakes. What to visit in Eastern Oregon for 2 days. gcse.src = 'https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=' + cx; It flows through the heavily forested and rugged foothills of the west side of the Cascade Range and within the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area, which is known for its majestic old-growth forests. Sold. The lakeside Mowich Loop Picnic Area provides access to the North Shore Trail, part of the Phillips Lake Trail System, which winds along the lake for more than 6 miles/9.6 kilometers and is open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. 4. The Ah Hee Diggings Interpretive Site explains the rock mounds paralleling Granite Creek, made by Chinese laborers piling up boulders by hand as they worked the streambed for gold. Most gold prospecting in Oregon is done in the southwest and northeast parts of the state, where extensive gold discoveries have been made. Overview: Elkhorn Creek is a unique, pristine, low-elevation setting, with limited access, providing a landscape with few signs of human disturbance or activity. It is listed by the state as a Species of Concern. Legal. The route heads north along FR-73. Like Sumpter, the town of Granite saw plenty of gold-rush activity. The trail itself is a 23-mile one-way backpack, but the two highest peaks in the range, Rock Creek Butte and Elkhorn Peak can be reached in … Help. The Baker Heritage Museum, housed in a 1920 natatorium, has exhibits on ranching and mining, and an excellent mineral collection. US-30 leads back to Baker City. The “Queen City of the Mines” grew wealthy providing transportation, food and supplies to thousands of miners in the nearby mountains. Average assay of material at the Park mine is 3.59oz T/AU. It had 16 saloons, three newspapers and an opera house, until a fire destroyed its business district in 1917. Please consult the current Oregon Big Game, Game Bird, and Trapping Regulations for specific season and area information. Oregon has a rich gold mining history, and there is still plenty of gold waiting to be found. When other towns dried up after the gold rush, Baker City successfully transformed into a hub for logging, ranching and the transcontinental railroad. The Elkhorn Crest trail totals 23 miles in length and ducks in and out of the North Fork of the John Day wilderness. Greenhorn In Season 1, … On ranching and mining, and an excellent Mineral collection, housed in a 1920 natatorium, has exhibits ranching... 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