CALIFORNIA
MOTHER LODE
The 1848 Gold Rush changed the world. Today, heritage sites and public access rivers allow a new generation to find their own piece of history in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Paystreaks
Sector Intel
Signature High-Yield Locations
American River
"The birthplace of the gold rush. Multiple forks offer excellent public panning access."
Mother Lode
"A 120-mile stretch of the Sierra Nevada foothills containing some of the richest lode gold in the world."
Yuba River
"Famous for high-quality alluvial gold and beautiful scenic prospecting spots."
California Claim Intel
Detailed claim counts for historic Mother Lode and Northern Sierra counties.
Nevada
COUNTYLODE ASSETS
1,200
PLACER ASSETS
850
TOTAL ACTIVE
2,050
El Dorado
COUNTYLODE ASSETS
950
PLACER ASSETS
1,100
TOTAL ACTIVE
2,050
Placer
COUNTYLODE ASSETS
700
PLACER ASSETS
1,400
TOTAL ACTIVE
2,100
RIVER
EXTRACTION
"California river bedrock is notorious for deep cracks. We suggest high-frequency VLF gold detectors and specialized sniping gear for the American River."
EXTRACT GEAR INTELDredging Protocol
The Loot Bag
Strategic weight valuation. Calculate the spot yield of your discovery and bridge the target gap to a physical ounce.
"The gap to a full ounce is only 30.10 grams..."
LEVERAGE
THE MOTHER LODE
"The 1849 rush built empires. Protect your legacy by converting hard work into physical bullion or institutional gold exposure."
DETECTOR GURU
TECHNICAL BRIEFING REQUIRED?
Advanced analysis regarding PI vs VLF sensor integration available in the Wiki.
Gold Knowledge Resources
Optional gold-culture references for readers curious about bars, coins, purity and storage language after prospecting. These are third-party resources, not financial advice.
BullionVault
Third-party resource for learning how vaulted physical gold services describe storage, fees and custody.
BullionStar
Useful for comparing bars, coins, premiums and purity language after learning field testing basics.
APMEX
Browse mainstream bullion product formats and premiums as gold-culture background, not prospecting advice.
JM Bullion
Reference catalogue for seeing common retail names, weights and purity markings used on coins and bars.
The Digger's Code
- Backfill all holes before you leave.
- Pack out all your trash.
- Respect fence lines and gates.
Legal Disclaimer
Land access rights, safety conditions, and public fossicking zones change. You are solely responsible for verifying regulations with local authorities (DOC/Council/BLM) and assessing river safety before visiting. Paystreak.io accepts no liability for injury, fines, or trespassing. Never dig on private land without explicit permission.
✓ Information last verified: January 2026