SUMPTER DREDGE
This is Eastern Oregon's answer to the Klondike. The Powder River valley was churned inside out by massive bucket-line dredges. The tailings piles stretch for miles, and they didn't catch it all.
Tailings Piles
The dredge tailings are often on public land (State Park or US Forest Service). However, active claims still exist on tributaries like **Cracker Creek**.
Respect Boundaries: Sumpter allows panning near the dredge, but larger operations require verifying claim status.
The Dredge
You can tour the dredge itself. It's a mechanical monster. Seeing the trommel screen helps you understand how gold recovery works at scale.
Phillips Lake
The reservoir created by dredging. Gold can be found along the shoreline when water levels are low.
Cracker Creek
One of the rich feeder creeks. Access is tighter here, but the gold is coarser than in the main river valley.
Tactical Intel: Detect the Piles
The dredges were notoriously inefficient at catching nuggets and gold with quartz attached. **Metal Detect the tailings piles.** The stacker belt threw the big rocks (and big nuggets) right out the back. Walk the tops of the piles with a VLF detector.
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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