Sierra Nevada Adventures Single Day Rides

AMADOR GOLD COUNTRY ADVENTURE RIDE

Amador Gold Country ADVENTURE ride EXPORES amazing OFF-ROAD routes, including the best single-lane goat roads, and back roads to historical gold mining sites in Amador County from the California Gold Rush! 

If you're looking to EXPLORE historic OFF-ROAD routes and exciting creek crossings, including fun single-lane goat roads, and curvy back roads to historic mining sites, then look no further, this is the ADVENTURE ride you've been looking for. Amador Gold Country ADVENTURE ride is the perfect low-elevation ADVENTURE ride for the early Spring season in the Sierra Nevada Gold Country.

Your adventure begins on the western edge of the Sierra Nevada, and before long, the pavement ends. The adventure begins as you explore fun dirt roads and exciting creek crossings through groves of oaks and pine-covered foothills. Further, off the beaten path, your adventure explores some of the richest hard-rock mines in the California Gold Country. After the placer gold rush between 1848 and the 1850s, the miners began to dig deep into the earth in search of the rich gold veins locked into the quartz rock. The largest vein within the Sierra Nevada is the Mother Lode vein located between Oakhurst near Yosemite and Georgetown in El Dorado County. The 20-mile stretch from the Mokelumne River and the Consumnes River was the richest, producing over $160 million in gold between 1851 and 1942. (Current value over $3.5 billion).

The first hard-rock mines were found in Amador City in 1851, the original Minister's Claim and Spring Hill mine was the first few mines founded, and soon after many other mines followed. By the 1870s & 1880s, Amador County had over 300 hard-rock mines in operation with some mine shafts over a mile deep into the earth. The Amador Gold Country dual sport adventure ride explores the ruins of many of these hard-rock mines such as the Bunker Hill Mine, Fremont Mine, and the Treasure Mine. The historic dirt mining roads within the dual sport adventure ride will also take you through Michigan Bar, Amador City, Sutter Creek, and Drytown, which is the oldest town in Amador County. Mining for gold began in Drytown in the spring of 1848 when miners discovered gold in the rich gravels along Dry Creek. Although the creek may have run dry during the summer months, legend has it the town never did, as an old story claims some twenty-six saloons wet the miner's thirst during the 1850s and today the only wet spot in Drytown is the road-side Drytown Club.

Bunker Hill Mine History: The Bunker Hill Mine The mine was first worked as the Rancheria Mine in 1853. Was renamed the South Mayflower in 1893. It was organized in 1899 as the Bunker Hill Consolidated Mine and operated till 1922, producing $5,154,382 in gold. The shaft reached 3440’ on an incline with a winze. It had a 40 stamp mill. The Bunker Hill Consolidated Mining Company organized in 1899 and worked the mine continuously until selling the property in 1922. Little milling or prospecting was done by the new mine owners, with the last of the work being done in 1925. Several known ore bodies had been documented, but remained unmined at the time of closure. The Bunker Hill mine had an estimated total production of 250,000 ounces of gold. The mine produced well even when in low grade ore, and by 1880 had a 40-stamp mill and a chlorination plant in place. The mine was worked intermittently up to the 1890s, but became idle long enough that the main shaft caved in and the chlorination plant fell into disrepair. In 1893 operations resumed as the mine was reopened, brought back into working order, and renamed the South Mayflower.

Fremont Mine History: The Fremont/Gover Mines are located at the intersection of Bunker Hill Road and New Chicago Road, just out of Amador City. These mines actually included the Fremont, Gover, Loyal Lode, North Gover, and Bons Esperanza Quartz, and a half interest in the Bona Fortuna Quartz Mine. The Gover began in the 1850's, and had varied experience. The principal work on this mine was on the Gover Mine, with a new shaft being dug on the Fremont Mine. The mines was shortly taken over by the Fremont/Gover Mines Company, which was made up of former employees. Unable to continue financing the mine, the work quit in 1925. The 1,500 foot level of the Gover, running south, connected with the 1,350 foot Fremont north drift. The mill operated by the Fremont Consolidated Mining Company. Towards the end of the operations, a total of 140 men were employed, and a total production for the Fremont and Gover mine was $5,000.000. The Loyal Lode Mine had a 20-stamp mill, which, in the earlier days, the mines were worked with arrastres. By 1876 the miners only reached 100 feet and the claim had become idle. The Fremont and Gover mine was consolidated and the company formed in 1872, worked mainly on the Gover claim. The principal shaft reached a depth of 1,500 feet (1,050 feet vertical). The new Fremont shaft was worked to a depth of 2,950 feet, with a new mill being built in 1903. A 20-stamp mill was put into operation, but worked stopped that August. Founded prior to 1867 as the Loyal Lode Mine. The Fremont-Gover Company formed in 1872 and worked the Gover in the 1880’s and ‘90’s. The Fremont shaft was sunk in 1903 including a 40 stamp mill, continuing in operation until 1918. Reopened in 1937 and worked until 1940. Fremont shaft was 2950’ deep. The Gover was 1500’ on an incline. Total production was $5,000,000 in gold.

Treasure Mine History: Located 1½ miles north of Amador City. In the 1850's a long tunnel was driven in the vein from a point near the base of the hill, near Rancheria Creek. In 1867 the mine had an 8 stamp mill. After years of being idle, a hoisting plant was put in place and sink renewed in the summer of 1895. In August of 1896, at a point of 375 feet from the surface,e a drift was cut to the south. In 1920 the following levels were being worked: 1,800, 2,000, 2,160, 2,320, and 2,470. The 1,600 foot level of the Treasure Mine connects with the 1,500 foot of the Bunker Hill Mine to the south. The mill was operating 16 hours a day, utilizing electricity, and handling 90 tons of ore. Owned by the Treasure Mining Company of San Francisco. Founded prior to 1867. Sometimes called the Hazard Mine. Shaft reached 3030’ on the incline with winzes. Was connected to the Bunker Hill Mine to the south at the 1600; level. Produced $1,000,000 in gold and closed in 1922.