Hi Guys, I'm almost an hour away from Elderado, and hunt in the forest gamelands.Was sad to hear that hand dredges aren't allowed as im building one as i type this.Can still use it on the Uwharrie along Low Water Bridge i bet since thats N.C. LAND TRUST LAND and still open to the public.It's a long section of river and is in the same area. But you all knew that i bet. Several old mines close by there also, so may be a good area to play. I discovered the old Russell mine in there while turkey hunting last year on gameland ,and theres several old tunnels and some pits in this area.It;s on gameland, but im not sure if we can pan the creek that runs through it.Land trust property joins it deeper in the woods.Anyway, just wanted to say hi and say im glad theres some locals to discuss local prospecting with.Im still green and bet i'll learn alot here from you guys and gals. Hope your pans all show color! Doug
From what I understand, you can still dredge along the low water bridge area, however, parking is an issue. Only parking on the state roadside is permitted. No camping in the woods either.
As I understand the sitution, we can still pan the two creeks running near the Russell. I am working on getting access to the same creek across the road from the parking area for the Russell. I am not sure of the name of the creek that you cross to get to the Russell, but the one further downstream that flows into that one is the Crow and there has been some good gold taken from both streams.
That creek that crosses Coggins mine Rd. is Big Creek... You'll cross it again at the Russell mine.Just a small part of it is privatly owened there at the bridge and if you go up Center Methodist Rd. you'll start seeing National forest signs where you can walk down to the creek to pan. May be private on other side of creek though in some places.I hunt that area during deer season so i have a gameland map of the area.Back to Crow Creek, you can hike up river .5 miles to where crow creek dumps into the Uwharie River at Low Water Bridge also. That is Land Trust land up to Crow Creek.Theres a 800 foot diamond shaped peice of land on the up stream side of Crow Creek that is national forest land, then its all Land Trust land up Crow creek up to near Big Creek where it turns back to national forest land.If in doubt, use Montgomery County's GIS Program to check out who owns land in that area. Thats a great tool.Google N.C. GIS and scroll down to montgomery county. That Game Land map is alot of help reserching the public lands down there also ...The bp station down there sales them for $5.00 on Hwy.109 near Elderado.You may already know all this,but I just wanted to make sure if you didn't LOL...Just mentioned walking up river from Low Water Bridge because I like to metal detect and Land Trust land is not under the National Forest rules banning detecting ect...It's kinda allowed use to the public as long as you don't dig in the banks or trash the area.Really nice area to hike or play in river.Well good luck to you Pappy.
Hi Pappy, Thats the Big Creek.Sampled some cons from up near the bridge and only found trace's of flower gold.Lots of black sand as you'll find at Low Water Bridge.That old house on Methodist Rd. across from the Russell mine land is the old Hicks place, and is part of the land you'r talking about across the road at the bridge. I did a GIS search a while back and i think theres about 80 acres total on both sides of the road that includes the old Hicks place.Futher up Methodist Rd. just past the Hicks place is forest land untill you get to that field on right (heading toward Hwy. 109) and the Big Creek marks the boundery line .So i guess you could prospect it up to where it crosses into that private land. Some lawer ownes that land and leases it for hunting. Let us know he'd best not catch us hunting his land unless we had paid to...lol The Trading Post (BP station) on Hwy.109 sales a National Forest map that shows you where all the forest land is and is a big help when searching for hunting and prospecting spots in the area.Pappy, I'm still learning and would love to get with you guys and prospect some.Just own the basic equitment at present but plan on someday getting a small dredge system.Wish I could take my Whites mxt down there and look around some.I hunt alot down there so i know where alot of creeks are that is on forest land.Found some other old mines while hunting in the area besides the Russell mine.Give me a shout when you want some company and i'll load up..lol Doug, 336 685 0656
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As I understand the sitution, we can still pan the two creeks running near the Russell. I am working on getting access to the same creek across the road from the parking area for the Russell. I am not sure of the name of the creek that you cross to get to the Russell, but the one further downstream that flows into that one is the Crow and there has been some good gold taken from both streams.