It was said that during the 1849 gold rush a man could earn a weeks wages walking along Woods Creek, prying gold out of the cracks in the bed rock with a knife on his way to pick up supplies. The year was 1848, a party of miners led by Benjamin Woods arrived at a creek to be later named after him. Benjamin Woods and his party set up the first gold mining camp in what is now known as Tuolumne County. At Jamestown Gold Panning you can pan for gold where the original Woods Creek miners first stood. Walk in the foot steps of Reverend Woods, James Savage, J.H. Rider and Charles Bassett. Step back in history and dig for gold in the same conditions they did. It is alleged that Grizzly Adams operated a saloon and trading post on the east bank of the creek.

Cross over the old Highway 49 bridge on Harvard Mine Road and see the old foundation to the Harvard Stamp Mill. See the Indian Grinding holes and the old rock walls made by the miners. The instructors are modern day prospectors. Besides being an instructor at the creek, Miner John also makes his living placer mining and hard rock mining. Listen to modern day stories of gold mining as well as tales of the past.

Gold panning, gold sluicing, high-banking for gold.

Gold Panning Only, up to 2 hours with an Instructor; 2, 3 & 5 Hour Gold Panning & Sluicing Packages with an Instructor; High-banking, 3 or 5 Hour Packages; Experienced Miner Packages; Two Day Trips (in the fall & summer, depending on availability, will take clients to various rivers, creeks, or streams)

We can gladly refer you to another business that has better access to the creek. Due to regulations, we are not allowed to change our embankment.

We are regulated by the Department of Fish & Game, so we had better be! We try to keep everything in the riparian habit natural looking.

Well behaved pets welcomed. Must get along with other dogs, children, and adults.