Shirttail Creek is a feeder creek to the North Fork of the American River. It has good gold in it and there is small portion open to the public for panning and sluicing (the rest is private and claimed up) This area is called the ‘Auburn Recreation area’

 

There’s an interesting story of how Shirttail Creek got it’s name. Back in the year 1849, two miners were prospecting the area and happened to come across another miner panning for gold. He was wearing absolutely nothing in the way of clothing except for a shirt, not overly lengthy. Embarrassed, the newcomers asked the other miner what was the name of the place was. After glancing down at his outfit, he answered, “don’t know any name for it yet, but we might as well call it shirt-tail, as anything else”. Thus, the creek was named. (Excerpted from)

 

Some of my best gold prospecting adventures with family and friends have been at this creek!!! Good memories!

Every year we rent a cabin on private (gold bearing) property and have a blast getting good gold. Below are some photos of those times