Tag: Gold Fever Off Road Trail

Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Big Bear offers enthusiasts a thrilling adventure through rugged terrain and scenic landscapes. Nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, this trail beckons with its challenging off-road paths, winding through pine forests and rocky slopes. It’s a haven for off-road vehicles, providing a mix of steep climbs, technical sections, and breathtaking vistas of Big Bear Lake below. Adventurers can expect to navigate through dense woodlands, test their skills on rocky outcrops, and experience the thrill of conquering nature’s obstacles. Whether you’re a novice seeking excitement or a seasoned off-roader craving a new challenge, Gold Fever promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of California’s wilderness.

Two Gun Bill’s Saloon

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Located at stop 3 along the Gold Fever Off Road trail is the supposed location of Two Gun Bill’s Saloon in Holcomb Valley, California. The Gold Fever Off Road Trail is a back country drive by some historical sites in Holcomb Valley, in the San Bernardino Mountains. Holcomb Valley located just west of Big Bear, California is the site of the largest gold rush in Southern California.

The trail head for Two Gun Bill's Saloon along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California
The trail head for Two Gun Bill’s Saloon along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California

Two Gun Bill’s Saloon was a famous saloon, dance hall and bordello which offered a place to relax and unwind in the Holcomb Valley during the gold rush. The saloon exists off the wages from a population of about 2000 people during its hey day. The trailhead starts a very short 100 yard hike to the location of a very large cabin which is known to be occupied as late as the 1930s.

The “white lie” which is explained the Gold Fever Trail self guided auto tour pamphlet, is that the cabin at the destination of this hike is not the actual site of the notorious saloon. The actual site of the saloon is found about 1.5 miles to the west, if the south east corner of the junction of 3N16 and 3N12.

Summary

NameTwo Gun Bill’s Saloon
LocationHolcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3055, -116.8970
Gold Fever Orr Road Trail Marker3

Trail Map

Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill

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Stop number four along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail is Holcomb Valley, is Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill. The Gold Fever Off Road Trail is a back country drive by some historical sites in Holcomb Valley, in the San Bernardino Mountains. Holcomb Valley located just west of Big Bear, California is the site of the largest gold rush in Southern California.

Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill is stop number four on the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, California.
Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill is stop number four on the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, California.

The location marker is the start of a short hike of about 300 yards past mounds of sand and the remains of a water pump. There is nothing remaining of the mill itself.

Located in the “center of activity” was a high piece of ground known as “Chinamen’s Knoll” in Holcomb Valley. Here Tibbetts operated a Pico Steam Engine powered stamp mill. Heavy iron heads rose and fell pulverizing ore from John Bull’s seven mammoth ledges of honeycombed quartz. The sand mound are old tailings from processing of gold ore by the mill.

Grasshopper Quartz Mill Summary

NameJonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill
LocationHolcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3041, -116.8924
Gold Fever Off Road Trail Marker4

Trail Map

References

Gold Mountain Mine – Gold Fever Trail

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Located about 10.8 miles from the start of the Gold Fever Off Road Trail, the Gold Mountain mine is an abandoned mine site which overlooks the town site of Doble and Baldwin Lake.

The remains of Gold Mountain Mine, "Lucky Baldwin Mine" overlook the townsite of Doble and Baldwin Lake.
The remains of Gold Mountain Mine, “Lucky Baldwin Mine” overlook the townsite of Doble and Baldwin Lake.

The mine, also known as the “Lucky Baldwin” Mine was the last major gold discovery in the area. In 1873, Barney and Charley Carter were en route to the Rose Mine, when they camped along the north shore of Baldwin Lake. During this trip, Barney climbed the hill to investigate some “shiny stuff” observed from their camp. This “shiny stuff” proved to be a quartz ledge which is rich in gold ore. They Carter Brothers sold their claim, “Carters Quartz Hill” to Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin for the sum on $30,000.00.

The Gold Mountain Mine
The Gold Mountain Mine

Making his own luck, Baldwin had 180 men working the site and running a 40-stamp mill by 1876. The concrete foundations for this mill are visible just to the west of the mine headframe. The mill is operated up until 1923.

In 1875, William F Holcomb returned to the valley, it is said from curiosity and sentimentality. His return allowed him to witness the collapse of the mining camps. Following the collapse, the gold rush started by Holcomb in 1860 became the largest gold rush in Southern California

Mine Summary

NameGold Mountain Mine
Also known asLucky Baldwin Mine,
Carters Quartz Hill
LocationSan Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3026, -116.8291
Gold Fever Off Road Trail Marker No.12

Gold Mountain Trail Map

Hangman’s Tree – Gold Fever Trail

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The Hangman’s Tree is a point of interest found along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The Hangman's Tree found along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, California
The Hangman’s Tree found along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, California

As miners and prospectors came to seek their fortune, outlaws, claim jumpers, gamblers and other trouble makes followed close behind. In late August, 1861, Holcomb valley is overrun by a group of organized horse thieves from Salt Lake City. The group, known as the Button’s Gang take over was so complete, the simply took over any cabin or settlement and appropriated any supplies and equipment within.

In the first two years since the discovery of Holcomb valley, over 50 murders are committed in the area. “Hell Roaring Johnson” is shot and killed for trying to fix the first election to be hold in the valley. Some outlaws evaded justice, but those not as fortunate found their reward at the Hangman’s Tree.

The tree labelled as the “Hangmans Tree” is not the original tree used in the 1800’s. However, it is commonly mistaken for the famous tree from Holcomb’s history. The remains of the original tree is believed to be located where a stump exists about 100 feet east of the Bellville Cabin.

Point of Interest Summary

NameHangman’s Tree
LocationHolcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3034, -116.8891
Gold Fever Trail Marker5

Hangman’s Tree Trail Map

Arrastres – Gold Fever Trail

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The Arrastres is a point of interest found along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The remains of an Arrastres located in Belleville, San Bernardino, CA
The remains of an Arrastres located in Belleville, San Bernardino, CA

The device is the oldest tool for recovering gold from rock and employed by Mexican miners. The device consists of a low concrete wall surrounding a level flat concrete floor. In the center is a post around which a horizonal beam and pulled by a mule or donkey. Hanging from the beam using chain would be a large boulder which would pulverize gold ore, facilitating gold extraction. This is a very slow process and inefficient process and the team would circle the site for hours while the heavy boulder performed its task. A single pile of ore could take four hours to process.

The Arrastres site in Holcomb Valley is a wonderful example of early gold mining technology locate en situ near the Bellville Townsite. The site is a very short hike (150 feet ) from the one remaining building at the site and well worth the walk. At tone time, it is estimate that over 100 arrastres located within Holbcomb Valley.

Point of Interest Summary

NameArrastres – Point of Interest
LocationGold Fever Off Road Trail, Holcomb Valley
San Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3014, -116.8863
Gold Fever Trail Marker8

Arrastres Trail Map

Resources