Tag: San Bernardino Mountains

The San Bernardino Mountains, nestled in Southern California, offer a picturesque landscape characterized by dense forests, rugged peaks, and serene alpine lakes. Towering above the Inland Empire, these mountains provide a cool retreat from the region’s warmer climates, with elevations exceeding 11,000 feet at the summit of San Gorgonio Peak, the highest point in Southern California. Popular for outdoor enthusiasts year-round, the area boasts numerous hiking trails, including the famed Pacific Crest Trail, which winds through its scenic valleys and ridges. In winter, visitors flock to resorts like Big Bear Lake for skiing and snowboarding, while summer invites camping, fishing, and boating along its pristine waters. The San Bernardino Mountains embody a natural haven where visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of nature just a short drive from bustling urban centers.

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

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

Gold Fever Off Road Trail

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The Gold Fever Off Road Trail is a back country drive by some historical sites in Holcomb Valley, in the San Bernardino Mountains. The trail departs highway 38 along the western edge of Big Bear Lake, near the discovery center.

The cabin at the Belleville California townsite along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail is not original but moved to the location to represent the style of the structures of the town.
The cabin at the Belleville California townsite is not original but moved to the location to represent the style of the structures of the town.

The trail departs highway 38 along the western edge of Big Bear Lake, near the discovery center. The route follows Polique Canyon Road up the a junction with 3N16 near the Holcomb Valley Ranch. Climbing up about 3.9 miles along Polique Canyon Road, you will pass the first two of ten sites, which are the Holcomb Valley View and Last Chance Placer.

From Last Chance Placer, the trail turns east on to the Holcomb Valley Road, 3N16. Following 3N16 for about one half mile, the trail insects and turns to the left on to Gold Fever Road. Gold Fever Road is a quick side trail from 3N16 and allows access to Two Gun Bills Saloon, Grasshopper Quartz Mill and the Hangman’s Tree. Gold Fever Road again connects to the Holcomb Valley Road and quickly the sites of the Original Gold Diggings, Bellville and Arrastres come into view situated around a large meadow.

From the Bellville townsite, the trail winds around Gold Mountain and drops back down to Big Bear near Baldwin lake. This last leg of the trail brings the sites of Ross’s Grave, Pygmy Cabin, Metzger Mine and Lucky Baldwin Mine into play.

Overall, the gentle tail offers probably the best one day tour of Holcomb Valley. The tour is well defined and markers along the way offer history lessons for the explorer. Our biggest issue with the route, is that two of the locations are not the actual locations that supposed events happened. For example, Two Gun Bill’s Saloon is just an old large cabin site. The actual location of the Saloon is the the southeast corner of 3N16 and 3N12. The could have added this actual site along the route and kept the current site as a large cabin site.

Trail Markers

1Holcomb View Trail3.2 Miles
2Last Chance Placer4.8 Miles
3Two Gun Bill’s Saloon5.8 Miles
4Jonathon Tibbets’ Grasshopper Quartz Mill6.3 Miles
5Hangman’s Tree6.5 Miles
6Original Gold Diggings6.8 Miles
7Belleville7.1 Miles
8Arrastres (Gold Ore Grinders)7.1 Miles
9Ross’ Grave7.3 Miles
10Pygmy Cabin Site7.3 Miles
11Metzger Mines9.0 Miles
12Gold Mountain also known as “Lucky Baldwin” Mine10.8 Miles

Trail Summary

NameGold Fever Off Road Trail
LocationBig Bear, Holcomb Valley
San Bernardino Mountains, California
Latitude, Longitude34.2662, -116.9205
DifficultyEasy, pending conditions
Length11.5 Miles

Gold Fever Off Road Trail Map

Points of Interest

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

Arrastres – Gold Fever Trail

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…
The cabin at the Belleville California townsite is not original but moved to the location to represent the style of the structures of the town.

Belleville California – San Bernardino County Ghost Town

The cabin at the Belleville California townsite is not original but moved to the location to represent the style of the structures of the town.…
The remains of Gold Mountain Mine, "Lucky Baldwin Mine" overlook the townsite of Doble and Baldwin Lake.

Gold Mountain Mine – Gold Fever Trail

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

Hangman’s Tree – Gold Fever Trail

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…
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

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…
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

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…

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