Gold Prospecting & Mining | Morongo Basin, CA
Welcome to First Class Miners, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Educational Corporation dedicated to the advancement of placer gold prospecting and mining.
⚠️ Heading into the field? Don’t dig alone without backup. Make sure to log your location and Estimated Time of Return with our Call & Safety Program before you lose cell service.
Grizzly 4
The Grizzly 4 is located in the Ord Mountains. When we have a campout here the campsite is actually not of the claim, instead we camp just only a ½ mile off the pavement. This site allows all members to attend, whether you drive a car, motorhome, etc.; this dry-campsite can accommodate all types of vehicles and campout. Coordinates for the claim are posted in the Member’s Only section.
Rattlesnake Placers Claim
At approximately 5600 foot elevation, the Rattlesnake Placers claim in Rattlesnake Canyon is a summer-time retreat. It is 40 acres in a mountain atmosphere and lovely vistas and respite from the heat. A four wheel drive vehicle is advisable. Due to high fire hazard in this area, no open fires are permitted. Please check with the California Department of Forestry located at: 7105 Valley Dr, Yucca Valley, Ca (760) 365-1111 to find out if fire permits are required for campstoves and BBQ. The Members Only section will identify for you which Rattlesnake Canyon our claim is in, there are several canyons with this popular name. Some members do bring pop-up campers, ones not too tall.
Red Cabin
Our second claim in Rattlesnake Canyon is the RED CABIN Claim. The Discovery Post is at the campsite. This rectangular 140 acre claim butts up to the southern boundary of our other claim in Rattlesnake Canyon (Rattlesnake Placers). As with the original claim, this one is adjacent to the Wilderness and extends south to the boundary of the privately held, fenced off land. This claim has produced many nice nuggets and given our drywashers some really nice gold. As with the Rattlesnake
First Class Claim AKA Humbug
Located east of Twentynine Palms, Ca, in the Dale mining area, the First Class Claim, AKA Humbug claim so nicknamed for the mountain range it is in, is the oldest and original claim. With topography ranging from dry wide washes to steep desert mountains, it is well suited for dry washing, nugget shooting or just relaxing, and enjoying the desert wonders. A four-wheel drive vehicle almost always required. Members do tow small campers to this site.
Lucky Nugget
It is a bit further out in the Dale Mining area than our Humbug claim but well worth the extra effort to reach. Within in its 20 acres, a prospector can choose from dry washing a gully that has produced a 2.5 oz nugget to metal detecting ridge lines that have great potential. For campers, many flat areas exist that are just waiting for a tent or very small pop-up trailer. The only restriction on reaching the claim is that a 4-wheel drive vehicle is required. A few of the washes you must traverse are deep and steep, making long trailers impossible to get there. Before taking a trailer out, it’s advisable to make a trial run.
Middle Camp / Middle Camp West
More remote than Humbug Mountain these two contiguous claims offer many acres of prospecting adventures. Many nice nuggets and lots of great drywashing has been done here. A 4-wheel drive is required, and some members do tow campers to this site. It is a rough road so try it out first.
RRR Claim
In the San Bernardino National Forest about 3 miles from the Rattlesnake Claims. Many nice nuggets and great drywashing gold has been found here prior to our taking this claim over. A 4-wheel drive is advisable but a high clearance 2-wheel drive truck can usually make it.
Morongo Basin
Dedicated to preserving public land access, clean desert prospecting techniques, and historical gold mining education across Southern California.