Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video continues our exploration of a large, “long-shot” abandoned gold mine in the Sierra Nevada, an operation that required substantial infrastructure despite its remote setting. While the underground workings themselves were impressive, the extreme infrastructure required on the surface by the surrounding landscape was equally remarkable.
I don’t believe that I made it entirely clear in the video, but while researching this mine we located a historical photograph showing a sizable mill operation down by the river, complete with a steep rail tramway descending from above — an ambitious setup given the terrain. Based on this, we believed that we would likely find remains of the rail or of the rail bed leading down to the mill given the size of this system. The search for this rail system leading down to the mill guided much of our activity during this day of exploring.
As we worked our way across the hillside, we followed a bench cut into the slope. At the time, we believed it might have been part of a flume line, but in hindsight it may just as plausibly have served as a rail bed for ore cars — or perhaps began as a flume and was later repurposed for rail. Had we followed it a short distance farther, it may have revealed the steep descent shown in the photograph. Unfortunately, time constraints and a failure at the time to recognize what that bench might have represented (we have followed too many flume lines along canyon walls for many miles and thought this was the same) forced us to turn back before we could confirm it and we ended up never locating the rail tramway seen in the photograph.
As for the mill itself, we believe it is likely gone. The structure shown in the historical image sat close to the river, and over the last century the canyon has experienced powerful flooding events. Despite careful searching, we found no obvious remains of heavy machinery or mill components in the riverbed or along its banks.
This video also marks our first time meeting and exploring alongside Kenner Underground, and it was a pleasure to finally meet and explore together. Be sure to check out his channel here:
youtube.com/@Kennerunderground
While many questions remain unanswered, each trip adds another piece to the puzzle — and even when the physical evidence is gone, the landscape still tells a story for those willing to look closely.
*****
You can view the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
*****
Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help with the many costs of exploring these abandoned mines. Thanks to their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. If you’d like to contribute, you can find me under TVR Exploring on Patreon. Thanks for watching!
*****
Growing up in California’s Gold Rush Country made it easy to take all the history around us for granted. But abandoned mines face many threats—nature, vandals, scrappers, and government agencies. The prospectors and miners who once roamed these mountains and worked deep underground are fading into history as well.
That reality inspired us to start documenting as many ghost towns and abandoned mines as we can—before this colorful piece of our past is lost forever. I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
This video continues our exploration of a large, “long-shot” abandoned gold mine in the Sierra Nevada, an operation that required substantial infrastructure despite its remote setting. While the underground workings themselves were impressive, the extreme infrastructure required on the surface by the surrounding landscape was equally remarkable.
I don’t believe that I made it entirely clear in the video, but while researching this mine we located a historical photograph showing a sizable mill operation down by the river, complete with a steep rail tramway descending from above — an ambitious setup given the terrain. Based on this, we believed that we would likely find remains of the rail or of the rail bed leading down to the mill given the size of this system. The search for this rail system leading down to the mill guided much of our activity during this day of exploring.
As we worked our way across the hillside, we followed a bench cut into the slope. At the time, we believed it might have been part of a flume line, but in hindsight it may just as plausibly have served as a rail bed for ore cars — or perhaps began as a flume and was later repurposed for rail. Had we followed it a short distance farther, it may have revealed the steep descent shown in the photograph. Unfortunately, time constraints and a failure at the time to recognize what that bench might have represented (we have followed too many flume lines along canyon walls for many miles and thought this was the same) forced us to turn back before we could confirm it and we ended up never locating the rail tramway seen in the photograph.
As for the mill itself, we believe it is likely gone. The structure shown in the historical image sat close to the river, and over the last century the canyon has experienced powerful flooding events. Despite careful searching, we found no obvious remains of heavy machinery or mill components in the riverbed or along its banks.
This video also marks our first time meeting and exploring alongside Kenner Underground, and it was a pleasure to finally meet and explore together. Be sure to check out his channel here:
youtube.com/@Kennerunderground
While many questions remain unanswered, each trip adds another piece to the puzzle — and even when the physical evidence is gone, the landscape still tells a story for those willing to look closely.
*****
You can view the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
*****
Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help with the many costs of exploring these abandoned mines. Thanks to their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. If you’d like to contribute, you can find me under TVR Exploring on Patreon. Thanks for watching!
*****
Growing up in California’s Gold Rush Country made it easy to take all the history around us for granted. But abandoned mines face many threats—nature, vandals, scrappers, and government agencies. The prospectors and miners who once roamed these mountains and worked deep underground are fading into history as well.
That reality inspired us to start documenting as many ghost towns and abandoned mines as we can—before this colorful piece of our past is lost forever. I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
