Chili Gulch

Chili Gulch is a five-mile valley in Calaveras County shaped by extensive placer mining operations during the mid-1800s. The terrain displays visible signs of digging and excavation across the landscape from this intensive period of gold extraction.

Chilean prospectors began working the valley in 1848, and their success soon attracted American miners to the same area. Competition over mining rights and resources led to conflicts that marked a pivotal moment in the region's past.

The area reflects a time when miners from different backgrounds worked side by side in search of gold. Their presence shaped the landscape and left marks that visitors can still observe today.

The landmark is accessible via State Highway 49, which passes through the historic mining region. The terrain is uneven in many areas, so wear sturdy footwear and allow time to explore the various sections at a comfortable pace.

A mine on the southern side of the gulch once produced exceptionally large quartz crystals that became known throughout the mining region. This discovery set the location apart from other mining areas of the time.