The Great Flood of 1862 largely obliterated the placer mining claims along this part of the Trinity River , spurring prospectors to push west , establishing a pack trail to the area around the New River and the South Fork of the Trinity . In fact , the New River was named thusly for being a " new " river to explore for gold . Although the river gold petered out by the 1870s , lode gold was discovered in the 1880s in the mountains above the Trinity River country . Because hard rock mining was required to access the gold bearing veins , new industries such as iron forges and stamp mills prospered in the region
Great Flood of 1862
Great Flood of 1862
Trinity River (California)