The United States Forest Service states that all mining operations including gold panning are illegal along the East Fork ; however , mining and prospecting are a historic relic of California 's heritage , enforcement of the mining laws is infrequent , and gold panning continues along this stretch of the road ( which offers easy access to the river ) . Some of the sites of the area 's mining heritage can be accessed from the road by visiting the site of " Eldoradoville " , a mining town with three stores and six saloons that was established in 1859 and washed away in the flood of January 18 , 1862
flood of January 18 , 1862
Great Flood of 1862
East Fork Road