The Gold of Northern Baja: A History and Travel Guide

Book Synopsis: The Gold of Northern Baja describes regions where gold has been known to occur in the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula. The book provides an interesting history of Baja, from pre-Missionary days up until the modern era, with an emphasis on the discovery and mining of gold in Northern Baja. The book also serves as a useful guide for traveling to the remote areas in the mountains and deserts of Baja where mining activity took place. While this material is written from the perspective of a hobbyist gold-seeker, a desire to dress up like an old hobo and dig in the dirt is not a prerequisite for readers. Nature lovers, extreme hikers, remote campers and off-road enthusiasts can all enjoy exploring the gold districts of Northern Baja, even if their travel gear does not include a gold pan.In addition to telling the history of the gold of Northern Baja, the first part of the book includes chapters on Traveling in Baja, Geology, Prospecting, and Legal and Safety Considerations. The remaining ten chapters are descriptions of the various gold districts of Northern Baja, each chapter covering a separate region. The districts range from the Sierra Juarez near the US border to the Calmalli / El Arco district in the central desert. Ten sketch maps are also included, showing roads, features of interest, and areas of mineralization for each of the gold districts described in the narrative. Also included is a description of the San Roque gold district in the Vizcaino desert northeast of Bahia Asuncion. The San Roque district is in Baja California Sur, but the history and location of this remote forgotten place is an interesting addition to the description of the rest of the gold districts of Northern Baja.Each of the ten chapters includes information about nearby places to stay, both paid campgrounds and motels, as well as information about boondocking (primitive camping) possibilities. Some of the accommodations are well known, for example, motels in Guerrero Negro. Some are so far off the beaten path that they are not described in any other current travel guide. For those who are not comfortable camping alone in isolated areas some suggestions for day trips to explore the old gold districts are included in each chapter. Staying in a paid campground or motel and venturing out on a day trip to have a look around one of the old gold districts can be a fun adventure for those with a suitable high clearance vehicle.