Alder Gulch, the narrow valley running west from Virginia City past Nevada City, is where it all started. In May 1863, a prospecting party led by Bill Fairweather made the gold discovery that set off one of the most dramatic rushes in Western history. Within months, thousands of people had poured into the gulch. Gold panning is still possible in parts of the creek in summer — it is genuinely legal on certain public stretches, and small amounts of colour can still be found by anyone patient enough.
The gulch landscape itself tells the story without words. The scoured gravel bars and mounded tailings along the valley floor are the visible remains of both individual pan-work and later hydraulic mining operations. The Short Line train ride between Virginia City and Nevada City crosses over and along the gulch, giving the best overview of the topography. For anyone who wants to try panning, basic equipment is available to borrow or rent from several operators in Virginia City during summer.