Bridge at Recreational Area in Petersville

Petersville Recreational Mining area is a great place to do some Panning, Sluicing and Dredging(with permit).  It is in the Foothills of Denali, a very beautiful place.  The Road to Petersville Mining area can be treacherous at times so be aware that you may have to turn around due to snow,mud and/or washouts.  I would not recommend taking a trailer up the road, it is one lane and you don’t know when you might have to back up a mile or two.  The road drops off immediately into a canyon on one sided and a rock wall on the other so no hugging the shoulders.  I have added a map of the Recreational area and a link to the States information on the site.  This is a good area and you can find fairly good gold here,  If anything it is a beautiful trip and alot of fun.

Back when gold companies started commercially processing in Alaska they would bring in these gigantic dredges piece by piece and they would assembled them on site.  Then the dredge would then make its own path down the creek they were processing.  These dredges are the reason you will find large tailing piles in the middle of no where.  This particular dredge is no longer here, the state dismantled it due to people breaking into the fenced in area.  It would have been very dangerous to have been walking around in due to rotten floor boards and other hazards created from having sat for so long out in the elements.