Hooperville

Hooperville is a former gold mining camp that took shape in the 1850s near present-day Fort Jones in Siskiyou County, California. Sitting at an elevation of 3,054 feet, it was one of several small settlements that rose and faded with the fortunes of gold mining in the region.

Visitors today will find the site along Indian Creek Road near Schoolhouse Gap, Fort Jones. What remains is modest but tangible: the stone footings of a stamp mill are the most prominent feature on the landscape, and a handful of old mines survive in the area, though these are on private land and not open to the public.

This is a quiet, off-the-beaten-path destination best suited for history-minded travelers and photographers. Come prepared for a self-guided look at the remnants rather than an interpretive experience — there are no formal facilities here. Summer and early fall offer the most reliable access given the elevation.