Sumpter Valley Dredge - Sumpter, Oregon

The industrialization of gold mining in Oregon saw the arrival of "dredges," huge self-contained digging machines that formed their own ponds as they worked their way along the Sumpter Valley. Five stories tall and carrying 72 1-ton buckets that would tear into the earth and drag rock into the dredge for processing, these mining giants operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This particular dredge, located where it stopped in 1954, forms the centerpiece of a wider heritage area.

If you go:
The dredge is open for tours from May to October. The park also offers 1.5 miles of nature trails through the wetlands that have been reclaimed from the gold digging operations. Inhabitants include waterfowl, kingfishers, osprey and beavers.

Phone Numbers:

Oregon Parks and Recreation
+1 (800) 551-6949