Abandoned Gold Mine in Uwharrie National Forest, NC

Abandoned Gold Mine in Uwharrie National Forest, NC

We visited the abandoned Russell Mine, sometimes mistaken for the Coggins Mine, located in the Uwharrie National Forest, near El Dorado in Montgomery County, North Carolina.

During the 1820s and 1830s North Carolina experienced a gold rush, and became the United State’s largest producer of gold until the California rush of 1849. The Russell Mine actually reached its height of production post Civil War. The mine was a surface and underground operation, with numerous excavations, and an underground shaft that extended over 100 feet below the surface. While gold was the primary commodity here, the mine also produced copper, zinc, and iron. Despite this, the Russell Mine was considered only marginally successful and was shut down by the turn of the 20th Century.

There are currently no active commercial gold mines in the Uwharrie Mountains, but there is still gold in them hills!

Visiting the Russell Mine site is not difficult. There is some limited parking along the highway and a somewhat defined path leading to the mine. Please note, however, that there are no signs or official trails. The area is not maintained. There are numerous holes “filled in” with leaves and debris, and walking around the mine site can be dangerous. To see the entire site, you will also need to cross the creek, which could be difficult at times of high water (you can always walk back to the road and cross the highway bridge). Consider this an off trail hike and exercise caution around the site. Thanks for watching!

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39 Comments

  1. ir4ik Yar on August 8, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    You made a very nice and interesting review! I love beautiful wild places!

  2. Bluecollar Backcountry on August 8, 2022 at 5:52 pm

    That’s a cool place to explore but man, I bet that was hard work back then.

  3. Hike Camp on August 8, 2022 at 5:54 pm

    Interesting place… The early version of strip mining… Thanks for the history of the mine… Pretty area.

  4. Courtney Melton on August 8, 2022 at 5:58 pm

    can someone tell me where to find this mine in the Uwharries??

  5. Interstellar 124 on August 8, 2022 at 6:03 pm

    I went out to the coordinates and could not find this part anywhere and I looked really hard lmao so if you could give me any tips that would be great and I would really appreciate it ๐Ÿค™๐Ÿผ

  6. Jeff Meadows Outdoors on August 8, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    Interesting find. Did you guys find any gold? ๐Ÿ˜‰

  7. 577 Jersey Customs Adventures on August 8, 2022 at 6:06 pm

    Looks like they did a ton of surface mining too.. real pretty area.

  8. eric johnson on August 8, 2022 at 6:08 pm

    Sasquatch has been in that mine eating Bojangles ! Itโ€™s Bo time baby

  9. Lori Rober on August 8, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    Wow! Cool video!

  10. MrFullautoak47 on August 8, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    Look like fort nocks is govermint property … or was it …fort Rocks ? ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. uptrail71 on August 8, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    Cool old gold mine area! It would be fun to try panning for gold there.

  12. 12 STONES ADV3NTURES on August 8, 2022 at 6:12 pm

    Hey! Your in my backyard! The deepest vertical pit goes over 300 feet! You missed the rock wall remains of the old stamp mill… Cool video๐Ÿ‘

  13. Allen Oxendine on August 8, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    Thanks for sharing.. The thought of treasure always gets my attention lol.. Full View and Like..

  14. Jonathan Walker on August 8, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    How are the trails for MTB riding?

  15. Randall Robert on August 8, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    Thank you so much for taking the time to share this video. Me a my wife have been suffering through various videos to find a good place to explore and try our luck at panning lol. Have you heard of any other really good places in the Uwharrie national forest that would be a great place to try and pan? any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks again.

  16. A Traveling Addict on August 8, 2022 at 6:15 pm

    Hey! I did that hike too! Loved it. I just completed Reed Mine too. Have you been there? That was a cool place to take a video where the tunnel was going into the mine area and I see it’s still full of water!

  17. potatothorn on August 8, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    super interesting spot thanks for the tour and all the info/ had no idea there was gold in NC!

  18. NKR Fishing and Outdoors on August 8, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    Cool vid dude!!

  19. MCK on August 8, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    way cool ๐Ÿ‘

  20. KrizAkoni on August 8, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    Wonder how much that site yielded…

  21. Crystal Quinn on August 8, 2022 at 6:21 pm

    Where in Uwharrie do you go to find this area?

  22. Virginia Outdoors on August 8, 2022 at 6:23 pm

    Looked like a fun time…thanks for sharing!

  23. Age of Rogerio on August 8, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    Well this was fun ๐Ÿ˜

  24. 577 Jersey Customs Adventures on August 8, 2022 at 6:26 pm

    Dude!!! What a beautiful set of holes!!! Would be nice to find a nugget huh. Wish I could give out history on the mines I visit but the local agencies frown upon us being in them and just want to cover them and destroy history.
    Safe adventures brother!!

  25. Nathan4071 on August 8, 2022 at 6:26 pm

    Interesting place. It would be nice if you could find a speck of gold.

  26. GeoD on August 8, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    Back in the early 1970’s, a friend of mine was exploring an abandoned gold mine, I think it was in Randolph County, not sure about that. But he fell into a hole, he said it was about 10 feet deep and could not get out. He was there about 24 hrs and to his good luck, another explorer passed by and he yelled and the guy got him out.. so be VERY careful!

  27. BluegrassBushcraft on August 8, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    Great video. Interesting little history lesson.
    Thanks for sharing and God bless.

  28. Richard Helit on August 8, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    To cool

  29. Random Adventures 2.0 on August 8, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    New Subscriber and fellow prospector. Great video. ๐Ÿ‘

  30. Adventure Outdoors on August 8, 2022 at 6:39 pm

    I give this 5 out of 5 meows for coolness.

  31. Jim Hayes Hiking on August 8, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    Man what a cool spot! The Uwharries have been on my bucket list for awhile now. I see you had Sniff-N-Daisies with you on this one,Lol.

  32. Wye Explorer on August 8, 2022 at 6:44 pm

    Fascinating history buddy. To think it just stopped. Makes you wonder whether not the gold dried up completely or if there is still some left in there. Thanks for sharing. Mark

  33. Randy Thomas on August 8, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Good vid!

  34. Peakbaggers on August 8, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    Very cool! ….why do the gated mines look the most interesting to me? Maybe some off camera exploring? LOL

  35. Eli Renigar on August 8, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    I love Uwharrie! Where can I find this area? Is it near any of the off-road trails?

  36. Northseeker Adventures on August 8, 2022 at 6:48 pm

    Where do I find the trail head? Does it have a name? Help me out I gotta see this!

  37. Caleb Young on August 8, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    Thatโ€™s pretty cool man. The history of Virginia has always fascinated me. I actually came across a cave a few weeks ago. It was big enough to walk in and It went back about 30 feet. Really enjoyed it my friend and stay safe out there ๐Ÿค™

  38. Flying Squirrel Outdoors on August 8, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    Pretty neat place, sorry you didn’t strike it rich while you were there!

  39. Pertinent Paradigm on August 8, 2022 at 6:51 pm

    Thanks for posting!

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