Wolf Creek (Nevada County, California) | |
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Location | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Nevada County |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Banner Mountain |
• location | Sierra Nevada Mountains, California |
• elevation | 3,000 feet (910 m) |
Mouth | Bear River |
• coordinates | 39°02′02″N 121°07′51″W / 39.03393°N 121.13092°W |
• elevation | 1,200 feet (370 m) |
Length | 25 mi (40 km) |
Basin size | 78 sq mi (200 km2) |
Wolf Creek is a waterway in Nevada County, California, US. The creek is 25 miles (40 km) long. The watershed, approximately 78 square miles (200 km2), is heavily mined.[1] Most of the creek is situated in the lower montane zone. Its altitude ranges between 3,000 feet (910 m) (headwaters at Banner Mountain,[2] also known as Banner Hill)[3] to 1,200 feet (370 m) (confluence with the Bear River). Vegetation in the valley varies from alpine pines at higher elevations, to blue pines at mid elevations, and ponderosa pine mixed with evergreen forests at lower elevations. From 1850 to 1950 gold was mined in the rich formations of the Mother Lode in the heart of Banner Mountain.[4][5]