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Description:
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The nearly seventy-six thousand acre Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) has had a long history of human use. Native Americans were the first to inhabit the Central Coast Ranges, including Clear Creek. Although there are few archaeological remains from the Indians lengthy occupation of Clear Creek, there is nonetheless widespread evidence of hunting and acorn collection in the oak woodlands of the Management Area.
Beginning in the mid-to-late AD 1800s, the area was extensively mined for cinnabar to process into liquid mercury, or “quicksilver.” The largest mine was New Idria, operating until early AD 1970s. Quicksilver was used to recover gold ore from stamp mills during the California Gold Rush. At one time (around AD 1905) President Teddy Roosevelt incorporated Clear Creek into the Monterey National Forest, and eventually over the years many miles of roads were added to the already extensive mining route network to support the timber industry. Names of roads such as "Sawmill Creek Road" or "Cinnabar Hill" recall these bygone days.
How to get there
From the San Jose area, travel south on Highway 101 to Gilroy. Just past Gilroy, take the Highway 25 exit towards Hollister. Continue through town (Hwy. 25 runs through the town of Hollister) and head south for about 35 miles. You will pass by the Pinnacles National Monument. Turn left onto the Coalinga-Los Gatos Creek County road. Continue approximately 14 miles. At the BLM sign indicating the entrance to the Clear Creek Management Area, turn left. You will then be on the main road, Clear Creek Road, which is an unpaved road bisecting the Management Area. From Coalinga, take the Coalinga-Los Gatos Creek County Road to the turn-off to the Management Area, which will be a right-hand turn.
Clear Creek Management Area Website:
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area.html
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Location
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San Benito and Fresno Counties, CA
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