Grub Gulch

California wrote the book on ghost towns, from Gold Rush tent cities to Owens Valley farm towns the aqueduct dried up.

Grub Gulch (also, Grubgulch) is a former settlement in Madera County, California. The town's name was earned by its lucky reputation that prospectors could count on panning enough gold to "grubstake themselves into better times." It was located 10.5 miles (17 km) northeast of Raymond on present day Road 600.

The on-the-ground condition of Grub Gulch is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Grub Gulch is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Grub Gulch is roughly 37.3247, -119.7708 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.