History

Pungo Mine & Heritage House Pits

River mile ~28 — GPX C-PUNGO ~RM 28; GoRafting Pungo Camp ~28.23

Mapped at 44.7647, -115.0733.

Pungo Creek Camp (~mile 28, river left) is a culturally sensitive heritage stop: Native American house pits are protected on the upper terrace, and camping is directed to the downstream side of the confluence. Nearby, Eddie Budell and John Mineshaw built the Pungo Mine in the 1930s, following a fluorspar vein several hundred feet into the hillside before abandoning it as uneconomic. Guides still use the camp as an access point to explore the old mine while respecting closed cultural areas.