By the next year, the population of Forest had swelled to over a thousand during the California Gold Rush.

The Bald Mountain drift mine was founded in August 1864, and was the largest of its kind in the state at the time.

[2] Today, Forest is primarily a historic ghost town, though there are a few year-round residents.

Old buildings still line its Main Street, including a former general store, saloon and dance hall.

The National Socialist Kindred had its beginnings in Forest before moving to a nearby property on Alleghany Ridge Road between Camptonville and North San Juan.