The Horseshoe Bend gold placer deposit on the Bridge River is one kilometre southeast of the confluence of the Yalakom and Bridge rivers and was probably worked as early as 1860. Production figures of gold from the Bridge River up to 1902 were included with those recorded for the Fraser River and, consequently, no pre-1902 production figures for the Horseshoe Bend placer are available. Between 1902 and 1945, 31,290 grams of placer gold were recovered from the river (including the Horseshoe Bend placer).

The gravels of the Bridge River at Horseshoe Bend are of four types, as follows: 1) Gravels within the bed of the river. These are poorly sorted with boulders up to several tonnes within finer material. These gravels have been worked in isolated patches. 2) Bank and bench gravels between low water and the river banks. Gold content of these gravels improved at depth but was difficult to reach. 3) Gravel in cliffs which form the present banks of the river. These gravels consist of unconsolidated fluvial gravels interbedded with cemented gravels, or conglomerate. Gold in these gravels is distributed throughout. 4) Gravels of the ancient river channel. Bedrock to these gravels is Shulaps serpentinite and Bridge River slate.