GOLD COUNTRY

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Sierra County

Sierra Visitor Information:

Sierra County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 206, Loyalton 96118 800/200-4949 916/993-6900

Sierra County Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 206, Loyalton 96118 800/200-4949
916/993-6900

A Downieville and Sierra City Getaway

Amid the forests and rivers of N. California's Gold Country lies Sierra County, ranging in altitude from 1,800 to 8,500 ft. in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. With over 45 mile-high lakes to the nearly 700 miles of trout streams exist historical towns, dating back to the Gold Rush of the 1800's. Settlements that were the heartbeat of a thriving desire to many - the search for gold!

Downieville originated from a few log cabins, and soon grew in size and popularity. Nuggets weighing up to 25 lbs. were discovered in Downieville's Slug Canyon. Today Downieville welcomes visitors to step back in time and enjoy the history of mining days that are so well preserved. The Sierra County Museum (1852) (see above picture) on Main St. is open on weekends and daily in the Summer. A array of mining memorabilia is on display in what was once Downieville's gambling hall. While visiting one can also enjoy the collectibles and antiques of The Ruffled Goose Country Gift Shop. Hertiage Park, on the edge of the N. Fork of the Yuba river offers an setting for gold panning enjoyed by many.

East of Downieville, Sierra City is a mountain town nestled at the base of the beautiful Sierra Buttes. Established in the 1850's, Sierra City is home to the Old Kentucky Mine. This hard rock mine has been fully restored as a historic park with its original machinery still present and intact. This Sierra County Historical Park is open from Memorial Day through September and on weekends through October. It offers tours of the mine and the Stamp mill. The Sierra City Buttes Resort welcomes visitors with a warm atmosphere. Sierra Buttes Inn, open all year, is another example of Sierra City's finest resorts. Getaways in Sierra County offer many wonders of landscape and scenery.

Alleghany Historic Buildings

• Home of the famous Original Sixteen-To-One Mine, Still essentially a “gold camp”, one of the few left in California. Since pay dirt was struck here in 1855, this mining area has produced well over 90 million dollars worth of gold.

Bassett’s Station: Bassett House (1871) Located a few miles east of Sierra City at 49 & Gold Lake Rd. junction. A traditional way station of the Old West. Gateway to the Lakes Basin Region has served as a rest stop and supply station for over 125 years.

Downieville: Historic Buildings & Sites, Limited Lodging, Cafes, Stores, North Fork Yuba River Access, Swimming, Community Park
• Founded in 1849 by Major Downie it is the seat of Sierra County. Originally named “The Forks”. It is located at the convergence of the Downie and Yuba Rivers.
• Downieville Gallows (1857), Located behind the Courthouse
• Downieville Heritage Park
• Mountain Messenger Building (1853)
• Downieville Foundry & Machine Shop (1855)
• Craycroft Building (1850),
• St. Charles Hotel
• Costa’s Grocery Store (1852)
Sierra County Museum (1852), Main St. Open daily 10am-5pm Mem Day-Mid Oct.

Gold Lake Resorts, Campgrounds, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding
Named in 1850 when a miner claimed he had found a lake whose shores were studded with gold nuggets. Largest lake in Sierra County. Ideal for motor boats, waterskiing, and fishing.

Salmon Lakes Two popular and well stocked fishing lakes include wharf and boat launch.
• Gold Lake Pack Station 916/836-0940

Goodyears Bar Historic Area
• Goodyear’s Creek and the N. Fork of the Yuba join at this site in 1849 the Goodyear brothers camped and mined.

Loyalton: Historic Area, Swimming, Museum • Settled in the 1850’s and once called Smithneck, Loyalton today is the largest town in the county and is a cattle and lumber center.
Sierra Valley Museum, Loyalton City Park Open May-Oct 30 Thur-Sun 1-5pm.

Sattley: Located at the eastern slope of the Sierra, Sattley offers remnants of early ranching and logging.
• Turner Barn, visible from the road, is over 100 years old.

Sierra City: Historic Sites & Buildings, Lodging, Campgrounds, Cafes, Stores, Mine Tours, Sierra Buttes, Waterfalls
• First developed as a trading center, gold was discovered here in 1850. 141 pound nugget taken from the Sierra Buttes Mine in 1869. Nestled at the base of the Sierra Buttes.
• Busch Bldg. (1870), Main St.
• Masonic Hall (1863)
• Zerloff Hotel (1885)
• Cemetery (1850)
• Bassett House (1871), Located a few miles east of Sierra City at 49 & Gold Lake Rd. junction.
• Kentucky Mine Stamp Mill & Museum, Summer Concert Series 916/862-1310
• Fire Tower, located in the center of town. Sierra County Historical Park & Museum, 1 mile East on Hwy. 49 10am-5pm Wed-Sun 916/862-1310

Sierraville: Historical Buildings, Hunting, Fishing, Resorts
• Sierra Hot Springs Open all year 916/994-3773
Downieville is central to spectacular areas of northern Gold Country, and ideal access to lake recreation, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, golfing, and winter sports. Tour the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway– take Hwy 49 north from Nevada City, or Hwy 20 to Hwy 80 & 89 east, from Truckee for an unforgettable 170-mile loop through the High Sierra and foothills.
Sierra Hot Springs, Sierraville
In a spectacular setting of 700-acre for bird watching & listening, camping, lodging and hot springs therapy. Sierra Hot Springs has been a destination retreat since the 1850's. The lodge, built in the 1870's by Sheriff Jack Campbell, still greets guests into a rustic, inviting atmosphere with 10 rooms and shared bathrooms down the hall. The Globe Hotel, an historic inn one mile away in Sierraville's downtown, is fully restored with 10 rooms furnished in antiques and in a quiet, comfortable setting. Nearby Tahoe Ski areas, resorts, numerous lakes, rivers and wilderness areas of Sierra & Plumas County are accessible by Hwy 89 & 49. Reno is less than an hour's drive.

Kentucky Mine Stamp Mill & Museum
Sierra County Historic Park & Museum located at the Kentucky Mine, is situated in the heart of Sierra County Gold Country on Hwy 49. The Park and Museum are open Memorial Day through September, Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm and weekends October on, the weather permitting. The Kentucky Consolidated Gold Mining Company was formed in 1853 and worked for one hundred years. Hardrock mining necessitated the construction of a large Stamp Mill in the 1860's run by water power and belting. Tours of the fully restored Stamp Mill are given at 11am, 1pm & 3pm. A small admission charge supports this non-profit facility, and children 12 and under are free of charge. A summer concert series is held each Friday evening from the 4th of July weekend until Labor Day weekend. Picnic facilities are available. Bassett's Station & Gold Lake Rd. are 5 miles north on Hwy 49.

Alleghany Mining Museum
In the high Sierra Range, 16 miles off Hwy 49 is the small town of Alleghany, home of the Original 16 to 1, California's oldest continuous operating gold mine. The Alleghany Mining Museum displays artifacts, gold, and videos on underground hard rock mining, and is open every Tues-Sun., 12-5pm. The museum conducts underground tours venturing as deep as 1100 feet, by reservation only. Authentic Cornish lunch and entrance to the museum is included with the tour. The "Whopper" seen above is often displayed at county fairs and weighs 141 oz.

Fishing
700 miles of well-stocked streams. Rainbow and Eastern Brook trout, 45 mile high lakes.
Lakes Basin Region: Elwell Lakes, Gold Lake, Packer Lake, Salmon and Sardine Lake.

Recreation
Indian Rock Picnic Area: Native people have used this area for at least 4,000 years.
• Located on Hwy 49 between Indian Valley and Goodyear’s Bar.

Loganville: Campground, Located on 49 near Sierra City
Sierra Buttes Recreation Area: Located in the Tahoe National Forest, lakes and streams, fishing, well-marked hiking and horseback trails, snow mobiling and cross country skiing through spectacular mountain country.

Fun in Sierra County

If you are seeking mountain adventure this winter for skiing, snow play, snowshoeing, back country with matchless lake scenery, Downieville is the center of all-season activity. It is the center where the North Yuba meets the Downie River along the roadside and town center, wending its way for miles along State Highway 49. Downieville Museum, allows visitors a close look at the 1849-1850 era, when the town was filling in with miners rushing to the first strikes. The Foundry building in Downieville is from 1855, where machinery was manufactured for mining gold.

Sierra County, home to unlimited natural resources, is divided by the Pacific Crest at the midpoint of the county. Many small communities have settled throughout the surrounding mountains. There is still a famous mining operation still exploring the deep tunnel system below the ground, the Sixteen-To-One Mine, Alleghany.

Loyalton, the county’s only incorporated city, has about a thousand residents. It recently celebrated its centennial in 2001. Awaiting seekers of antiques, good food and an excellent adventure to quiet, lesser traveled roads, this is a part of the high country worth the drive.

Sierra County, due east of Lake Tahoe, is 60 miles from Reno another winter paradise. Accommodations are available throughout the year. Winter stops, including the Little Truckee Summit area located between Sierraville and Truckee on Highway 89 provides six winter trails, restrooms and plenty of parking. From here, groomed trails up to the Gold Lakes Recreation Area are available. There is also excellent skiing on Henness Pass Road east of Highway 89.

The Treasure Mountain Loop in the Little Truckee Summit area provides groomed trails for both snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. Other groomed trails in this area include the Pass Creek Loop, which leads to Jackson Meadows and the Prosser Creek Connection Trail, which travel from the Summit along Prosser Creek downhill into Nevada County.

Gold Panning at Bridgeport near Grass Valley

Call 916/432-2546 for info.

Take Hwy 20 south from Hwy 49 about 10 miles to Pleasant Valley Rd., turn left, travel another 8 miles to Bridgeport Covered Historic Bridge, the longest covered suspension bridge in the world.

Approximately 30 pans are available for loan at the park. This wonderful location on the South Yuba River has traditionally attracted many tourists for swimming, wildflower hunting and recreation. Choose a location along the river within the park to pan, or ask about panning demonstrations.

Here are some simple steps to help develop the right panning techniques:

1. Fill the pan by scooping water and dirt trying to get at the lowest layers below the surface level. Work along the river at the water level or below.

2. Locate a comfortable place to sit or crouch down near the river and fill the pan with water. Using your hands, pull any plant material or rocks out of the pan and discard. Pour off the muddy water and refill the pan, continuing to remove rocks until mostly clear water and fine grained gravel/sand remains.

3. Agitate the water/sand mixture without spilling. You are trying to wash gold flakes/powder loose from the rest of the mixture allowing the gold to settle. The gold along with the "black sand" are heavy and go to the bottom of the pan.

4. After about 10-15 seconds of agitation, reduce movement while you begin to tilt the pan filling and pouring off more water. The gold and black sands will settle into the bottom curve of the pan and allow you to pour off some of the gravel and all of the water. The more you pour off the faster you will get to the black sand and gold, but you may also be loosing gold flakes that have not yet settled.

5. Inspect any dull or bright gold-like nuggets first and remove, then with a plastic bottle, one may remove smaller flakes.

The Secret Room
To keep track of the mine’s 367 underground workings, a place called “The Secret Room”was named for its blacked-out windows. In it, the entire room was filled with a scale model of the mine’s below the surface workings. Few people knew the room existed while the mine was in operation. Today, visitors to the park can see it in the Visitor Center. The model represents five square miles of underground workings. When the visitors go down the actual shaft in the park, they have journeyed only “one inch” on the model. Anything past “two inches” on the model is underwater in the actual mine.

Location-Directions
24 miles north of Auburn, CA on Highway 49 to Empire Street exit in Grass Valley. The park is located in Grass Valley at 10791 East Empire Street.

Recommended Clothing: Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is advised.

Nevada County

Nevada Visitor Information:

Nevada County/Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce 248 Mill St., Grass Valley 95945 530/273-4667

A Nevada City and Grass Valley Getaway

An area rich in historic gold rush memorabilia and the traditional charm of Old West hospitality, Nevada City and Grass Valley reflect the original beauty of legendary days of the past. Nevada City, originally called “Deer Creek Dry Diggins” by its early settlers has many restored buildings, shops, carriage rides and local wineries. Grass Valley's Northstar and Empire Mines were truly the largest producing mines in the west for hard rock gold. True to the appellation “Queen City of the Northern Mines” Nevada City is an active center, including The Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center located on Spring Street which presents many major events for the area. KVMR FM is supported by a crew of volunteers and beams its signal all the way to the Sacramento Valley. The Nevada Theatre built in 1865, the oldest continuous running theatre in California is invariably well attended for theater productions, films and events.

Nevada City: Historic District, Shops, Restaurants. The Queen City of the Northern Mines. A story-book town that holds its place among the historic revival phenomena of the Gold Rush period. Picturesque with Victorian homes. It's streets are erratic miners' trails coming down from the hills.
• Firehouse Museum No.1 214 Main St. 265-5468. Indian and mining era artifacts.
• Searls Historical Library214 Church St. 265-5910. By appointment.
• Miners' Foundry Cultural Center 325 Spring St. 265-5040. Stone building (1856)
• Nevada Theater 401 Broad St. 265-6161. Oldest surviving theater in CA.
• National Hotel 211 Broad St. 265-4551. Oldest running hotel in CA.

Grass Valley: Historic District, Shops, Restaurants. Streets originally built for horse and buggies, are quite narrow. The Empire Mine nearby stands as the areas most profitable mining operation, once visited by great dignitaries.
• Northstar Mining Allison Ranch Rd. & Mc Courtney Rd. 273-4255. Seasonal Museum tours of mining and powerhouse exhibit.
• Grass Valley Museum St. Joseph's Cultural Center, Church & Chapel St. 272-8188.
• Lola Montez Home 248 Mill St. 273-4667.
• Holbrooke Hotel 212 W. Main St. 530/273-1353. Built in 1852, this hotel has lodged many famous visitors.

Bridgeport: Recreation, So. Fork of the Yuba River. Swimming, hiking and fishing. The oldest covered bridge in California, the bridge spans the South Yuba River.

French Corral: Historic buildings. Milton Mining and Water Company and the old Wells Fargo Express office equipped with iron doors still stand. The first long distance hook up for telephone here. North on Hwy 49 from Nevada City.

Graniteville: A severe fire swept through it in 1878, but because hydraulic-mining companies had reservoirs in the mountains above the town, Graniteville was rebuilt. Access to Jackson Meadows and Bowman Lake area.

North Columbia: Historic buildings, Cultural Center. Originally known as Columbia Hill, some older homes still stand.
• Cultural Center - 17894 Tyler Foote Rd. 265-2826.

North Bloomfield: Historic buildings completely renovated as a museum, located where huge hydraulic canyons washed away the soil over 100 years ago. Malakoff Diggins State Pk. - N. Bloomfield, 265-2740. Tours, exhibits of authentic mining town.

North San Juan: Historic buildings. One block of picturesque old buildings and scattered homes is the remnant of a city with boasted a population of several thousand in the 1880's.

Penn Valley: Small hamlet near Lake Wildwood, a popular private resort and residential area. Museum of Ancient Wildwood Business Ctr. 432-3080. Ancient cultures, impressionists, and Modern Art, African, historical art. Daily 10am - 5pm.

Rough and Ready: Historic District, Shops, Restaurants. A small town Rough and Ready was once a busy mining town. After the fires of 1856 and 1859 had all but wiped out the place, only twenty-four houses were left in the town. A few older buildings still stand. The Fippin blacksmith shop, is on the left of the road towards Grass Valley off Hwy 20. Known for its attempted secession from the Union in 1850.

Truckee: Historic District, Shops, Restaurants Many old buildings stand, now housing an active shopping and activity area. Access to Lake Tahoe, north shore. Emigrant Trail Museum Donner Memorial Park, Picnicking, swimming, camping, hiking.

Norden: Cross Country Ski, hiking Off Interstate 80.

Soda Springs: Cross Country Ski, Recreation area. Off Interstate 80.

Boca: Campsites, swimming, fishing and boating. Off Hwy 89.

Bowman Lake: Campsites, swimming, fishing. Hwy 20 near Interstate 80.

Donner Memorial Campsites, swimming, fishing and boating. The Donner Party tragedy occurred during the winter of 1846-1847. Of the eighty-one persons who began the winter at Donner Lake and on Alder Creek, thirty six perished in one of the worst snow storms in thirty years. A tablet was placed on Emigrant Trail by the Historic Landmarks Committee which describes the route then followed.

Western America Skisport - Off I-80., 426-3313 Offers history of skiing exhibits over 100 years. Ski films. Tues-Sun 11am-5pm.

Washington Restaurants, Yuba River access, rafting, kayaks. Situated on the bank of the So. Yuba River. Just outside the town are immense piles of huge granite boulders carried there stone by stone by patient Chinese miners from Gold Rush days.

Nevada County Winter sports
Steephollow 8 miles of cross-country ski trails from easy to moderate difficulty. Moderate slopes and elevation near 5,000 feet. The trailhead is at Alpha Omega Rest Stop -17 miles east of Nevada City.

Yuba Gap Sno-Park: Access to marked cross-country ski trails. Snowmobile tours are available. Access on the Yuba Gap exit from Interstate 80.

Cisco Grove Sno-Park: Snowmobile trails. Also available is a small snow play. Access on the Cisco Grove exit from Interstate 80.

Big Bend: Snow play, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Trails aren’t marked; use Cisco Grove and Soda Springs topographic maps for reference. Easy to moderately difficult, elevations from 5,700 feet to 7,000 feet. Access from Big Bend exit off Interstate 80; trailhead is approximately a half-mile from the exit on Hampshire Rocks Road.

Donner Summit: Sno-Park Cross-country ski area. No snow play is available. Access is through the Castle Peak exit from Interstate 80, just beyond the Boreal Inn on the south side of the freeway.

Donner Lake: Sno-Park Marked ski trails to Donner Lake and Donner Party Historic Sites. No sledding or snowmobiles. Access is on Donner Lake exit from Interstate 80, on Donner Pass Road south of the freeway.
Prosser OHV Trailhead: Numerous unmarked routes for snowmobilers going through the Prosser Hill area. Gently rolling, at 6,000 feet. Access is off Highway 89 four miles north of Truckee.

Downhill skiing at Donner Summit: Boreal with its two triple-chair, seven double-chair and one quad chair lifts. Beginners, intermediate, advanced. Soda Springs Ski Area with its one double-chair and one triple-chair lifts. Beginners, intermediate advanced. Snow Bowl at Norden with its four double chair, one gondola, one access chair and two quad chair lifts. Beginners, intermediate, advanced.

Nevada County Water Sports
Bowman Lake: A rough but passable road leading to camping, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and biking. Lakes and creeks with rainbow, brown and redband trout. Fuller Lake is planted with rainbow trout and good for bank fishing; Blue Lake, for fingerling rainbows and browns; and Fordyce Creek, carries small numbers of natural rainbow and brook trout. Access from Highway 20 east of Nevada City.

Bullards Bar Reservoir: Lake is stocked with McCourtney rainbow trout and Kokanee, a landlocked sockeye salmon. Warm-water species include bass, catfish, and sunfish. Access from Highway 49 north of Nevada City, turn west on Marysville Road or Moonshine Rd.

Donner Lake Piers and boat launching facilities. Mackinaw trout and rainbow trout are planted each year. Access from Interstate 80 west of Truckee.

Englebright Reservoir: Waterskiing, fishing and most types of water recreation. Houseboat rentals available, and a private marina is operational. Access off Highway 20 west of Grass Valley on Mooney Flat Road. Near western boundary of Nevada County stocked with rainbow trout, also brown trout. Warm-water fish include largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish and bluegills. Access from Highway 20 west from Grass Valley to Mooney Flat Road.

Grouse Ridge area: Big Island Lake provides lake trout; Round Lake, Mile Lake and Long Lake, are planted with rainbows. Access off Bowman Lake Road, at Highway 20 east of Nevada City.

Jackson Meadows: Access to camping, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and biking. Road connecting to Sierra City near Hwy 89 west of Truckee. Fingerling trout planted. Brown trout up to 14 pounds have been caught. Lake of the Woods is for those seeking large brown trout as well as rainbows. Access to either lake via Henness Pass Road. From Sierra City east of Truckee off Hwy 89.

Lake Spaulding: Boat launching and swimming are available at this lake and nearby Lake Fuller. Access is from Highway 20 near the intersection with Interstate 80 east of Nevada City.

Rollins Reservoir: Rollins Lake Waterskiing, fishing and most types of water recreation. 800 acre lake east of Nevada City and Grass Valley. Boat ramps available. Rainbow and brown trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, with very large catfish and smaller warm-eater varieties including bluegills and sunfish. Access from Highway 174 between Grass Valley and Colfax. Access off Highway 174 between Grass Valley and Colfax.

Scotts Flat Reservoir: Boating, Swimming, Fishing. Boat rentals available with concrete boat launching ramp, and marina in operation. Rainbow and brown trout, smallmouth and large mouth bass and kokanee. Complete boat-launching facilities are available. Access off Highway 20 east of Nevada City.

Whitewater:South Yuba (Washington to Edwards Crossing). This Class III and Class IV whitewater run is a very accessible reach of the South Yuba River. Characterized by gravel bars; with bedrock and a boulder gorge. Access at the Washington Road Bridge just north of Washington.

South Yuba (Edwards Crossing to Purdon Crossing). This section of the So. Yuba River available only when river flows are high (350 cubic feet per second or more). The river is Class II and Class IV whitewater, and is used only by groups of well-skilled boaters. Access at Edwards Crossing on North Bloomfield Road north of Nevada City.

Swimming:Kelcher and Golden Quartz picnic areas. The So. Yuba River provides swimming, season runs July through September. Both picnic areas are upstream on the So. Yuba from Washington; cross the bridge at the north side of Washington and turn right.

Blair Lake This lake in Malakoff Diggins State Park provides swimming July through September. Access via North Bloomfield Rd. north of Nevada City or Tyler Foote Crossing east of North San Juan.

Highway 49's Nevada City/Grass Valley are an hour’s drive from Sacramento or Lake Tahoe. Towns along the Golden Chain invite visitors to take a step back to the days of discovery and California’s 1849 gold rush.

Exploring Grass Valley and Nevada City
The calendar may say 2005, but all around the Northern Sierra Gold Rush towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley it looks, feels and even sounds like the 1850s.

A trend in historical tourism is bringing more visitors to scenic and history-rich Nevada County on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. The peaceful towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley are located just five miles apart, far from the busy interstate highway system, along the northern reaches of Highway 49, the state’s “Golden Chain Highway.”

Here, amid deep green forests at the 2500-foot elevation, visitors can explore quaint villages with fine examples of restored Victorian architecture, museums filled with gold mining, railroad and Donner Party memorabilia, and living history demonstrations where costumed characters step from the past.

Through the years artists and musicians have been drawn to the area and Grass Valley and Nevada City have evolved into a Sierra foothills entertainment center. Arts and culture abound and live music can be found just about every evening. Concerts, festivals, parades, even the second oldest bicycle race in America can be found here every summer.

The area boasts several hotels, including the Holbrooke and National -- two of the state’s oldest -- more than a dozen historic bed and breakfast inns and a number of quality restaurants.

Downtown Historic Districts
Preserved and restored Gold Rush buildings with unique specialty shops and restaurants fill the robust and lively historic districts of each town. Downtown Nevada City, with 93 buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Horsedrawn carriage rides and railroad tours are available in Nevada City. Three wine tasting rooms are offered in each of the towns.

Historical Sites and Activities
Once California’s richest gold mine, the Empire Mine produced an estimated 5.8 million ounces of gold in more than 100 years of operation and is now an 800-acre state park at the edge of Grass Valley. Tours are offered daily with living history days on most weekends. For information, call 530/273-8522. Minutes from the downtown historic districts, visitors will find bounteous opportunities for outdoor recreation, including camping, fishing, golf, hiking and mountain biking.

South Yuba River State Park. The state’s first river corridor park is headquartered at Bridgeport, site of the west’s longest single-span covered bridge. Visitors may take part in tours, bird walks, wildflower walks and living history days with wagon rides, gold panning and demonstrations of Native American crafts. 530/432-2546

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park operated into the mid-1880s. The hydraulic miners at Malakoff Diggins blew away entire hillsides with highly-pressurized water in their quest for gold, leading to erosion and silt in Northern California rivers and the state’s first environmental law. Visitors can tour the diggins, see the 1800s town of North Bloomfield and take part in campfire programs, historic walks and gold panning. 530/265-2740.

The North Star Mining Museum in Grass Valley offers a complete look at hard rock, underground mining history. The Firehouse Museum in Nevada City focuses on several subjects including the Donner Party. The area’s newest museum, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad and Transportation Museum, features local and regional railroad history. On Donner Summit, a scenic 40-minute drive to the east, the Western SkiSport Museum is one of America’s foremost skiing museums.

Grass Valley and Nevada City are located in the Sierra foothills, a one-hour drive northeast of Sacramento via Interstate 80 and State Highway 49.

Time Capsules
Grass Valley’s first settlers arrived in 1848 via the Emigrant Trail over Donner Pass and lingered in a “grassy valley” along Wolf Creek. By 1867, gold-laden Grass Valley had grown into the fifth largest town in California, with a population of 12,000. Today, it is home to about 10,000.

In more than a century of gold mining, Grass Valley became the richest and most important gold mining center in California. The Empire Mine alone produced some $960 million in gold during its 107 years of operation. Today, the Empire Mine is the site of an 800-acre state park.

Grass Valley itself remains a true slice of Americana where mining tradition lives on and hometown merchants do business with a smile and handshake.

Where The Past is Always Present
Nevada City was first incorporated in 1850 and known in its early years as Nevada (Spanish for snow-covered). The city was added after the State of Nevada joined the union in 1864. Delightfully picturesque with its white church steeples, Victorian homes and brick storefronts, Nevada City is among California’s best-preserved towns. It is the county seat of Nevada County, California.

Explore the narrow streets and visit with friendly shopkeepers. Dine in award-winning restaurants, many with outdoor and creekside settings. Enjoy live music at local nightspots and live theatre on three stages.

Rough & Ready
The tiny village of Rough & Ready, seven miles west of Grass Valley, is a state historic landmark that once seceded from the United States. Local folks rebelled against a government-imposed mining tax and on Apr. 7, 1850 voted to form their own constitutional republic. However, The Great Republic of Rough & Ready lasted only until the Fourth of July when Old Glory went up the flagpole and the whole episode became history. But it was not forgotten. Each year on the last Sunday in June, Rough & Ready hosts a unique and fun-filled Secession Day Celebration.

Penn Valley
Penn Valley began as a stage and freight wagon stop on the route between Sacramento and the northern gold country and silver mines of Nevada. The area remains rural, with cattle ranches and vineyards dotting the landscape.

Western Gateway Regional Park and Lake Wildwood, with its lake and championship golf, are nearby. The fire department hosts the Penn Valley Rodeo every April.

Bridgeport
This is the site of what is believed to be the longest single-span covered bridge in the U.S. The 253-foot-long wooden structure was built in 1862 to carry wagons across the South Yuba River. Today the bridge is a centerpiece of a river recreation area operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Popular for swimming and sunning in the summer, the area offers a network of year-around hiking trails and features some of the Sierra foothills’ best wildflowers in the spring. Bridgeport is reached from Grass Valley via westbound Highway 20 and northbound Pleasant Valley Road. It’s a 14-mile drive.

Tahoe-Pacific State Heritage Corridor

Conceived in honor of John Muir's 1868 San Francisco-Yosemite Walk, naturalist John Olmsted has implemented the California Landscapes Trail and the Heritage Necklace, which consists of “beads” of State Reserves, Nature Centers, and Ecological Reserves and includes:

So. Yuba Independence Trail: Hwy 49 6 mi. N. of Nevada City with 4 miles of All-Access Wilderness Trail following an 1859 Gold Canal. Flower and school tours; disability camping. 916/272-3823.

So. Yuba Trail Project - Tahoe Nat. Forest: Hwy 49 6 mi. N. of Purdon Rd. 13 miles between Humbug Creek and Washington connecting 15mi. BLM trail from Purdon Crossing. 916/432-2546.

Foothill Reserve, Little Yuba Powerhouse: 4 miles N. of Hwy 20/Park Bar, Birthplace of PG&E. 80 acre/by appt. 916/BRIDGES.

Bridgeport Bridge / So. Yuba Project: 8 miles N. on Pleasant Valley Rd. from Hwy 20. Longest single span wooden covered bridge. Sierra Gateway Trail and others. 916/432-2546.

Bear Valley / Sierra Discovery Trail: Bowman Lake Rd. 0.3 mi N. from Hwy 20. Open air visitor Center, scenic creek, 2/3 mi. trail, great signage. Old growth Ponderosa Pines. May - Oct 916/386-5164.

Nevada City Bike Classic

by Jamie Bate

Suffering is part of racing the annual Nevada City Bicycle Classic, but visiting the historic town during the annual Father’s Day event is always a pleasure.

Pack hundreds of single-minded Pro-Am bicycle racers, 50+mile-an-hour descents and harrowing hairpin turns into the narrow streets of a historic Gold Rush town and you get the granddaddy of American bicycle racing: The 45th annual Nevada City Classic.
Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong honed their skills and legs on the hilly streets of Nevada City before they conquered the Tour De France. Along with the dynamic duo of American cycling the pedigree of the race is enough to cause any self-respecting bike fan’s pulse to quicken. Tyler Hamilton, Levi Leipheimer, Bob Roll, Chris Carmichael, Andy Hampsten, Alexi Grewal, Eric Heiden, Tony Cruz, Scott Moninger and other cycling luminaries all have agonized on the Classic’s unforgiving circuit.

But even star power has a hard time competing in the event, festivities? and the charm of Nevada City, a California Gold Rush town known as the “Queen of the of the Northern Mines.”

The Classic is one of the oldest Pro/Am bicycle races in the nation. At 154 years, Nevada City is a historic, funky town filled with Victorian homes, eclectic shops, antique stores, superb restaurants and a positive cycling vibe. The two together make for a great event to race or just grab a cold glass of beer or wine and find a shady spot to holler encouragement?along with the thousands of other spectators-as the racers pump up hills and fly down Broad St. fast, and very-fast.

Along with the race’s cycling expo showcasing dozens of cycling manufacturers and a giant inflatable jumping arena for the kids, Nevada City has plenty to offer those adults who may not be as gung-ho about cycling as their significant others. For directions and event or lodging information check out nevadacityclassic.com, or the Nevada?City Chamber of Commerce site at nevadacitychamber.com, or call 800/655-6569 or 530/265-2692.

Treasures of the Gold Country

January 24, 1848, marked James Wilson Marshall’s discovery of gold at a sawmill in Coloma California, sparking the greatest migration in human history. One month after Washington’s official recognition of Marshall’s discovery, in which President Polk acknowledged significant gold finds in California, 8,000 prospectors had flooded the area, determined to seek their fortunes. Before the Gold Rush was over, about a decade later, it is estimated that more than 80,000 intrepid adventurers had arrived from every corner of the world.

During the Gold Rush, Amador produced more gold than any other county in the Mother Lode, and was home to 8 mining camps, most of which ran roughly north to south on what we now know as Highway 49. In the twelve miles between Middlebar and Plymouth, more than 45 mines operated at one time or another, including the famous Kennedy and Argonaut mines which produced more than half the gold mined in the Mother Lode.

With significant wealth flowing through the area, what had been mining camps soon evolved into bustling communities which today are well-preserved historic towns much visited by tourists. Probably the most picturesque of these is Sutter Creek, located in the middle of the county on Highway 49, just north of the Highway 88 interchange and described by Sunset magazine in a January 2004 article as “the best place in California to live.”

Amador County maintains its connections to the mining industry that gave it life with three very different locations that are well worth visiting to obtain a rounded view of the history of the area; the Amador County Museum, the Kennedy Gold Mine, and Sutter Gold Mine.

Located at 225 Church Street in Jackson, the Amador County museum is located in a building which was built as a residence in 1853 by one of the town’s earliest settlers. Besides housing displays on the gold history of the county, the 15-room museum contains collections on early fashions, Chinese Americans and Native Americans. Open 10 am - 4 pm Wednesdays through Sundays, the museum can be reached at 209-223-6386 for group reservations.

Continuously run from 1886 until its closure (due to WWII) in 1942, the Kennedy Mine in Jackson produced approximately $34,280,000.00 worth of gold, and was one of the deepest mines in the world. 1-1/2 hour surface tours of this fascinating, historic mine are given March through October, weekends and holidays. More information can be obtained from their web site at www.kennedygoldmine.com, by calling 209-223-9542 or emailing info@kennedymine.com.

Sutter Gold Mine is a modern hard rock mine located on historic Highway 49 just north of Sutter Creek at the site of several historic mines. These include the Lincoln Mine from which Leland Stanford made his fortune enabling him to found Stanford University and to partner in financing the Central Pacific Railroad. Sutter Gold Mine, although originally developed for gold extraction in the late 1980s is now open exclusively for one hour underground tours for the general public. Visitors board an open topped mine vehicle called a Boss Buggy Shuttle and journey over 1800 feet underground past displays of current and historic mining equipment. Disembarking to traverse through the excavated quartz vein structure of the Mother Lode, visitors learn about gold mining through the ages, the geology of the Gold Country and the uses of gold, from their informative and entertaining guides. Tours are available every day, year round from 9 am to 5 pm daily May through August, and from 10 am to 4 pm daily from September - April. Above ground activities include gold panning, gemstone mining, browsing the Gold Store and watching movies on the history of the Gold Rush in the Gold Theatre. More information can be obtained at www.suttergold.com or by calling 209-736-2708 or toll free 866-762-2837. Group tours and specialized school tours are available by reservation in advance.

For more information on California’s Gold Rush visit:
www.goldrushchronicles.com
or
www.historichwy49.com

Fish Camp & Yosemite

An exciting 4-mile railroad excursion at Yosemite Park’s south gate on State Highway 41. Ride into history where powerful locomotives once hauled massive log trains through the Sierra mountains. The mighty lumberjacks felled the timber and flumes carried lumber to the distant valley below. The Sierra National Forest’s majestic woods provide the backdrop for the narrow gauge journey back in time. Sounds and scenes from the era of steam powered railroad logging come to life at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad south of Yosemite National Park. From 1899 to 1931, the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company operated miles of narrow gauge railroad track. During that time, nearly one and a half billion board feet of lumber were harvested from the forests. Five wood burning Shay locomotives hauled massive log trains to the mill over the extensive rail network.

Today, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a restoration of the old narrow gauge Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company Railroad. A section of the original railbed has been reconstructed using the same techniques used at the turn of the century. Two vintage Shay steam locomotives have been brought in from the Westside Lumber company and restored to provide authentic motive power for the trains.

Shay Number 15 was built in 1913 and weighs 60 tons. Number 10, built in 1928 weighs 83 tons and is the heavest operating narrow guage Shay locomotive today. Railcars once used to provide transportation for logging and track repair crews have been refurbished and are now operated for passenger excursion. Visit Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad in Fish Camp, CA, or call: 559/683-7273.

ADVENTURE DATING - THE ULTIMATE BLIND DATE

Take the now popular concept of speed dating and combine it with a thrilling underground caving expedition complete with 165-foot rope rappel, and you get Sierra Nevada Recreation Corporation (SNRC's) new Adventure Dating experience, the high adrenalin antidote to the Same Old Singles Scene.

“We put this program together to resolve some common problems with traditional blind dating scenarios, and to make it really fun,” says Lisa Boulton, SNRC’s marketing director: With Adventure Dating, you know that everyone who signed up has at least several things in common with you: love of the outdoors, an adventurous spirit, and availability. Also, you get to see potential mates really up close and personal in the challenging Adventure Trip part of the evening. Who's a team player? Who likes to be the center of attention? Who's the prankster? Additionally, in the two speed dating parts of the evening, you get to meet EVERYONE of the opposite sex, not just the people with the confidence to walk up and introduce themselves at a party, not just the people who are initially attracted to you. This broadens the field and allows equal opportunity to impress and be impressed. Finally, at the end of the evening, we discreetly provide each participant with the names and phone numbers of people who had a reciprocal interest in them. That way, there's no guessing - and that's valuable information. The cost is $150 per person and includes 2 speed dating sessions, a professionally guided, highly charged 3-hour caving expedition with the rappel at Moaning Cavern, or the challenging 5-hour Middle Earth Expedition at California Cavern and dinner under the stars. Call 209-736-2708 or toll free 866-762-2837 for more information, or check out www.caverntours.com/AdventureDating.htm for details and pictures. The first Adventure Dating session will take place on June 26, 2004 at Moaning Cavern, and will then be offered about once a month at one of the two loctions.

Applicants must be over age 21, in good health and have no claustrophobia or fear of heights. No experience of caving/rappelling is necessary. Apply via e-mail at: caverns@caverntours.com; provide full name, age, gender, sexual preference, complete contact information and availability for future dates. SNRC has been conducting its popular Adventure Trips in Moaning Cavern since 1984.

Black Chasm Volcano

Volcano is the name of a little Amador County village nestled in the foothills of California’s Gold Country. Once it was a bustling gold mining community with a population of thousands including 24-year old Indiana native, John Doble, who arrived in town on Sunday, June 27, 1852. His journal & correspondence from 1851-1865 are published as “John Doble’s Journal & Letters from the Mines” by Volcano Press www.volcanopress.com. A fascinating, informal look at everyday life in the rough and ready times of early California, the book is delightful and informative. It tells us of Volcano in its earliest days when scuffles at the saloon could be deadly; when working mining claims was tedious and equipment was overpriced and hard to come by.

Volcano has mellowed over time, becoming incredibly picturesque. Nestled in a valley circled by undulating hills covered in oaks and pines, the two remaining hotels offer charming accommodation, gourmet dining and cheerful, friendly bars.

One of those hotels is run by husband and wife team Laurie and Mathew Hedger. Originally housing quarters for 11 miners, the 1880 Volcano Union Inn now offers four delightful, themed rooms to visitors, a full service restaurant, street side bistro, and the Village Tavern specializing in local wines and international beers. Amador County native, Laurie, describes the Hedgers’ purchase of the inn as a serendipitous moment: “Last year, on the day of my retirement from 31 years in the resort business, I was driving through Volcano, which had always been one of my favorite places, when I noticed that the Volcano Union Inn was for sale. On April Fool’s Day we made an offer. Escrow closed on June 8th, and we were open for business in less than a month.” You can contact them by phone at 209-296-7711.

A mile or two outside Volcano, Black Chasm Cavern, National Natural Landmark makes an excellent outing. Originally discovered by Gold Rush miners who made a hair-raising descent into the cave, documented by a local journalist, Black Chasm was little visited until it was purchased by Sierra Nevada Recreation Corporation and opened for public tours.

The cave was named a National Natural Landmark in 1976 by the National Park Service for its outstanding geological significance. Particularly noteworthy are the masses of helictite crystals in areas of the Landmark Room. Unlike stalactites and stalagmites, these formations are not created by dripping water leaving calcite deposits, but by water under pressure pushing through tiny holes in the rock walls. Delicate, 6-sided calcite crystals deposit haphazardly, twisting out from the walls, seemingly defying gravity, looking much like cooked spaghetti growing sideways out of the walls. These formations are very rare and those on display at Black Chasm are incredible.

The cave has only been open to the public since 2001, when Sierra Nevada Recreation and president Steve Fairchild, completed the first phase of their daring engineering feat to build platforms, stairs and walkways suspended 70 feet from the bottom of the Colossal Chamber, while preserving the natural beauty of the cave. Last year, Fairchild saw the completion of his beautiful design for a large visitor center, fulfilling his dreams for this cavern he had long wanted to own and protect. Possible future plans for this site include a climbing wall at the visitor center, and a forest canopy walk, adding to the already popular gemstone mining and nature hike. 45-minute guided tours are offered daily, year round. More information can be obtained from www.caverntours.com or by calling toll free 866-762-2837.

Nearby in Sutter Creek is Sutter Gold Mine, also run by Sierra Nevada Recreation - a modern gold mine in which visitors can spend an hour learning about gold mining and the geology of the Mother Lode. Wearing required hardhats, participants are driven over 1800 feet into the mine in an open topped vehicle called a Boss Buggy Shuttle. The tour continues with a walk through the Comet Zone drift where gold bearing quartz has been excavated and mining equipment is displayed and explained. Above ground visitors can enjoy gemstone mining and gold panning outside, and free movies in the Gold Theatre.

One hour tours at Sutter Gold Mine are available daily, year round. For more information visit their website at www.suttergold.com or call toll free 888-818-7462.

Amador County

Heart of the Mother Lode, sweeps from the rolling foothills to the towering Sierra Nevada Mountains with elevations ranging from 200 to 9,000 feet above sea level.

Amador Visitor Information:

Amador County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 596, Jackson 95642 209/223-0350

Amador City: Historic District & Landmarks, Restaurants, Antique/Specialty Shops
• A mining center in 1848. Smallest incorporated town in the State and settled in 1851, 24 existing buildings in their original state may be seen on an historic walking tour.
• Mine House Inn built in 1867 as headquarters for the Keystone Mine, now an historic Bed and Breakfast (800/MINE-HSE).
• Imperial Hotel, originally built as a mercantile store, opened as an hotel in 1879. Careful restoration with six individually decorated rooms, bar and elegant dining room service welcome guests today.
• Sutter Gold Mine offers mine tours all year. 866/762-2837

Drytown: Historic Sites, Motel, Cafe, Antique Shops
• Old mining town which began in 1848 was nearly destroyed by fire in 1857. Two old buildings still stand, an old store and the Town Hall.
• 1871 Drytown Schoolhouse, now the Community Hall.

Daffodil Hill: Historic Building/Site, Beautiful Vista
• An aging, private historic ranch most of the year, Daffodil Hill becomes “Gold in Bloom” each Spring with over 300,000 bulbs and 300 varieties in a 4 acre garden that began with plantings in 1887. The ranch is open to the public when flowers are in bloom from the end of March through the first three weeks of April. The ranch has been owned by the same family since 1887 and is located on the old Amador-Nevada Wagon Road (Hwy. 88).

Fiddletown: Historic buildings, General Store, Park. First settled in 1849 by a party of Missourians, and aptly named since they were “always fiddling”, This picturesque village’s name was immortalized in Bret Harte’s story, “An Episode of Fiddletown.” “Chew Kee”, a Chinese rammed earth structure built in the 1850’s, was an herb and medicinal shop during the Gold Rush. Intact as museum of Chinese relics and artifacts
• Puriton Home, Main St.
• The Forge
• The Old Chinese Gambling House
• The General Store (1850) is still in operation.

Ione: Historic Buildings, Nearby Recreation Areas
• Fertile Ione Valley with numerous vintage homes, churches, and stores. Lake Camanche: The generous fish stocking program enables the angler, with or without a boat, year-round fishing for trout, catfish, blackbass, crappie and perch. Boat rentals, berthing, and boat ramps are available form either side of this lake, dotted with islands where boat fishers may pull up and try bottom fishing successfully if they find trolling on the slow side. Stocked trout pond, boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, riding, camping. 209/763-5178.

Jackson: Historic buildings, Restaurants, Lodging, Antiques. Amador County seat, Jackson is rich in old buildings reminiscent of the Gold Rush camp of 1848 with over 20 vintage homes visible on a walking tour.
• The National Hotel, State’s oldest hostelry (1862), tavern & restaurant.

Martell: Historic Sites
• Mammoth Kennedy Tailing Wheels used to move mining tailings can be viewed at Kennedy Wheels Park. Picnic facilities. Amador County Museum, an 1859 vintage home, shows Mother Lode memorabilia, operating Kennedy Wheels. Open Wed. - Sun. 10 - 4. 225 Church Street. 209/223-6386.

Pine Grove: Historic Buildings, Camping, Recreation, Lodging Pine Grove Hotel originally built as stage stop.

Indian Grinding Rock State Park: 14881 Pine Grove/Volcano Rd. Pine Grove 209/296-7488
• 135 acres of trails, reconstructed village of the Northern Miwok, and Chaw se Regional Indian Museum. Museum hours are: 11-3 Mon-Fri; 10-4 Sat-Sun. Chaw’se is the native name for the mortar holes in the adjacent limestone outcropping. It is covered with 363 petroglyphs. Nun ge (roundhouse) constructed recently at site is used for meetings and religious activities. Camping available year round, subject to closure during heavy snowfall.

Pioneer: Historic Area, Recreation Area
• Cedar Pencil capital and first of several stage stops leading to El Dorado National Forest.
• Mace Meadows Golf Course
• Cook’s Station

Plymouth: Historic Sites, Restaurants, Lodging, Wineries
• This old mining town was located along the stage route to Sacramento. Plymouth’s rich quartz lodes drew many miners, it remains a busy town today.
• Ming’s Store (1880)
• I.O.O.F. Hall (1877)
• Historic D’Agostini Winery (1856) 10am-5pm Daily except national holidays. Shenandoah Valley Museum at Sobon Estate Winery displays farm furniture and kitchen artifacts, wagon, early spinning tools.

Sutter Creek: Historic Buildings, Inns, Restaurants, Antique Shops
• John A. Sutter was the first to mine this locality in 1848. Quartz gold was discovered here in 1851, and the Central Eureka mine became the best paying mine of the Mother Lode. It remains a thriving mining town. Walking tours and day trips visit over 60 historical places of interest. Knight's Foundry the only water-powered foundry operating in the U.S. since 1873. The Knight Foundry; 81 Eureka Street, Sutter Creek.

Silver Lake: 50 miles east of Jackson and 45 miles south of Lake Tahoe on Hwy 88. Kit Carson Lodge offers Accommodations, Fine Dining, General Store, Art Gallery and Recreation.

Sutter Hill: Historic Site
• Old Eureka Mine gallus frame visible.

Volcano: Historic Sites & Buildings
• Located at the bottom of a deep cup in the mountains, Volcano was famous for its many saloons, dance halls and churches. Today this flavor of the Gold Rush is retained. Rich hydraulic mining district and large mining settlement in the Gold Rush Era.
• Volcano Theatre Co. productions at the Cobblestone Theatre, an historic 1857 stone building.
• St. George Hotel, a National Historic Registry Place, built in 1862 was tallest and most elegant hotel existing in the Mother Lode.
• Stone Brewery, 1856.

Pardee Reservoir Recreation Area Warm water fishing in reservoir, trout stocked weekly in season. Fishing, boating, swimming in pool, bicycling, picnicking, riding, and camping.

New Melones Lake: Marina Rental houseboats, fishing, recreation area home to eagle, heron, cormorant and grebe and hundreds of species of wildlife.

Lake Camanche: The generous fish stocking program enables the angler, with or without a boat, year-round fishing for trout, catfish, blackbass, crappie and perch. Boat rentals, berthing, and boat ramps are available form either side of this lake, dotted with islands where boat fishers may pull up and try bottom fishing successfully if they find trolling on the slow side. Stocked trout pond, boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, riding, camping.

New Hogan Lake: Over 4,000 surface acres, includes marina, water skiing, fishing, developed, primitive and boat-in campsites. Camping w/189 developed sites, and 30 boat-in campsites. Year-round fishing for stripers, bass, crappies, bluegill and catfish. “River of Skulls” hiking trail is located below the dam at the Monte Vista Recreation Area. Monte Vista is also the staging area for an eight mile equestrian trail. Valley Springs 209/772-1462.

Calaveras County

Calaveras Visitor Information:

Calaveras Lodging and Visitor Assoc./Gold Country Visitors Assoc. P.O. Box 637, Angels Camp 95222 800/225-3764

Angels Camp: Historic Buildings, Restaurants, Lodges, Rafting
Founded in 1849 by George Angel. Home of the Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. From here Mark Twain’s frog story leaped to worldwide fame, and Bret Harte wrote, “The Luck of Roaring Camp.”
• Altaville Grammar School (1859) Hwy 49
• Utica Mansion & Utica Mine
• Carson Hill Largest gold nugget in the western hemisphere found here -195 lbs.
Angels Camp Museum exhibits steam tractor engines, blacksmith and foundry, working model of stamp mill, mining equipment, huge Overshot Water Wheel on its original site, a large carriage house with 25 carriages and carts. A rock hounds delight. 753 S. Main St. (Hwy 49), 209/736-2963.

Arnold: Hiking, Camping, Winter Snowshoeing, Cross-country Skiing, Fishing, Swimming
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Hwy 4, 3 miles NE of Arnold. 209/795-2334. Giant Sequoia trees reach up to 325' in height with trunks twice the size of coast redwoods. Open all year, 8 miles of trails and 129 campsites. Reservations: 800/444-PARK.

Avery: Historic Buildings
• Avery Historic Hotel, built in 1850.

Cave City: California Caverns has been open since 1850 with miles of winding passages, located 10 miles E. of San Andreas off Mountain Ranch Road.

Copperopolis: Several Remaining Historic Buildings, Water Sports in nearby Lk Tulloch
• Copper was discovered here in 1860, and became the principal copper area during the Civil War. Black Bart’s first stage holdup was near here.
• I.O.O.F. Building

Dorrington: Historic Building, Recreation
• Dorrington Hotel built in 1860 was an original coach stop, now a hotel and restaurant.

Douglas Flat: Historic Building
• Location of the Central Hill Channel, an ancient river deposit from which vast quantities of gold have been taken.
• Douglas Flat School

Mokelumne Hill: Historic District, Galleries Historic District, Galleries, Limited Lodging/Restaurants.
• “Mokelumne”, derived from a Miwuk Indian word meaning “people of the village of Mukul”, was one of the principal mining towns in California. Ruins of China Town and landmarks dating from 1851 still remain, including the famous Hotel Léger (reportedly haunted).
• Mokelumne Hill History Society, 8367 E. Center. 209/286-1770 11am - 3pm Sat. & Sun.
• IOOF Hall (1854), Main & Center Sts.
• Courthouse of Calaveras County (1852-1866) and Léger Hotel, Main St.

Murphys: Historic District, Lodging, Galleries, Wineries, Biking, Gold Panning, Recreation, River Rafting, Caverns.
• Brothers Dan and John Murphy found gold here in 1849. Famous notables such as Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, and Black Bart stayed and dined in Murphys Hotel
• Murphys Historic Hotel (Mitchler Hotel, 1855), 457 Main/Algiers Sts. 209/728-3444
• Calimbretti/Chase/Mercer House, 350 Main, built 1860, home to first American Nobel Prize winner, Albert Michelson
• Peter L. Traver Building (1856), Main St.
• Black Bart Theatre Algiers St., 209/728-3956 Mercer Caverns Off Sheepranch Rd., 1 mile from Murphys. 209/728-2101

Paloma: Historic Site
• Mined for Placer gold by 1849, for quartz by 1851, William Gwin, California’s first U.S. senator acquired the land in 1851. Gwin mine produced millions before closing in 1908.

San Andreas: Historic District, Limited Restaurants/Lodges
• In 1848 Mexican settlers named it after St. Andrew. Bandit Joaquin Murietta operated here in 1850’s. Charles Bolton wrote poems to his victims signed PO 8, and known as “Black Bart” was convicted of stage robbery and sentenced in the Courthouse. Today there is a museum and display of his jail cell.
• Gooney’s Saloon 1858, 6 N. Main. Calaveras County Museum and Archives, 30 No. Main St., 10 - 4pm daily except major holidays 209/754-6513. Calaveras County Historical Society, 30 N. Main St., Open weekdays. 209/754-1058.
Pioneer Cemetery, Hwy 12 2mi. west of San Andreas. Headstones often describe the dangers of early mining.

Vallecito: Historic Landmarks, Caverns
• Murphy brothers found gold here in 1849. Named “Little Valley” by Mexican miners. Famous Moaning Caves is nearby
• Vallecito Bell Monument, Church Street & Cemetery Lane.Vallecito
Historic Landmark
The Moaning Caverns offers a popular family attraction that is unusual and beautiful to explore. There are three types of tours and trips. A traditional walking tour takes visitors 165 feet down into the largest public underground room in California. For those who feel a bit more adventuresome Moaning Cavern offers the Rappel, and exciting 165-foot rope descent down the spectacular cavern walls. Professional guides teach you how and then safely send you down. An even more extreme tour includes rappel and spelunking throughout the passages within, recommended for 12 and over. The Caverns also offer Gemstone Mining, gift shop, picnic area, and nature trails.

Valley Springs: Historic Site
• In 1885 the busy terminus of San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada narrow-gauge railroad.

West Point Historic Buildings
• Named by scout Kit Carson in 1844. Historic trading post. West Point Trading Post, Hwy 26 & Main St.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park: Giant Sequoias, lava outcroppings, and scenic canyon on North Fork of Stanislaus River. Guided hikes, campfire talks, camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming, nature trails. Snowshoeing & cross-country skiing in Winter. 4 miles East of Arnold on Hwy 4. 209/795-2334

Ebberts Pass provides excellent recreation, scenic areas and highway. Stansilaus National Forest provides excellent recreation, scenic areas and highway travel.

El Dorado County

El Dorado Visitor Information:

El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce 542 Main St., Placerville 95667 916/621-5885 800/457-6279

Camino: Historic Buildings, Lodging, El Dorado National Forest
• Apple Hill-Historic Agricultural areas, Orchards, Bake Shops, Picnic facilities. P.O. Box 494, Camino 95709 916/644-7692. Open year-round, offering fresh fruits and vegetables and 4 wineries, arts and crafts.
El Dorado National Forest 3070 Camino Hgts. Dr. 916/644-6048 Open year-round.

Coloma: Historic District, Shops, Hiking Trails, South Fork American River Access, Rafting, Walking Tours, Picnic Areas, Hot Air Ballooning
• In 1847 James Marshall built a sawmill to supply John Sutter with lumber for his new agricultural empire projects. It was here at Coloma that Marshall discovered gold on January 24, 1848. The gold discovery site, old mill, artifacts and exhibits may be seen
• Sutter’s Sawmill 49er Gold Rush beginnings may be traced back and relived at the museum and sites of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma. The 240-acre park offers Gold Panning and Living History events, Shops, Whitewater Rafting, Hiking Trails and So. Fork American River Access. Here, in 1847 James Marshall built a sawmill to supply John Sutter with lumber for his new agricultural empire projects. It was his discovery on January 24, 1848 that catapulted the “Golden State” to fame and vast fortunes, creating a Gold Rush 150 years ago, and a new era of prosperity altering the economy of the entire world! Gold Discovery Museum Visitor Center 310 Back St. 916/622-3470 is open daily. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park offers a visitor center and 4 walking tours covering historic sites. An easy half-mile tour of the town of Coloma has over 30 buildings.

Cool: Store & Gas Station
• Originally called “Cave Valley” was sold a few years ago for nearly a “cool” million.
• Boardwalk Shops

Diamond Springs: Historic Sandstone Buildings, Limekilns
• At first a camp site of the old Carson Emigrant Road, and named for its crystal clear waters, is located 3 miles south of Placerville.
• I.O.O.F. Hall (1852)
• Louis LePetit Store (1856)
• Eight Mile House

Georgetown: Historic District, Lodging, Restaurants, Rubicon Trail, El Dorado National Forest, Stumpy Meadows Reservoir, Camping
• Named after George Phipps, was also known as “Growlersburg” because people swore they could hear big nugget growling underground. Millions were taken out of Georgetown mines under what is now the 100 foot wide main street. Many rare plants brought from Scotland in the 1860’s still exist today in gardens and cemetery.
• Buffalo Hill Center
• Historic Main Street
• I.O.O.F. Building Main St.
• Knox House (1864) South side of SR 193
• Georgetown Hotel
• American River Inn, 1899
• Georgetown Pioneer Cemetery, 1850. NW of town, SR 193.

Greenwood: Historic Buildings & Sites
• Originally called Long Valley by the Miwok and Maidu Indians who first settled there. John Greenwood established a trading post in 1849.

Kelsey: Historic Buildings & Sites
• Today a small and remote hamlet
• James Marshall ran his blacksmith shop in this town that once claimed 22 saloons.
• Pioneer Museum and Blacksmith Shop
•Marshall’s Old Grey Eagle Mine
• Siesenop’s Hotel
• Tom Allan’s Saloon • Pioneer Cemetery

Kyburz: Trails, Camping, Lodging
• Kyburz Hotel

Lotus: Historic sites
• Meeks Bay
• Mt. Aukum
• Omo Ranch
• Pacific House Historic sites
• Early settler Adam Lohry, a German tailor had built a general store and personal residence in the 1850’s of red brick. The general store is now Adam’s Red Brick Restaurant (reportedly haunted) is open to the public Friday, Saturday for dinners, Sunday for Brunch. 916/621-4562.

Pilot Hill: Store & Gas Station
• Pilot Hill was named for the large fire beacon which guided wagons up from the valley
• Bayley House, 1862

Placerville: Historic District, Shops, Restaurants, Lodging, American River Access, Orchards, Ranches, Vineyards
• Became known as “Hangtown” when the first hanging in the Mother Lode was carried out in 1849. In 1854 this third largest town in California was renamed Placerville, and became the county seat in 1857. Western terminus for the Overland trail, and the Placerville-Carson Road (now Hwy.50). Today Main street alone has 40 buildings of historic interest. Gold Bug Mine located in a 61-acre park offers self-guided tours of mine tunnels.
• Bell Tower Main St.
• City Hall (1860) 487-489 Main St.
• Old Town Center 413-423 Main St.
• Snowshoe Thompson Statue Sacramento & Main Sts.
• Cary House (Raffle’s Hotel) 300 Main St.
• Old West Trading Post 320 Main St.
• The Chichester-McKee House (1892) 800 Spring St.
• The Historic Combellack Blair House(1895) 3059 Cedar Ravine El Dorado County Historical Museum 100 Placerville Dr. 916/621-5865 Wed-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm
Fountain & Tallman Soda Factory Museum 524 Main St. 916/626-0773 Fri-Sun Noon-4pm

Pollock Pines: Sly Park Recreation Area
• This beautiful area offers camping, picnicking, hiking, equestrian trails, Jenkinson Lake, fishing and boating Sly Park Recreation Area P.O. Box 577, Pollock Pines, 95726 916/644-2545

Shingle Springs: Historic Site & Buildings
• Shingle Springs still has a well of very cold water that refreshed the travelers on the overland Emigrant Trail.

Somerset: Agricultural Area
• Wine tasting and country B&B's
•South Lake Tahoe Historic Area, Ski, Recreation, Lodges, Restaurants, Campgrounds, Biking and Hiking, Water Sports, Golf Courses, Airport
• Second largest high elevation lake in the world, “Tahoe” the Indian name meaning “Big Water”
• Heavenly Tram 916/541-1330 Open Daily.
• Lake Tahoe Cruises Tahoe Queen 970 Ski Run Blvd, year-round. 916/541-3364, ext.936; 800/238-2463. Desolation Wilderness Area: US Forest Service, 870 Emerald Bay Rd, Ste. 1, South Lake Tahoe. 916/573-2600 Permits required. Lake Tahoe Historical Museum 3058 Hwy 50. Mem. Day - Labor Day, Daily; Winter hours, Sat-Sun 12 pm-4pm. 916/541-5458 Tallac Historic Site: Emerald Bay Rd, Camp Richardson 916/542-ARTS; 573-2600

Parks & Recreation:
El Dorado National Forest: Camino - 586,000 acres. Fishing, boating, river running, swimming, camping and picnic sites, hiking, riding trails, winter skiing and snowmobiling. Open year-round. 916/644-6048
Desolation Wilderness: Both sides of Sierras W of Lake Tahoe within Eldorado National Forest. 130 lakes, streams, camping, hiking, backpacking. 916/544-6420

Crystal Basin Recreational Area
Sly Park Recreational Area: Pollack Pines - Camping, Picnicking, hiking, riding trails, Jenkinson Lake, fishing and boating.Finnon Lake Recreational Area

South Lake Tahoe Year-round recreation: Camping, backpacking, hiking, riding, fishing, swimming, boating, Alpine and Nordic skiing. Lake Tahoe Basin Management, 916/544-6420

Tahoma Emerald Bay State Park: Eagle Falls, Fanette Island, Vikingsholm, hiking, fishing, swimming, camping and picnicking.

D.L. Bliss State Park: Adjacent to Emerald Bay State Park on shore of Lake Tahoe, hiking, swimming, camping, and fishing. 916/525-7277

Sugar Pine Point State Park: Forested western shore of Lake Tahoe, sandy beach and pier. Swimming, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, camping biking.

Echo Summit, South Lake Tahoe, offers downhill skiing, chairlifts, ski shop, rentals, and cafeteria. Groomed and tracked cross-country trails, rolling terrain to mountainous. 916/659-7154

Heavenly Valley at South Lake Tahoe: Downhill skiing, ski lifts, snowmaking, ski shop, rentals, restaurants, tram, cafeterias. 916/541-1330

Madera County

“Wood” in Spanish Madera Visitors Information: Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau P.O. Box 1404, Oakhurst 93644 559/683-INFO (4636)

Ahwahnee: Historic Area, Petroglyphs, Indian Grinding Holes, Golf Course
• Wassama Round House State Historic Park This last remaining round house in the San Joaquin Valley is used by the Miwok for religious ceremony. Open daily 11am-4pm 559/683-8194 or 683-3631.

Bass Lake: Lodging, Restaurants, Theater, Boating, Fishing, Water-Ski, Camping, Hiking
• Forest Service nature program in summer, three marinas.
• Bass Lake Queen. Boat tours at the Pines Resort, 559/642-3121. Bass Lake, officially known as Crane Valley Reservoir, was discovered by the Mariposa Battalion led by Major James D. Savage during the Indian Wars of 1850-1851. In 1895 a small hydraulic plant was built in the canyon of the main San Joaquin River. A larger reservoir was built in Crane Valley in 1905 and work on the present dam started in 1909. Bass were planted in the reservoir, and Bass Lake developed into a popular resort area.

Coarsegold: Historic Area, Gold Panning, High Country Tours
• First known as Texas Flat, this was the largest mining community in the county. With its Gold Rush heritage, Coarsegold is located 30 minutes from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Coarsegold was named after the quality of the gold removed from the creek along Hwy. 41.

Knowles Historic Area
• Frederic Knowles organized the Raymond Granite Company at this site named after him.

Madera: Historic Buildings, Lodging, Restaurants, Antiques,
• In 1876 the town of Madera was established at the terminus of the flume carrying timber from the high mountain sugar pine forests to the Central Pacific Railway.

North Fork: Lodging, restaurants, antiques Beginning of Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway "Hidden Heart of the Sierra", a little known, but popular 100 mile route
• Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, backpacking, bicycling, water skiining, rock climbing and photographic opportunities abound Sierra Mono Indian Museum, Intersection of Rds. 225 & 228 Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Cedars Interpretive Trail One-half mile nature walk that begins at the US Forest Service office and is handicapped accessible.
Oakhurst Historic Area, Lodging, Picnicking, Fishing, Museum, Antiques, Tours
• Gateway to neighboring Yosemite, Oakhurst mining origins can be seen at Fresno Flats Historic Park.

Oakhurst: Gateway to Yosemite National Park's southern entry via Hwy 41. Fresno Flats Historical Museum 1-3pm Tue-Sat; 1-4pm Sun. Fresno Flats Historical Park, School Rd.(Rd.427 off Hwy. 41) 209/683-6570

Raymond Historical Area, Museum
• The railroad bringing supplies to the mines and stores ended in Raymond where shipments were transferred to “freight teams” and pulled the rest of the way into the steep mountains.
• Lodge Hall (1891)
• Raymond General Store (1914)
• Raymond Museum

Water Sports
Bass Lake: At the 3500 foot elevation lies this mountain reservoir with US Forest campgrounds to chalet accommodations. Grocery Store, Cabins, Ice Cream Fountain, and Water Fun, watercraft rentals. Excellent

fishing: Largermouth and smallmouth bass, kokanee salmon, rainbow, cutthroat and golden trout, catfish, crappie, and bluegill (perch).

Mammoth Pool: This major trout lake is located 40 miles east of North Fork on the San Joaquin river. Most fishing is from boats, reports of 20 inch trout, some weighting 2-3 pounds.

Hensley Lake: is located on the Fresno River at low elevation and easy access. Good year-round warm water fishing for bass, blue gill, crappie, and catfish. Trout during winter and spring. Fishing from the bank or boats, camping available.

Mariposa County

Spanish for “butterflies”

Mariposa Visitor Information:

Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 425, Mariposa 95338 209/966-2456 800/208-2434

Col. John Fremont’s developed his rich land holdings and laid out this town naming many streets after his family. The Mariposa butterfly abundantly appears here at certain times of the year.
• Mariposa County Courthouse (1854) 10th & Bullion Sts. 209/966-3222 CA State Mining & Mineral Museum: Hwy 49S at Mariposa County Fairgrounds. 209/742-7625 Mariposa County Museum and History Center: 12th & Jessie Sts. Summer 10am-4pm; Wknds in Winter 209/966-2924

Bear Valley: Historic Buildings & Sites
• 13 miles NW of Mariposa was the site of Fremont’s home and center of his activities.
• Oso Hotel (1850)
• Odd Fellows Hall

Coulterville: Historic Area and Buildings, Lodging, Restaurants
• Originally called “Banderita” (little flag), for the small American flag on George Coulter’s store. Today several gold rush structures still stand as well as the Hangman’s Tree in the old public square.
• Hotel Jeffery (1850)
• “Whistling Billy” Locomotive
• Sun Sun Wo Co. (1851) Chinatown Main St.
• Coulter Hotel • Barrett Blacksmith Shop(1850)
• Bruschi Bros. General Store (1853)
• Canova House(1860)
• El Portal entrance to Yosemite
• Northern Mariposa County History Center (1856) Hwys. 49 & 132 209/878-3015

Fish Camp, only an hour from Fresno, is in close proximity to the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park, and offers excellent lodging accommodations, as well as major attractions such as the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. It once served the area for logging and mining transport operations. A hub for visitors, Fish Camp is known for its crisp streams including Big Creek which flows to the Merced River into Yosemite. The town has over 300 available rooms and is central to biking, horseback riding, hiking and fishing destinations. A Giant Sequoia Redwood stand is nearby, Nelder Grove, and accessible from Hwy 41.

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
High in the Sierra Nevada mountains just south of Yosemite National Park, travelers will thrill to the sights and sounds of steam powered narrow gauge railroading. The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad operates excursion trains through the Sierra national Forest over old tracks once used for logging trains at the turn of the century. Saturdays in the summer, steam whistles, barbecue smoke and old-fashioned music fill the evening air during the Moonlight Special. The Golden Chain Theatre presents the Moonlight Melodrama on selected evenings and afternoons during the summer season. The Station Gift Store and the Sugar Pine Trading Co. Bookstore offer a great selection of gifts, books, souvenirs and collectibles, and the Thornberry Museum, an 1856 homestead cabin houses artifacts from the pioneer days of the Central Sierra. 56001 Yosemite Hwy 41, Fish Camp, CA 93623, 559/683-7273. www.ymsprr.com

Hornitos: Historic Buildings. Hornitos is Spanish for “little ovens”, referring to the dome-shaped rock and mud bake ovens that were used here. It was known as one of the wildest towns in the Mother Lode. Joaquin Murietta frequented the saloons, and the old tunnel at the north end of town served as his escape route. • Hornitos Hotel(1860)
• Fandango Dance Hall, or Campodonica Bldg.
• The Ghirardelli Store(1859)
• St. Catherine’s Catholic Church (1862)
• The Old Hornitos Jail
• Hornitos School (1860)
• Gagliardo’s Store (1854)
• Masonic Lodge (1860)
• Named after Senator Thomas H. Benton whose nickname was “Old Bullion”, Mt. Bullion is located on part of the former Fremont estate.
• Trabucco Store
• Princetown Saloon
• Marre Store
• Remains of the Princeton Mine

Yosemite National Park
Glacial valleys, cliffs, waterfalls, domes, pinnacles, lakes and streams, alpine high country, camping and picnicking, lodging and dining, hiking, backpacking, riding, bicycling trails, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, skiing and winter sports, climbing, interpretive talks, displays, tours. Excellent recreational facilities. Yosemite National Park has an abundance of hiking trails varying in difficulty and length.
• Half Dome hike, a steady grind of 8 miles up almost 5,000 feet (one way), is a must for hikers. Start by dawn, carry a backpack well stocked with food water and rain gear. The last 900 feet up a ladder of steel cables is the most daunting. The exhilarating view is worth it. YNP 209/372-0265. Yosemite’s Winter activities include ice skating at Curry Village, snowcat tours, snowshoe walks, and ranger-guided tours, as well as downhill and cross-country skiing at its best. Badger Pass, located in Yosemite National Park, 209/372-1244: Downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ski rentals, restaurants. The many groomed and set trails offer cross-country skiing for beginner-intermediate. Advanced terrain may be found on the marked trails in Yosemite National Park.
• Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall and Mist Trail hike starts at Happy Isles and climbs to Vernal Falls where rainbows dance in the Falls.
• Four-mile and Panorama Trails travel along spectacular routes form Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point. Trailheads at Happy Isles.
• The Shadow of the Giants Recreational Trail is located within the Nelder Grove Giant Sequoia management area. The trail meanders through these giants with self-guiding stops and information. From Hwy 41 take the Sky Ranch turn and follow the signs about 6 miles to Nelder Grove. Then take the left fork to the Shadow of the Giants Trail.
• The Way of The Mono Trail is a half-mile walk into the past to learn about “the first campers” in this area, the Western Mono Indians. Located at Bass Lake along Road 222 between the Forks Resort and The Bass Lake Visitor Center.
• Lewis Creek National Recreational Trail is a beautiful, peaceful trail following the route of the historical Madera Sugar Pine lumber flume, passing the 80 foot high Corlieu Falls, smaller Red Rock Falls, and over and along Lewis Fork Creek. The 3.5 mile trail is located along Hwy 41, north of Oakhurst and just 5 miles for the South Entrance to Yosemite.
• Willow Creek Trail offers a 2.5 mile moderate to difficult hike past Angel Falls, quiet pools, panoramic views and ends at the McLeod Flat Road. Safety measures need to be observed along extremely slippery rocks and swirling pools. Trailhead is 2 miles west of the Pines turnoff along Road 274.
• Goat Mountain Lookout Trail to the fire lookout travels 4 miles up (moderate to difficult) with great vistas of Sierras and wildlife. The trail has two trailheads, one in the Forks Campground, and the other at the entrance of Spring Cove Campground.
• Peeler Lake, on the divide. Backpacking to Peeler Lake is an 8 mile trip (one way) over a stiff 2,500 foot climb. One camps on top of the range for the lake pours its waters down both sides of the Sierra. Its deep clear waters, clumps of mountain hemlock, lodgepole and whitebark pine set off the white heights of nearby Crown Point. Trailhead is at the end of a paved 13.5 mile road that branches west from US 395 in downtown Bridgeport. For a fee you can park in the campgrounds at road’s end at upper Twin Lake. To get on your trail, follow the Barney Lake signs through the campground. Bridgeport Ranger District, 619/932-7070

High Sierra Camps:
White Wolf : 28 cabins and tent cabins
Tuolumne Meadows: 69 tent cabins
High Sierra Camps: 204 beds in 56 tent cabins
Reservations made by lottery application, accepted Oct. 15 to Nov. 30.
Yosemite Reservations
5410 East Home Ave.
Fresno, CA 93727

Two High Sierra Lodges and Tent Cabins with wood stoves, Breakfast, dinners with amenities provided. 5 High Sierra Camps are situated on a loop trail approximately 8 miles apart to 11,516 feet elevation. Guided and independent hikes. Saddle and pack trips. 209/454-2002.

Wawona: Restored pioneer buildings reached by crossing covered bridge.
• At this site, Galen Clark built a log cabin in 1857 which became known as Clark’s Station. Clark found Mariposa Grove 8 miles from his cabin and became known as “Guardian of the Valley” for his care of Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove.
• Victorian Era Hotel (1876) Yosemite Pioneer History Center Yosemite National Park
Camping, Golf, Lodging, Restaurants, Fishing, Hiking, backpacking, Mountain Climbing School, Cross Country Skiing, Interpretive Talks, Displays, Tours, Rock Climbing, Rafting, Skiing and Winter Sports. Main sites include: Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. John Muir devoted his life to preserving this spectacular national park with its unique glacial valleys, cliffs, waterfalls, and alpine high country. At any time of year stop at Tunnel View for a view of Yosemite Valley. 209/375-6321

Yosemite Concessions:
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 209/372-0264
Lodging Reservations: 209/252-4848
Camping Reservations: 800/452-1111 800/365-2277
Badger Pass Ski Area 209/372-1332
Weather & Road Report 209/372-0200
Badger Pass Ski Condition 209/372-1000

Placer County

Spanish for surface mining.

Placer Visitor Information:

Placer County Visitor Information Center 13460-A Lincoln Way, Auburn 95603 530/887-2111

Auburn: Historic District, Lodging, Restaurants, Antique Shops, North Fork American River Access, Auburn State Recreation Area
• Miners from Auburn, New York named this mining camp which was to become an active center for trading, transportation, and stagecoach robberies during Gold Rush days.
• Placer County Courthouse (1894) now houses a museum 530/885-6900
• The Firehouse (1891)
• The Post Office (1849)
• Joss House, Old Town

Museums:
Bernhard Museum Complex, 291 Auburn-Folsom Rd. 916/889-4156. Built in 1851 originally the Traveler’s Rest Hotel. Includes the residence, winery, and wine processing building, carriage barn. Permanent and seasonal exhibits. Tues - Fri 11 - 3 weekends 12 - 4.

Placer County Museum, 101 Maple St. 916/889-6500. Located on the first floor of the Placer County Courthouse. State -of-the-art exhibit technology brings an overview of the history of Placer County to life. Native American habitat, early mining, transcontinental highway history, sheriff’s office circa. 1915. Tues-Sun. 10 - 4. Gold Country Museum, 1273 High St. Gold Country Fairgrounds 916/889-4134. WPA era facility, originally a display building for mining equipment features exhibits on the “Gold Rush”. Walk-thru mine tunnel, operational stamp mill, gold panning, tent saloon, faro table. Guided tours. 916/889-5600. No. American Indian Annex, 1225 Lincoln Wy. 916/889-6500. Located at City Hall, the Auburn Civic Center, Second Floor, Room 5. Pate Collection of Native American artifacts. Over 400 items from the entire state. Group tours. Weekdays by appointment only.

Clipper Gap: Site of iron ore mining

Colfax: Historic Area, Cafes
• Once a prosperous mining region and trade center, Colfax includes the old site of Illinoistown, first settled in 1849 as Alder Grove.

Dutch Flat: Historic Buildings, Shops, Restaurants
• Once known as Dutch Charlie’s, this old mining town was an important stage stop.
Golden Drift Museum, 32820 Main Street 530/389-2126 Exhibits of area’s “Golden Triangle”, encompassing Dutch Flat, Gold Run, Alta, and Towle. Presentation of hydraulic mining, the rise of the county’s timber industry, the transcontinental railroad and regional heritage.
Tours 530/889-6500.

Emigrant Gap Historic Site: Emigrant gap, an old lumber camp and station on the Central Pacific Railroad, was the site where the old Emigrant Trail went down into Bear Valley.

Foresthill: Mining Area, Historic Buildings
• Forest Hill Church Bell (1860)
• Sites of Bath, Yankee Jim’s, north of Foresthill
Forest Hill Divide Museum, 24601 Harrison St. Leroy Botts Memorial Park 916/367-3988 Historic presentation of Foresthill and Iowa Hill Divides, Geology, Prehistory, Gold Rush, Transportation, Early Business, Recreation and Early Fire Fighting. Room exhibits, circa. 1915, livery stable and blacksmith shop . Tours 916/889-6500.

Gold Run: Several Historic Buildings/Sites
• A good example of early hydraulic mining.

Loomis: Center of 49er Fruit Trail, Orchards

Newcastle: Victorian-era Homesteads
• At the head of Secret Ravine, once a local for extensive placer mining
• Chinatown
• Old Newcastle Market Place.

Ophir: Historic Sites, Orchards, Vineyards
• First known as Spanish Corral, the rich mining town of Ophir was the most populous community in the county in 1852. Today it is the chief quartz mining center in Placer County.

Penryn:
• Griffith Quarry Museum, Corner of Taylor & Rock Springs Rds. 916/663-1836

Rocklin: Historic Sites, Antique Shops
• Home of Sierra College

Roseville: Restaurants, Lodging, Antique Shops
• Farmers Market & Auction
• California State Archives, 201 N. Sunrise Ave. 916/773-3000

Tahoe City:
• At first a lumber center and one of first permanent settlements on the lake, the Tahoe House was erected in 1863 and the Grand Central Hotel followed to accommodate visitors to the area.

Water Sports
American River: gold panning, swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting. Fishing for Trout, Small-mouth Bass, Striped Bass, Steelhead, Shad.

Yuba River: Shad, Steelhead.

Sugar Pine: Swimming, camping.
Hellhole Reservoir and French Meadows: Fishing, boating camping, picnicking

Rollins Lake: swimming, camping and picnicking

Lake Clementine: fishing swimming, camping and picnicking

Folsom State Recreational Area: fishing swimming, camping and picnicking
Bear River Campground gold panning, fishing, swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding.

Parks and Recreation
Tahoe National Forest: approximately 40% of Placer County's total area.
Auburn State Recreation Area: camping, hiking, swimming, sunbathing, boating, rafting, fishing, picnicking. Lake Clementine within recreation area. 916/885-5648
North Lake Tahoe: All year Sierra playground, world renowned resorts, nations largest concentration of ski facilities.
King’s Beach State Recreation Area: Beach, boating, and picnicking on Lake Tahoe.
American River Canyon: Mountain biking and hiking, swimming, whitewater rafting.

Hiking
Pacific Crest Trail: includes over 30 miles in Placer country.
Rubicon Trail - D. L. Bliss State Park, So. Lake Tahoe: The trail runs 4.5 miles along Lake Tahoe’s shore.
Western States Pioneer Express Trail, Folsom State Recreation Area: 34.4 miles, from the Nimbus Overlook at Lake Natoma, along Folsom Lake to the Auburn Fairgrounds, Folsom/Auburn Road. Rolling terrain in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Western States Pioneer Express Trail, Foresthill: 54 miles through Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Tahoe National Forest, crosses over the Sierras Nevada, Granite Chief Wilderness, strenuous terrain.

Winter Sports
Placer County has the largest concentration of Ski areas in the country.
Royal Gorge: Major cross country ski area.
Eagle Mountain Cross-Country Ski Area, Emigrant Gap: Cross-country groomed and tracked trails, meadows to steep hills. Ski shop with rentals, instruction, warming hut, skating, telemark clinics.
Alpine Meadows: offers downhill skiing with chairlifts, snowmaking, ski rentals, restaurants.
• Ski facilities for all abilities. 916/583-4232
Squaw Valley, Olympic Valley: site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Night skiing on weekends, downhill, cross-country, lodges, restaurants and all resort facilities. Ice skating.
• The Squaw Valley Tram from Valley to Granite Chief (2,000 feet). 916/583-6985
Granlibakken, Tahoe City: Surface lifts, rentals, ski school, lodging. Downhill skiing, and cross-country through Page Meadows. 916/583-9896
Tahoe Nordic Ski Center, Tahoe City: Groomed and tracked, additional trails in Tahoe National Forest. Smooth and rolling terrain to steep hills. Rentals including telemark and racing skis, instruction, children’s ski school, snack bar, guided tours including moonlight and gourmet tours.
Homewood, Lake Tahoe: Downhill skiing, ski school with children’s program, cafeteria, snack bars, and lounge. 916/525-7256
Tahoe Ski Bowl, Homewood: Chair lift for downhill skiing, snowmaking, ski school with children’s program cafeteria, rentals.
Northstar-At-Tahoe: Recreation center, lodging, downhill and cross-country skiing, restaurants. Instruction in cross-country including skating techniques, guided tours, and gourmet lunch tours.

Sacramento County

Spanish explorers named the area and river in honor of the Holy Sacrament

Sacramento Visitor Information:

Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau 1421 K Street, Sacramento 95814-3914 916/264-7777

Folsom: Historic District, Lodging, Restaurants, Antique Shops, American River, Lakes
• Named after its founder, gold was found here in 1848. In 1856 the first train west of the Rockies steamed into Folsom, linking mining camps with river boats in Sacramento and igniting Folsom’s gold mining boom. A stroll down Sutter Street will take the visitor back to the Gold Rush Days with many restored buildings and artifacts.
• Lake Natoma
• Historic Powerhouse (1895) & Park Open noon-4pm, Wed-Sat.
• Old Train Depot is an Information Center
• Folsom History Museum (1860), 823 Sutter St. Open Wed-Sun 11am-4pm. 916/985-2707

Sacramento: Historic District, Buildings, Restaurants, State Capital Settled in 1839 by John Sutter as New Helvetia, establishing a frontier outpost and Sutter's Fort completed in 1844. The fort became a center for trade and a natural location for travelers to stop
• State capital established in 1854, capital building completed in 1874.
• Western terminus of Central Pacific Railroad -ground broke in 1863 and completed in Utah in 1869.

State Railroad Museum: 125 I Street Old Town Sacramento 100,000 Sq. Ft. Museum, largest of its kind in No. America. Daily 10am to 5pm. 916/552-5252 EX. 7245.
Sacramento Discovery Museum, Science and Technology 101 I St. Old Sacramento 916/264-7057
State Indian Museum Sacramento, 26th and K streets. 916/324-0971. Daily 10am to 5pm except holidays.
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park Sacramento, 27th and L streets. 916/445-422. Self-guided tours. Daily 10am to 5pm except holidays.
Wells Fargo History Museum Wells Fargo Center, 400 Capitol Mall 916/440-4161.

Recreation
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area Larger Folsom Lake, small and colder Lake Natoma, Sierra foothills, rolling oak woodlands. Boat ramps, sailing and windsurfing, swimming, camping, bicycling, picnicking, marina. 916/988-0205
Bike Trail winds up at Folsom Lake Dam from Discovery Park near the Sacramento River, and follows the American River - over 23 miles. Many exits near Cal Expo, Howe, Hazel streets and CSSU.

Tuolumne County

Tuolumne Visitors Information:

Tuolumne County Visitors Center P.O. Box 4020, Sonora 95370  209/533-4420  800/446-1333

Jamestown:

Historic District, Railroad Museum & Excursions,  Antique Shops, Prospecting 
• Affectionately known as "Jimtown"
• Jamestown lies in the shadow of Table Mountain and has been used as the setting for many Western movies and television 
• Jamestown Hotel(1860)

Railtown 1897

The original offices, station house and shops are sites from 1897 to 1910 including a unique roundhouse.   Transportation of mining and timber products was the primary motivation for the railway, but by 1906 the Jamestown complex was a complete, self-contained railroad facility capable of repairing, and in some cases rebuilding the line's locomotives.

One of Hollywood's most popular feature film and television locations, starting back in the 1920's, there are many props and previous sets lie in stacks in the buildings on the property.  Over 200 movies, television programs and commercials have been filmed in Railtown, including The Unforgiven, Back to the Future III, High Noon, The Virginian, Petticoat Junction and the Wild, Wild, West.   Catch a ride aboard Railtown's steam excursion train and travel from the Sierras to the plains along one of the oldest railroads in the west operated by the California State Railroad Museum now celebrating its historic Centennial this year.  The Park is approximately two hours drive southeast of Sacramento in historic Jamestown, 3 miles south of Sonora, off Hwy 49 & 108.  800/446-1333 or 209/984-3953.

Sonora:

Historic District, Early California Adobe Structures, Lodging, Restaurants, national Forest
• Settled in 1848 by miners from Sonora, Mexico and known as "Queen of the Southern Mines, Sonora is one of the most picturesque and beautiful of all the old mining towns and is the county seat. 
• Gunn House (1850), Washington St. 
• IOOF Hall (1853) 
• St. James Episcopal Church (1859)
• Sierra Repertory Theatre, Mono Way 209/532-3120. Tuolumne County Museum and History Center (1857), 158 W. Bradford St. Open 10am-4pm Mon-Sat.

Tuttletown:

Located about 6 miles west of Sonora. Once a thriving town, little remains of this mining community.  The Little Country store built of stone where mark Twain once traded supplies and only a few households.

Twain Harte:

Resorts, recreation, shopping, lodging.  A retirement and resort community offering golfing, fine restaurants, off Hwy 108 E. of Sonora.

Parks
Stanislaus National Forest.  Western slope of Sierra Nevada, deep river canyons.  Camping, picnicking, hiking, backpacking, riding, swimming, boating, nature study, river rafting, fishing and winter sports.  209/532-3671.

Big Oak Flat:

Historic Buildings, Stores • IOOF Hall(1853)   • Priest Hotel • View of 7 counties

Chinese Camp:

Historic Buildings
• Chinese miners settled this area, site of the “Chinese Tong War.” 1856 
• Wells Fargo Building 
• St. Xavier Catholic Church(1855) 
• Timothy McAdams Store, Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau.  209/984-4636 
• Table Mountain, 40 mile long ancient mudflow hardened to stone 

Columbia: 

Historic Buildings & Sites, Restaurants, Lodging, Camping, Shops, Hiking, Rafting, Stage Rides, Horseback Riding, Nature Trails, Theatre. 
• Authentic bygone mining days still echo in the streets and back alleys of Columbia, the most well-preserved of the 49er towns.  A California State Historic Park with restaurants, lodging, shops, stage rides, horseback riding, nature trails and theatre may be enjoyed any day.   Hiking, camping, rafting, caverns, and Yosemite Nat'l Park access is nearby.  At one time the largest mining camp in the Southern Gold Country, called “The Gem of the Southern Mines” was active with as many as 15,000 people after its Gold Discovery date of March 27th, 1850.  The Columbia Actors Repertory performs in Fallon House Theatre (1860) on Main St.  209/532-4644   A few older buildings include the Wells Fargo Express Building (1858) 
• Columbia Actors Repertory, Fallon House Theatre (1860), Main St.  209/532-4644 
• The City Hotel (1856) 
• Columbia Gazette Office (replica of 1855) & Printing Museum 
• St. Anne’s Catholic Church (1852)   Miwok Heritage Museum, 11175 Damin Rd.  Open daily 10am-5pm.  209/533-8660    Columbia State Historic Park, P.O. Box 151, Columbia  209/532-0150  The most well preserved of 49er mining towns. Businesses include a Blacksmith, pharmacy, hotels, and an authentic Wells Fargo Stage Coach.  Columbia Riding Stable, Columbia State Park  209/532-0663  The Museum (1854 Knapp Building), Main & State Sts. 

Groveland: 

Historic Buildings, Lodging  Located on Hwy 120 in the Sierra Nevada Foothills from Hwy 49 near the Moccasin Creek Fish Hatchery. 23 miles from the main gate at Yosemite the famous National Park.  Recreational activities include Golf, Tennis, Horseback riding, Biking, Fishing, Hunting, Mountain Climbing, White Water Rafting, Hiking, Camping, Swimming and Cross-Country Skiing.