Did you know that gold country is a region that spans more than 100 miles along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range? In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's sawmill along the American River. Word quickly spread to the east with tales of easy riches just waiting to be pluckedoff the ground. This prompted a massive and expedient migration to the west in what is now known as the '1849 Gold Rush'. Very few gained the wealth that was expected and instead found hardship and struggle in the many shanty towns that popped up along the Sierra foothills. After most of the gold was panned, sluiced, mined and stripped from the hills, many of these '49ers' either returned back home or headed to San Francisco, California for city life and stable income.Today, Gold Country follows Highway 49 from Nevada City in the north all the way down south of Yosemite. Many of the original mining camps remain as historic towns like Grass Valley, Auburn, Placerville, Jackson, Angels Camp, Jamestown and many more. All of these towns feature original Victorian homes, historic hotels, and a plethora of historic sites. In addition, not only does Gold Country retain a rich gold-mining past, but it also offers many other attractions including recreational lakes, natural caverns, giant sequoias, Native-American sites, wineries and Gold mining adventures in California.
Visitors can join a Guided gold mining tours in California and actually enter the mine for an eye-opening glimpse into the life of an 1800's miner. Visit Cousin Jack's Pasties in Grass Valley for a taste of traditional miner fare. The Holbrooke Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in the region and is a Registered Historic Landmark. Just a short distant south on Highway 49 lands you in Auburn State Recreation Area where there is a picturesque bridge over the American River and great opportunities for hiking, swimming, whitewater rafting, gold panning, fishing, camping and much more.
InMokulmne River Canyon,you'll find Roaring Camp Mining Co. There you'll find a gold mine operation along the MokulmneRiver. Further south, where Highway 49 intersects Highway 50, is Placerville. Originally known as 'Hangtown', it was renamed Placerville to honor the gold panners that were referred to as 'placer miners' back in the day. Step into an original Gold Country gold mine and try your hand at gold panning. Visit a local winery or head up Highway 50 to Apple Hill for some country-fresh produce and homemade apple pie.
Visit the Kennedy Mine for a view of a large-scale mining operation. Several recreational lakes are just west of Jackson and offer opportunities for boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing, camping and more. Head up Highway 88 to Indian Grinding Rocks State Historic Park to see the largest Indian mortar rock in all of North America. Join a tour that heads deep inside a gold mine at Sutter Gold MineGold Country is our favorite region in California for its history, beauty, accessibility and endless recreational activities. Planning around these times may benefit your overall experience in these towns. The residents of Gold Country are welcoming and eagerly share their knowledge. And gold panning is still available throughout the region and plenty of gold is still being found. Be sure to converse with the local shop owners to get details and tips if you plan on trying your luck.
See what we can do for you at www.roaringcampgold.com.