Gold Country

You may have missed your opportunity to strike it rich during the California Gold Rush, but local landmarks, annual celebrations, and history museums in Auburn, Nevada City and Angel’s Camp will take you back.

You can still pan for gold on the rivers that run throughout this region, though fishing, rafting and kayaking are more popular nowadays. Enjoy urban diversions in state capital Sacramento. Escape to the Sierra foothills for outdoor recreation year round.

About the Region

In 1848, gold was discovered in what is now known as Coloma, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. ‘Gold fever’ spread around the world, signalling the beginning of the fabled California Gold Rush. With a year, more than 80,000 ‘49ers flocked to the Gold Country in search of instant wealth. Overnight, new towns and cities appeared, flourished and almost as quickly disappeared, leaving their ghostly relics for modern day travellers to enjoy.

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Today, Highway 49 follows their historic trail through the Gold Country and quaint towns such as Nevada City, Grass Valley, Auburn, Placerville and Sutter Creek. Mark Twain’s Angels Camp, Jackson, Mariposa, Columbia and Senora retain the Old West aura that is so much a part of California’s history. This foothill area offers a wide range of activities, from stagecoach rides and gold panning to the exhilaration of organised rafting on some of America’s purest white water rivers to caving. Tamer pursuits include shopping for antiques to tasting wine.

Sacramento, California’s capital, served as a major supply centre for the ‘49ers. It’s rich heritage is exhibited through architecture and museums such as the restored State Capitol, Sutter’s Fort and Indian Museum, Crocker Art Gallery and Old Sacramento. Now a 28-acre State Historic District, Old Sacramento was the Western terminus of the transcontinental railroad and Pony Express. The preserved historic district offers restaurants and nightclubs, shopping, the Delta King steamboat, train rides and the largest interpretive railroad museum in the country. Sacramento’s latest attraction is the Golden State Museum, which traces California’s history since acheving statehood in 1850.

Activities

	Many of the museums and festivals throughout this region celebrate their Gold Rush past. In the state capital of Sacramento you’ll find collections of Native American, railroad, and aviation artifacts, as well as fine art exhibits. The nearby college town of Davis also has a lively arts scene. Mark Twain fans shouldn’t miss the annual Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee, inspired by the tall tale.
	In the late 1990s and early 2000s the site of the Gold Rush enjoyed a Golf Rush. With the unspoiled Sierra Nevada foothills to build upon, many of the top designers made claim to the Gold Country with a variety of interesting courses. Today, the Great Golf Rush of new courses is over, but the good news for golfers is that they will be enjoying these spectacular tracts for decades to come.
	The rivers where ‘49ers panned for gold provide much of the recreation in this area, including kayaking, whitewater rafting, house boating and fishing. In the surrounding Sierra foothills, you can spend your days mountain biking, caving, hiking and climbing, and your nights camping — or relaxing with a remote in a hotel in one of the area’s many gold rush towns.
	You may not have heard of the wines from Amador, El Dorado, or Calaveras, which makes the delight of discovery all the better. This region is home to more than 20 award-winning wineries. Some of the oldest productive grape vines in California are here in vineyards that survived prohibition, and new ones are popping up all the time. Restaurants reflect the area’s Gold Rush history and proximity to the state’s famously fertile farms, with lots of ethnic diversity and fresh seasonal ingredients.
	Nestled in the foothills of the High Sierra, Gold country offers plenty of opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts. Enjoy the winter versions of the area’s summertime diversions, including cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the area’s many hiking trails, and snow camping. This area offers some of California’s best hunting and snowmobiling.

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