The Gold Country....

The name alone conjures up images of the old west - cowboys and Indians; stagecoaches and steam engines; 49ers and rowdy saloons. The discovery of gold here in 1848 touched off the largest gold rush in history and reminders of those glory days can be found everywhere along historic Highway 49, which runs 321 miles along the Heritage Corridor and links many of the 19th century Mother Lode mining towns. The region extends from the gently undulating Sierra Nevada Foothills in the west, providing a mediterranean climate, to the spectacular mountains of the High Sierra in the east.

Visitors to the Gold Country will be delighted to see that a great deal of our gold rush heritage has been preserved - from restored old mining towns to living history displays and period activities. We offer yesteryear culture in beautiful rural surroundings, fantastic sporting opportunities, and numerous picturesque State Historic Parks. The Gold Country is now also home to charming bed and breakfast inns, quaint hotels, award-winning wineries, fine restaurants, antique shops and art galleries. There are spectacular vistas to enjoy and photograph in the national forests and public lands. There is white water for rafting, lakes for fishing, forests to hike, mountains to bike or ski, wildlife to watch. There are also caverns to explore, golf courses to play and of course, streams in which to pan for gold, where nuggets are still to be found.

Please take a look at our county pages to get an idea of what is offered for your enjoyment in our region, and check back often. This web site is expanding - eventually we hope to provide you with all the information you could possibly need to make planning your visit to the area easy and fun.