History buffs feel right at home in California’s Gold Rush towns. Boardwalks creak underfoot, and saloons serve sarsaparilla and old tales. Docents in miner’s garb offer gold panning lessons to curious kids.
Quaint shops sell everything from antiques to homemade fudge. Museums recount wild stories of fortune-seekers and boomtown drama. The whole town buzzes with echoes of hope and hustle.
Exploring these towns is like stepping back in time, surrounded by the spirit of adventure that built the West. Each visit uncovers a new story.
On this 7 day road trip we'll explore the historic Gold Rush towns along California's Golden Chain Highway. This itinerary will take you through charming towns, stunning landscapes, and rich history, perfect for a week-long adventure.
We're going to start our road trip in Coloma, the birthplace of the Gold Rush, where James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848.
Plan to stay overnight 1 night in Coloma. We recommend Miners Camp. 24387 Foresthill Road, Foresthill.
The BEAST was in the shop so we wanted someplace simple that had a mining theme to it. Miner's Camp was an excellent place to stay! We loved the kitschy miners decor like a water pump for a kitchen faucet and a weigh scale holding bathroom towels. I will warn you, the 1 bedroom units are pretty small. We wanted a little more room so went with a queen suite.
Not only was the decor really cool, the cabin was very clean and comfortable. There's an outdoor play area for kids and dog park, beautiful yard with a shaded outdoor fireplace and BBQ, free private parking, free WiFi, airport shuttle service. Our price for our cabin suite was $155 for up to 3 adults through booking.com.
Oh...and the place is nice and peaceful, quiet with a great view of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
You'll definitely want to visit Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. The park is located in Coloma on Highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn.
Memorializes the site in Coloma where James Marshall first found gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River, setting off the Gold Rush.
You can easily spend a day here there's so much to see and do: Ebiking, beach, museums, visitors center, fishing, exhibits and programs, family programs, food service and picnic areas, boating, hiking trails.
Parking, restrooms and drinking water are available.
You can also pan for gold! Gold panning is allowed during park hours on the east side of the river across Mount Murphy Bridge. Hands and Pans only! To protect historic resources in the park no other mining equipment is allowed. Park visitors need to provide their own pan from home, or pans can purchased in the Marshall Gold Mercantile in the museum building.
Learn how to pan for gold by taking a 15 minute lesson, then spend the next half hour panning the troughs looking for garnets, fools gold, and real gold flakes! Cost of lesson: $12.
Gold Panning lessons are being offered most days at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm. Please call 530.622.3470 for availability. Public panning is on a first come first serve basis.
Gold panning lessons will NOT be available when the temperature is above 100 degrees.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is pleased to offer visitors guided walking tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily! This is a 45 minute walking tour of the park.
The Gold Discovery Tour tells the story and visits the sites of the Coloma Valley before the discovery of gold by James Marshall. Learn about the events leading up to the discovery, the history of the California Gold Rush and the town of Coloma.
Tours are offered at least twice a day, weather permitting (tours will NOT be given when the temperature is above 95 degrees). Tour cost is $3.00 per adult and $2.00 per child.
Day Use Fees
$10 per car
$9 per car (seniors 62 and older)
Day Use Areas
Day after Labor Day Holiday to October 31st: 8 am - 6 pm
Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend: 8 am-8 pm
Afternoon: Have lunch in downtown Placerville at Old Town Grill. 444 Main St, Placerville.
This is just a little hole in the wall but OMG the food...great burgers, salads and sandwiches and everything is made fresh after you order it at the counter. Be sure to try the garlic fries!
Check out Chef John's Signature Selections too because they change daily.