Gold Rush Towns
California's Gold Rush Trail
Follow the Gold Rush Trail linked by California Highway 49 to the nearby Gold Rush Towns, all with an 1850's historic atmosphere. Here's a sampling of a few of the towns you might want to visit.
Nevada City
On the National Register of Historic Places and considered to be the prettiest and best-preserved Gold Rush Town in the West (pictured above), with its fantastic foliage in mid-October and November. Their Historic Downtown offers more than 90 brick and wood storefront buildings and Victorian homes, shops, galleries, book stores, fine restaurants, and museums.
Sought after by film makers as a perfect filming location due to the beautiful surrounding rivers, lakes, mountains, vineyards, and wineries, Nevada City is a colorful town with old fashioned charm that you won't soon forget.
Don't miss their Victorian Christmas as the town is transported back in time with closed off streets, gas streetlights providing a warm glow, costumed store merchants, live musical entertainment, and the aroma of roasted chestnuts and hot apple cider.
Located 54 miles from Sacramento and 67 miles from Reno, NV.
Coloma
Now a ghost town, formerly the site where James Marshall first discovered gold in California at Sutter's Mill, starting the California Gold Rush. Only about 300 people now live here, mostly manning the ghost town tours and museums.
Columbia
Frozen in time in an effort to preserve their history, the Columbia State Historic Park offers town tours, living history programs, live theater plays, special attractions, museums, displays, and year round celebratory events.
Downieville
Formerly called The Forks, now a popular mountain biking destination.