There are basic sites on a sweeping bend of the Middle Fork at the blackberry-dotted Ford’s Bar that are accessible only by a 2-mile hike from Rucky-A-Chucky Falls, or a half-day raft. Required permits for these sites are available from the Auburn State Recreation Area Office.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
10.03 MILES
This state park comprises a fascinating collection of buildings in a bucolic riverside setting at the site of James Marshall's riot-inducing discovery…
El Dorado County Historical Museum
16.21 MILES
On the El Dorado County Fairgrounds west of downtown (exit north on Placerville Dr from Hwy 50), is this complex of restored buildings, mining equipment…
Empire Mine State Historic Park
19.95 MILES
Atop 367 miles of mine shafts tunneling almost a vertical mile beneath the surface, Gold Country’s best-preserved gold-quartz-mining operation is worth a…
27.69 MILES
Cool off with a dip at South Yuba River State Park, which has popular swimming holes and hiking trails. It's near Bridgeport, which has the USA’s longest…
3.14 MILES
This is a park of deep gorges cut by the rushing waters of the North and Middle Forks of the American River, which converge below a bridge on Hwy 49, 4…
23.82 MILES
This small, painstakingly curated museum is run by the Nevada County Historical Society from a unique white wooden building with a tall bell tower. From…
4.12 MILES
The 1st floor of the domed 1898 Placer County Courthouse has Native American artifacts and displays of Auburn’s transportation heritage, including a…
Maidu Museum & Historical Site
17.94 MILES
This museum of tribal history is built on the edge of an ancient Maidu village, where families thrived for over 3000 years. Exhibits of beautiful…
Nearby Gold Country attractions
1. Auburn State Recreation Area
3.14 MILES
This is a park of deep gorges cut by the rushing waters of the North and Middle Forks of the American River, which converge below a bridge on Hwy 49, 4…
4.12 MILES
The 1st floor of the domed 1898 Placer County Courthouse has Native American artifacts and displays of Auburn’s transportation heritage, including a…
4.14 MILES
Toward the back of the fairgrounds, the Gold Country Museum includes a reconstructed mine and gold panning, both great for kids.
4.2 MILES
This museum, built in 1851 as the Traveler’s Rest Hotel, exhibits depictions of typical 19th-century-farm family life. Volunteers in period garb show you…
4.23 MILES
Built by the Yue family in the 1920s, this clapboard residence stands on 'Chinese Hill,' one of many Chinese communities established during the gold rush…
6. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
10.03 MILES
This state park comprises a fascinating collection of buildings in a bucolic riverside setting at the site of James Marshall's riot-inducing discovery…
7. Gold Discovery Museum & Visitor Center
10.25 MILES
Guided walking tours of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park start here.
8. El Dorado County Historical Museum
16.21 MILES
On the El Dorado County Fairgrounds west of downtown (exit north on Placerville Dr from Hwy 50), is this complex of restored buildings, mining equipment…