A Day Trip to the California Gold Country

The Gold Country east of Sacramento is a historic stretch of almost 150 miles with preserved Gold Rush-era towns. This area also offers plenty of outdoor recreation and wine country vineyards. This easy Gold Country day trip from Sacramento includes three places: Black Chasm Cavern, Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, and Volcano. This is a great day trip with kids!

Why visit the Gold Country?

I think this part of California is under appreciated, and I actually prefer coming here over places like Napa Valley because the drive is peaceful and the area is quiet and kid-friendly. If you visit Northern California, you should make time for the Gold Country. 

Gold Country day trip

Black Chasm Cavern:

Start your day trip at the Black Chasm Cavern. This deep limestone cave was made a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1976 because of its rare helictite formations. Helictite is an unusual formation that looks a little like floating gummy worms–unlike the hanging stalactites, helictite grows sideways.

The tour costs $23 per adult and $15 per child ages 4-12. It’s a guided tour that lasts about 50 minutes. My kids absolutely loved it, but be warned that the stairs that take you down into the cave are steep.

After the tour, you can walk part of the Zen Garden trail. It’s not well market but is located across from the Visitor Center parking lot. You can ask about the trail when you buy your tour tickets in the Visitor Center. Unlike the valley, this area, at 2000 feet elevation, is very green and even lush.

Volcano

Next drive just up the road to the tiny town of Volcano. Founded in 1849, this town of about 100 people was at the center of the California Gold Rush. Because the town is smaller than other nearby gold towns, it’s less visited and feels well preserved.

There’s a nice mix of historic buildings and details with modern-day California touches. For example, a wooden plank sidewalk and old stone facade lead into a bakery that serves 21-century goodies like gluten-free bread and bacon chocolate muffins.

  

Tip: If you come with kids, you can bring a picnic (or buy sandwiches, quiche, and other treats at Kneading Dough Bakery just across the street) and have lunch outside at Volcano Park.

This tiny park has picnic tables and rocks for kids to climb and sits next to the old stone amphitheater, where the town still has outdoor theater productions.

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park

Just a little way down one of the small back roads is Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park. Here Miwok Indians once lived and used the large flat rocks to grind acorns from the oak trees. The limestone grinding rocks here date back about 1000 years (!) and are filled with 1,185 mortar holes.

This is the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America and is considered unique because the grinding rocks were decorated with petroglyphs.

The recreated village, roundhouses, and museum of Native American history make this a great stop for any visit to the Gold Country.

 

If you have more time, you can add a visit to the incredibly well preserved Columbia State Historic Park, wine country at the vineyards near Plymouth, Calaveras Big Trees State Park for a walk through sequoia groves, or the cute Gold Rush town of Sutter Creek. You can also head north to visit Apple Hill, Nevada City, and Empire Mine State Historic Park.

What are some of your favorite day trips in Northern California?