Foresthill Divide
Auburn Waterfalls: Best Waterfall Hikes Near Auburn, California
Auburn is one of the best waterfall areas near Sacramento, but the waterfalls here do not all fit into one convenient category. Some are developed park destinations with viewing decks. Some are natural waterfall hikes in the American River canyon. Some are roadside-style seasonal falls along old Gold Country roads. Others are obscure,...
Sugar Pine Reservoir: A Quiet Outdoor Escape Near Foresthill
Located within the Placer County portion of Tahoe National Forest, Sugar Pine Reservoir sits on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada along the historic Foresthill Divide. Surrounded by pine forest, Sugar Pine Reservoir is the kind of lake that quietly does everything well when it comes to outdoor fun. And “quietly” is the key...
Iowa Hill Road: A thrilling voyage from Colfax to Iowa Hill
Gold Country is well known for its historic mining towns, legendary tales of the Gold Rush and the meager beginnings of some of California’s most prominent figures. But, one thing that’s unknown to most visitors, is the adventure that’s experienced when actually driving on the winding roads that twist, turn and...
Iowa Hill, California: The Gold Rush Town Still Fighting the Ghost Town Label
Iowa Hill is the kind of place that makes you slow down before you even arrive. The road narrows, as you pass through the Auburn State Recreation Area, the rover canyon drops away, and by the time you reach the old Gold Rush town, it feels like you have slipped into a stubborn pocket of …...
Yankee Jims Bridge: A Walk Through Placer County History
At first glance, Yankee Jims Bridge looks like a quiet backcountry crossing suspended above the North Fork American River. But this narrow bridge in Placer County stands on a route with roots deep in California’s Gold Rush era, when the nearby mining camp of Yankee Jim’s helped turn the surrounding canyon into an important...
Big Trees Grove: Placer County’s giant sequoia anomaly
For many visitors, this grove represents a chance to walk amongst some of the oldest trees on the planet. These six sequoias are thought to be between 1000 and 2000 years old. In 1855, a gold prospector by the name of Joe Matlock discovered these trees. By 1892, the U.S. Forest Service began protecting these …...
Michigan Bluff: From gold to Leland Stanford, this town was the envy of its day
This town used to be a booming place that rivaled any other town in Placer County during the gold rush era. In fact, one could make an argument for this town being the best of them all. A few homes, a cemetery, a small store and several historical markers are all that remains of this once prominent …...
The tale of St. Joseph’s Church Bell
The parish decided to raise $3500 for a church bell to be added to St. Joseph. The bell was cast in Sheffield and then delivered to Boston. It would then be shipped around the Horn to San Francisco. By boat, the bell was taken to Sacramento where it was transported via cart with 6 horses to …...
Cemeteries of the Foresthill Divide
If you like taking pictures of old cemeteries then check out the following the next time you visit the Foresthill Divide: Foresthill Protestant Historic Cemetery – The Foresthill cemetery dates back until at least 1858 which is the oldest monument dated in the cemetery. The cemetery was in response to the hard lives and harsh...
Foresthill: Where the gold rush meets quaintness
Founded In 1850, three gentlemen by the names of M. Fannan, James Fannan and R. S. Johnson built an establishment named the Forest House. These 3 traders were presumably heading into the region to look for gold as Yankee Jims, which is 3 miles north-northwest of Foresthill, had already discovered gold in 1849. Later in …...
