These Gold Rush towns are made for a hiking weekend

Within a few hours of Sacramento, the landscape shifts from oak-covered foothills to river canyons to groves of giant sequoias, and Gold Rush towns sit among it all. Those towns make natural bases for a hiking weekend, since a trail is never far from a historic main street and a room for the night.

Coloma, Placerville, Nevada City and Murphys are four of the easiest to build a trip around. Each one pairs a good trail with a town worth exploring once the boots come off.

Coloma

The gold discovery that sparked California’s Gold Rush happened in 1848 at Coloma, about an hour from Sacramento, and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park covers much of the town center. Its Monroe Ridge Trail climbs to a ridge with views of the river and surrounding valleys. The park lists the trail at about 2.3 miles between the Marshall Monument and North Beach picnic area; the total hike depends on your return route. 

American River Resort, a short walk from the park, has riverfront cabins and campsites beside the rapids. BarmHaus Brewing Co., in nearby Garden Valley, pours small-batch beers on a property with plenty of outdoor space. The brewery is open Friday through Sunday; check current hours before going.

Placerville

Placerville was the third-largest town in California by 1854, and Highway 50 makes it about an hour’s drive from Sacramento, depending on traffic. The El Dorado Trail runs through town, including a paved stretch of about 3.7 miles between Missouri Flat Road and the intersection of Forni Road and Main Street. Farther west, a 23-mile natural-surface section connects the town of El Dorado with the Sacramento County line.

After the hike, head to historic Main Street, where antique shops, used bookshops and candy shops selling homemade fudge sit beside the brick Cary House Hotel, which opened in 1857. Check the county’s trail page for current closures and parking changes before setting out.

Nevada City

Downtown Nevada City, about 75 minutes from Sacramento depending on traffic, is a base for exploring the Deer Creek Tribute Trail System, a 7.9-mile network of sidewalks, roads and trails. Wooded sections follow Deer Creek’s canyon, and the Angkula Seo Bridge spans the creek in tribute to the area’s Indigenous Nisenan people. 

After the hike, a walk back through town feels like stepping into another century, with historic storefronts lining Broad Street and the Nevada Theatre, which opened in 1865 and still puts on shows on the stage where Mark Twain and Jack London once appeared. 

The National Exchange Hotel has been a gathering spot since the Gold Rush, and after a hot shower, its restaurant, Lola, is the place for the dinner you’ve earned.

Murphys

The 1.7-mile North Grove Trail loops through giant sequoias at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, about 20 minutes from Murphys. After a morning among the trees, the reward is a stroll down tree-shaded Main Street, where boutiques share the streetscape with wine tasting rooms. 

The Victoria Inn, a bed-and-breakfast on Main Street, has rooms with no televisions; some offer balconies or soaking tubs. 

Brothers Daniel and John Murphy established a trading post and mining operation here in 1848, and many of the town’s Gold Rush buildings are still in use. Sacramento is about two hours away, depending on traffic. If you’re extending your weekend into Monday or Tuesday, check individual shop and tasting-room hours.