Gold Country on Highway 49
South through the Sierra foothills on Highway 49, from Victorian Nevada City past the gold discovery site to a preserved Gold Rush town and Mariposa.
- Distance
- 273 km (170 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 02 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 7
- States
- CA
- Updated
- June 3, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 273 km (170 mi) with 7 stops, from Nevada City to Mariposa. About 3 h 02 min of driving in total.
Route description
Highway 49 is named for the forty-niners and strings together the Gold Rush towns of the Sierra foothills. Start in Nevada City, with gas lamps and wooden balconies, then visit Empire Mine in neighboring Grass Valley, one of the richest gold mines in California.
The highway winds down to the American River at Coloma, where James Marshall found gold in 1848. The state park has a replica of Sutter’s sawmill and pioneer buildings. Placerville, once known as Hangtown, is the next town south, at the junction with US-50.
Further south, Sutter Creek and the other Amador County towns have Gold Rush main streets, and the Shenandoah Valley near Plymouth is known for Zinfandel. At Columbia State Historic Park the whole town is preserved, with stagecoach rides and gold panning that children love.
The road ends in Mariposa, gateway to Yosemite on CA-140. Highway 49 is a winding two-lane road with many curves; RVs manage it, but plan on slow going. Spring brings green hills and wildflowers, while summer in the lower foothills is hot.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Nevada City
CA - 28 km
Empire Mine State Historic Park
HistoryGrass Valley, CAOne of California’s richest hard-rock gold mines, worked until 1956, with the owner’s stone cottage and gardens. Look down the main shaft and walk the forest trails.
- 356 km
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
HistoryColoma, CAThe spot on the American River where James Marshall found gold in January 1848, starting the Gold Rush. There is a replica sawmill, old buildings and a place to try panning.
- 414 km
Placerville
CA - 545 km
Sutter Creek
CA - 664 km
Columbia State Historic Park
HistoryColumbia, CAA Gold Rush town preserved as a living museum, with wooden boardwalks, stagecoach rides and old-fashioned shops. Streets are car-free, so park at the edge.
- 787 km
Mariposa
CA
