Discover El Dorado

El Dorado County combines gold rush history, river landscapes, mountain scenery and regional agriculture to create a diverse travel destination. You can visit historic sites, explore trails through oak woodlands, experience a boating route on the South Fork American River or discover the agricultural side of Apple Hill. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, the key consideration is therefore which of these experiences you want to shape your trip.

Experience Gold Rush History Firsthand

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park features a replica of the original sawmill; the park also includes more than 20 historic buildings. A special way to get to know this site is through the guided tours offered daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., each lasting 45 minutes. This makes it possible to fit a visit neatly into your daily schedule without viewing the history solely through individual buildings.

The Fountain & Tallman Museum in Placerville is also a historic museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The region's cultural memory also includes the term “Gam Saan.” In Cantonese, it means “Gold Mountain” and was the historical term used by Chinese gold seekers and miners for California's goldfields.

Hiking Trails, River and High Country

Those who enjoy spending their days actively will find a variety of routes with clearly distinct characteristics. An unpaved section of the El Dorado Trail runs 23 miles from the western border with Sacramento County to the depot at the County Historical Railroad Park in the city of El Dorado. At Magnolia Ranch, the 2.5-mile Gerle Loop Trail is an easy to moderate, mostly flat route through gentle hills and oak woodlands, with access to the American River. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are permitted as non-motorized recreational activities at the Magnolia Ranch Trailhead.

Cronan Ranch is connected to the corridor trail along the South Fork American River, which runs between Greenwood Creek and Salmon Falls. The river features a 21-mile boating route. Beginners and more experienced visitors can complete it in a full day or on a more relaxed two-day trip. Several locations along the South Fork American River are accessible via Highway 49. Henningsen Lotus Park has a boat ramp there and is open daily from 6 a.m. until dusk.

A distinctly different landscape awaits you in the Desolation Wilderness. The protected area covers 63,690 acres along the crest of the Sierra Nevada; elevations range from 6,500 feet to just under 10,000 feet. A wilderness permit is required year-round for overnight camping and day visits. Experienced visitors can use the Desolation Wilderness in winter for skiing in the remote high country and snowshoeing.

Apple Hill and Regional Culinary Delights

The Apple Hill Growers are an association of 50 small farms in the Camino/Fruitridge area of El Dorado County. Apple Hill includes fruit and vegetable farms, wineries, flower gardens and Christmas tree farms. The Apple Hill Growers Association was founded in 1964 to bring the public to its member farms and showcase their crops and the baked goods made from them. Cider has been produced on the farms for generations; many now offer special varieties of cider that reflect the community's agricultural family traditions.

In the Fair Play wine-growing region of El Dorado County, Shadow Ranch offers tours and tastings. The culinary range therefore extends from farm produce and cider to wine offerings.

Travel Planning Orientation

El Dorado County is centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Highway 50 was the first official U.S. highway in California. Travelers interested in distinctive driving routes may also enjoy the Rubicon Trail: The 22-mile off-road route for capable off-road vehicles runs between the Gold Rush town of Georgetown and Lake Tahoe. These different ways of experiencing the area make it clear that a holiday apartment or holiday home should primarily suit your planned interests. Those who want to combine culture, nature and regional products can enjoy a varied itinerary; those focusing on the river, trails or high country should choose their base according to their desired program.

For your further search, you can also find South Lake Tahoe, Pollock Pines, Upper Forni, Cameron Park, Pilot Hill, Camino, El Dorado Hills, Coloma, Shingle Springs, Somerset, Echo Lake, Kyburz and Rescue.

For the main travel overview: California.