In addition to relaxing at the hotel, there
are a number of exciting activities you may
enjoy in the surrounding areas. The beautiful
Tahoe National Forest offers unlimited, year-round
fun and adventure. Hundreds of miles of trails
invite hikers, backpackers, horseback riders
and mountain bikers. Outdoor activities include:
Rafting, hiking, fishing, biking, boating,
cross-country skiing, antique hunting, tennis,
softball and more. In addition, you can "rough
it" at our new camp site. Best of all,
we are only 40 minutes from Sacramento.
click a link below,
or scroll down for more information on area
activities
Forest Hill
Auburn
Gold Country Museums
Scenic Drive on Highway
49
Hiking & Trail Running
Mountain Biking
Horseback Riding
Whitewater Sports
Golfing
Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation
Parks &
Beaches
Gold Panning
Useful Phone Numbers
& Websites
~
Forest Hill ~
The Gold Rush began here in 1848 and presented
great opportunities for the thousands who
headed West. Although few were lucky enough
to strike it rich, the Gold Rush changed and
shaped the destiny of everyone who came to
this area. Located just thirteen miles east
of Auburn, gold was discovered in Forest Hill
in1850, and by 1852 the area was a booming
gold camp. By 1868 the mines in the vicinity
of the town had yielded more than $10 million.
It was around this time that the first Forest
House hotel was built. Originally a bordello
and gambling hall for the local miners, the
hotel burned to the ground during a pool hall
fight one summer evening. It was rebuilt,
and today, the Forest House and its surrounding
area caters both to the visitor looking to
get away from it all for the weekend and the
outdoor enthusiast alike. In Foresthill in
September, the average daily high is eighty
five degrees Fahrenheit, while the average
night-time low is sixty two degrees Fahrenheit.
~
Auburn ~
Auburn embodies a complementary mix
of yesteryear and present day. Century-old
buildings house antique shops, art galleries,
restaurants and retailers who cater to visitors
and residents alike. Auburn provides great
meandering opportunities, including guided
walking tours of Old Town and an easy stroll
that connects several museums. Among its many
historic landmarks, Auburn has the oldest
continuously-operating post office in the
United States. Downtown Auburn is a bustling
area where visitors can find entertainment
ranging from art galleries to old-fashioned
soda fountains reminiscent of days gone by.
A one hour guided walking tour of Old Town
Auburn leaves from the Court House Museum,
101 Maple Street, at 10:00 Saturday morning.
Contact (530)889-6500 for more information.
~
Gold Country Museums ~
Placer
County Courthouse Museum
101 Maple Street, Auburn, CA 95603 Phone:
(530)889-6500
Exhibiting an array of history on life in
old Auburn, from the highway to the miners.
Foresthill
Divide Museum
Leroy Botts Memorial Park, 24601 Harrison
Street, Foresthill, CA 95631
Phone: (530)367-3988, Tours: (530)89-6500
Exhibits on the history of Foresthill set
in a rustic cabin. Historic church, out buildings,
and picnic spots.
Gold Country
Museum
1273 High Street, Gold Country Fairgrounds,
Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: (530)887-0690, Tours: (530)889-6500
Exciting history on the Gold Rush and mining
life is presented in hands-on exhibits.
Bernhard
Museum Complex
291 Auburn-Folsom Road, Auburn, CA
95603
Phone: (530)888-6891, Tours: (530)889-6500
One of the oldest wooden buildings in Placer
County. View the winery, small vineyard,
a reconstructed carriage barn, and the Bernhard
family residence.
~
Scenic Drive on Highway 49 ~
This forest highway winds through quaint,
small towns, historic mining areas, and along
the American river, one of the truly beautiful
rivers of Northern California. Along the way,
discover some of the rich Gold Rush history
contained within the hills and mountains of
rural California. For more information on
this route go to:
www.historichwy49.com
www.gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/byway/ca_hwy49.htm
~
Hiking and Trail Running ~
The beauty of the Foresthill Divide is probably
best appreciated on foot.For information and
maps, call the US Forest Service at 530-367-2224.
Family-friendly trails, easily accessible
and appropriate for small children, form spokes
from the hub of the Placer Nature Center in
Auburn. Call (530)878-6053 for hours and directions.
There are hundreds of trails throughout the
Tahoe National Forest region and the Auburn
State Recreational District. For information
and maps, contact the Foresthill Ranger District,
(530)367-2224, or the Placer County Visitor’s
Council at (530)887-2111.
~
Mountain Biking ~
The Foresthill Divide has trails that vary
from easy historic stage coach and logging
roads to extremely challenging steep single-track
trails. Most of the trails in the U.S. Forest
Service land above Foresthill are open to
mountain bikes. The newest trail is the Foresthill
Divide Loop Trail which is a 10-mile multi-use
loop trail. There are also several popular
trails near the American River Confluence.
You can pick up a map showing all of the trails
near Auburn at the State Parks office on Hwy
49 between Auburn and the Confluence. Call
(530)885-4527 for more information or to order
a map.
~
Horseback Riding ~
Several private stables in Placer County have
horses available for rent and offer private
trail rides. Horse owners worldwide laud the
trails throughout Placer County for their
beauty and ruggedness. Contact Auburn State
Park Recreation at (530) 885-4527, or the
U.S. Forest Service at (530)367-2224 for staging
areas, horse campgrounds, and equestrian trail
access.
~
Whitewater Sports ~
The waterways of Placer County offer rafting,
kayaking and canoeing. The American River
is host to many commercial companies that
offer one- to four-day rafting trips between
April and October. Placer County’s rivers
flow through pristine canyons, past old mining
sites and animal habitats. Rafting on the
Middle Fork of the American River offers the
thrill of the famous Tunnel Chute, a challenge
that provides great material for storytelling.
~
Golfing ~
Throughout the area, public and private
courses range from short, par-three courses
for the occasional golfer, to world-class
courses designed by some of the greats.
SUGGESTED COURSES:
Black
Oak Golf Course
2455 Black Oak Road, Auburn, CA Phone: (530)878-1900
Public, 9 holes, Green fees: $9-$20, Cart
fee: $20
Only minutes from Auburn just off Hwy 80 on
Black Oak Rd, incredibly lush, green course.
Dark
Horse Golf Club
113450 Combie Road, Auburn, CA Phone:
(530)269-7900, www.darkhorsegolf.com
Year ‘round championship public course
open to everyone. Ancient oaks, soft meadows
and hardy
hillsides brace the fairways. Stream beds,
grass hollows and natural wetlands surround
the greens.
The challenging layout promises an exciting
game for all levels of golfers. Playing between
5180 to 7030 yards, players have five tee
selections to choose from.
The
Ridge Golf Course
2020 Golf Course Road, Auburn, CA
Phone: (530)888-7888 ext. 3, www.ridgegc.com
The Ridge is laid out on 170 acres. It is
a public course that has the traditional East
Coast
quality of many of the fairways paralleling
each other. This 18 hole championship course
stretches 6734 yards and is a par 71 with
5 tee boxes from which to choose.
~
Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation ~
There are two extensive OHV areas on
the Foresthill Divide. The Mammoth Bar OHV
area on the Middle Fork of the American River
offers a wide range of trails and conditions
in a beautiful setting. It is accessed by
Mammoth Bar Road. There are picnic areas and
several loop trails. The area is under the
jurisdiction of the Bureau of Reclamation
and is operated by the California Department
of Parks and Recreation. Mammoth Bar opens
each day throughout the year at 8:00 a.m and
in the summer it closes at 8:00 p.m. To reach
Mammoth Bar, take the Foresthill exit off
I-80 and drive east about 2.5 miles and turn
right on Old Foresthill Road. The road winds
about 1.5 miles to the park’s entrance
on the left. For more information and maps,
call (530)885-5821. The Sugarpine OHV area
is much larger with more than 65 miles of
trails. It is located North of Foresthill.
The staging area is off of Sugarpine Road.
Maps are available from the Forest Service
office (530)367-2224
~
Parks & Beaches ~
Foresthill
Memorial Park
24601 Harrison Road, Foresthill, CA
BBQ/Picnic areas, ball fields, tennis courts,
tot lot
North
Park
12345 Parkway Place, Auburn, CA
Tot lot, shaded picnic areas, basketball court
Off Highway 49 is a little clothing-optional
beach on the north side of the American River,
in the Auburn State Recreation Area. The site
is sandy, with some good rocks for sunbathing.
Rangers won’t issue citations for nude
sunbathing unless they receive complaints.
To get there, take the Elm Avenue exit in
Auburn. Head east on Elm, then turn left onto
High Street, which is at the first signal.
Stay on High, which becomes Route 49, for
about two miles, until it widens. Park on
either side of the road; the spot is a half
mile before the bridge over the American River.
From the parking area,take the trail down
toward the river until it comes to a wider
dirt road. Cross over the dirt road and continue
down the little path that begins there.
~
Gold Panning ~
According to experts, over 80% of the
gold in this area is yet to be discovered.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
in Coloma holds gold panning demonstrations
at the park throughout the year.
~
Useful Phone Numbers and Websites ~
United
States Forest Service
Tahoe National Forest-Foresthill
Phone: (530)367-2224
trail information, maps etc.
State
of California Department of Parks and Recreation
Auburn Recreation Area
Phone: (530)885-4527
visitor information, maps etc.
Placer
County Visitors Council and Tourist Information
Center
Phone: (530)887-2111
www.visitplacer.com
www.historichwy49.com
(click on auburn)
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