Railroad Bridge | A Spectacular Hike In Northern California

Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge

Cross A Century-Old Railroad Bridge
On This Spectacular Hike In Northern California

Located within the Auburn State Recreation Area is a historic railroad bridge that has become iconic in California's Sierra foothills. Are you looking for a great day hike with a little bit of character?

This trail is for you. Not only does this hiking trail boast gorgeous views, plenty of swimming spots, and even a waterfall, but it also leads you across. This trail is one-of-a-kind, and you're bound to create some unforgettable memories while traversing it. Please get to know a unique region of our state that often goes unnoticed, and make sure you check it out soon.

Often referred to as the Pioneer Express Trail, this hike is quite popular, but few know its story. Initially, Pioneer Express riders rode this trail to reach the many mining camps located on the American River during the mid-1800s.

Later, the Pacific Portland Cement Company built an old railroad grade and was used to transport limestone from their quarries near Auburn. As you follow the trail, this exact route boasts the Middle Fork American River Canyon's stunning views.

The trail is simply gorgeous. Meander along the easy dirt path, and you'll come to views of the American River and plenty of lush foliage. At one point, you'll even come across a lovely little waterfall—the perfect spot to pause and take it all in.

However, the real highlight of the trail is when you get to cross the. Considered the longest concrete arch railroad bridge in the world when built in 1912, the bridge is truly a wonder.

During its heyday, trains would cross the bridge four times a day while hauling limestone from the nearby quarry.

The bridge is sometimes referred to as the "No Hands Bridge". This nickname originates from the days of the Tevis Cup Trail Ride, an annual horse endurance ride, held since 1955. At the time, the bridge lacked guard rails, and one rider famously would drop her reins and cross the bridge "no hands"-style.

Offering an abundance of attractive natural features and a unique story behind it, the Pioneer Express Trail is a great way to explore the gorgeous region surrounding the American River. Keep this hike in mind the next time you find yourself looking for an adventure!

You'll find this excellent trail. For a trail map, Beautiful Bridge Hike In Northern California That Will Mesmerize You.

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Murphys | Transports visitors to the mid-1850’s

Murphys, California

Murphys, California
A community that keeps pace with the times

A stroll down tree-lined Main Street transports visitors back to the mid-1800s with buildings bearing thick stone walls, iron shutters, and pastoral gardens with white picket fences.

Murphys’ rich and colorful past came alive in 1848 when John and Daniel Murphy established a trading post and gold mining operation in the area that is now their namesake.

Murphys was one of California’s richest “Diggins.” Such riches attracted fortune hunters and adventure seekers from around the world – gamblers, opportunists, ladies of easy virtue, and honest men, as well as renowned outlaws – among them Joaquin Murietta and Black Bart.

Today, Murphys is a hub of shops & restaurants that keeping pace with the times. A great destination for a weekend adventure. The townsfolk invite you to revisit the past while exploring the “new” upscale Murphys. Guided walking tours of the town’s great historic buildings, including the home of Albert Michelson, the first American Nobel Prize winner, are conducted every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., starting in front of the Old Timers Museum on Main Street.

Feathered Businesses

Alchemy & Cafe - This cafe is situated on Main Street, occupying a site amongst Murphy’s finest wineries like Newsome-Harlow, Four Winds, Lavender Ridge, Twisted Oak and many others. The restaurant is where many winemakers rub shoulders with visitors in our bar or restaurant. Alchemy offers the finest seasonal ingredients and dishes intended to perfectly complement the extraordinary wines of the region. Enjoy modern American comfort food, Gold Country cuisine. For more information, contact them direct at (209) 

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Sierra-Publishing.Com

(209) 962-0314

Yosemite Lodging | Free night – special offer

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Yosemite Lodging Third Night Free
Stay  2 Nights and get the 3rd night free!

This offer is just in time for the holidays. The Ahwahnee Hotel or Yosemite Valley Lodge has announced a special for a three-night stay in Yosemite.

This offer is from two Yosemite lodging favorites. Book three nights and receive the third night free. Don't miss this winter getaway at either The Ahwahnee or Yosemite Valley Lodge. You can maximize your winter vacation by staying in the park for three nights, giving you more time to explore. This offer is valid for a stay from November 30, 2020, through March 25, 2021.

For more information, contact the hotels direct.

 

 

Halloween Specials | Selected wineries with Halloween treats and no tricks

Helwig Winery - Amador County - Our kitchen has created a Halloween themed menu. Menu available upon request. Call (209) 245-5200 for your free copy. Cheers!

 

 

Sentivo Vineyards & Winery - El Dorado County - We are participating in EDWA's Mask-Arade event on Saturday, October 31, 12 - 5 pm. We are doing a chocolate and wine pairing, and giving away 3 raffle prizes throughout the day. All wine purchases receive discounts at 10% off.

 

Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery - Placerville - This weekend we are having a fun Halloween bash with a live band, food truck and wine specials.  For more information about their event, contact Sierra Vista Vineyards and Winery at 530 622-7221.

Wind Walker Vineyards - El Dorado County - We are doing Nevada Days here at Wind Walker this coming weekend and will have chili and cornbread for our guests. Please call if you would like a tasting appointment, 530-620-4054.

 

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Around The Horn Brewery

Around The Horn Brewery
Big Oak Flat
On Highway 120 to Yosemite

Opening a craft brewery had been a dream of Rachel & Andrew Sabatine for the past seven years. A new craft brewery and taproom called Around The Horn Brewing Company has been the dream for them.

After looking at several properties in the area, the former Subway building in Big Oak Flat becomes the ideal site for building the craft brewery. When the building located at 17820 State Highway 120, in Big Oak Flat became available, there was an opportunity to build the craft brewery. Shirley Horn, Rachel's mother, helped in making a dream come true.

The equipment used is a seven-tank brewing system. In designing the brewery, it has evolved from what works best in the building. Stop by for a cold glass of beer. For more information, please call (209) 436-9919 or visit them on the web.

Hour Of Operation
Open Day from 11 Am to 10 PM
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

Welcome to the Horn

 

Welcome to our Brewery

Around The Horn Brewery

Storage Tanks

Seven Tank Brewing System

What will you have?

Highway 120 Merchants | Find great deals along the way to Yosemite

Play, Stay, Dine & Shop on Highway 120 - When on Highway 120, from Big Oak Flat to Groveland, you can save on daily deals on a variety of essential products and services offered by local merchants. You can find gifts, health, and beauty products, food, clothing, and travel accessories. Check out the great values and prices. Highway 120 in Northern California can be traversed the entire highway from end to end in a day, but why would you when there is so much to see and do along the way?

Take a journey along this historic road, from west to east, and sample just a few of the attractions and recreational opportunities on offer, which includes not only Yosemite National Park but also many other unique attractions and beautiful places to visit.

Groveland is a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone looking to escape to a beautiful natural setting. Whether you're exploring Yosemite or enjoying the local attractions, there's always something to do in this charming town.

Community
Minded
Community
Supportive
&
Community
Driven
1900 Main St., Groveland

209.962.7452

Featured Business

Echo Adventure Cooperative – We offering socially and environmentally sustainable guided sightseeing, hiking, fly fishing, gold panning, and biking adventures in Yosemite National Park. Our Yosemite base camp located in downtown Groveland.  We also offer upscale lodging, a full-service outfitter, and fly shop - as well as a wide array of bike and gear rentals. For more information, visit on the internet or call us at (209) 732-5161.

 

Evergreen Lodge - Nestled in the woods bordering Yosemite National Park, the Evergreen Lodge is a newly expanded historic resort combining a timeless feel with modern comforts such as full-service dining and professional recreation and wellness programs. 

 

Kevin & Randis Old Fashion Meat Market - This little meat market features grass fed beef along with choice cuts of beef, lean quality pork, organic poultry, wild caught seafood along with gourmet assorted deli meats land cheeses.

Mar-Val Food Store - This newly expanded market has added additional freezers for more products, a new deli area serving pre-made ready to eat foods, a new bakery with freshly made cakes and pies, of course, their newly created takeout sandwiches.

Rush Creek Lodge is conveniently located at the Highway 120 west entrance to Yosemite National Park. The lodge is a superbly designed with extensive amenities for travelers, making it a perfect location for parties seeking a meaningful nature experiences.

The Grove Mercantile - The Grove Mercantile is a modern shop that sells a little bit of everything for everyone. They are known for artisan homemade ice cream using a variety of local, organic, all natural, and sometimes not so organic ingredients. They have gifts for outdoor lover and mountain enthusiast that are sure to love. Stop by for a visit when you are in Groveland.

 

Empire Mine Historic State Park | Explore great adventures

Empire Mine Historic State Park

Empire Mine Historic State Park
Attractions in Nevada County

The Empire Mine Historic State Park, is the site of one of the oldest, deepest, and richest gold mines in California. The park is in Grass Valley at 10791 East Empire Street. In operation for more than 100 years, the mine extracted 5.8 million ounces of gold before it closed in 1956.

The western part of the county is defined by the course of several rivers and the irregular boundaries of adjoining counties. When the county was created, the founders wanted to include access to the transcontinental railroad, so a rectangular section was added that includes the railroad town of Truckee.

What is remarkable about this is that the final shape of the county closely resembles the Derringer pocket pistol, a favorite at the time of the more urbane residents of this gold rush country.

Placer County | See beautiful and historic places

Placer County Court House

 

Placer County

Gold mining was a major industry through the 1880s, but gradually the new residents turned to farming the fertile foothill soil, harvesting timber and working for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Auburn was settled when Claude Chana discovered gold in Auburn Ravine in May 1848 and later became a shipping and supply center for the surrounding gold camps. The cornerstone of Placer's beautiful and historic courthouse, which is clearly visible from Interstate 80 through Auburn, was laid on July 4, 1894. The building itself was renovated during the late 1980s and continues to serve the public today with courtrooms, a historic sheriff's office and the Placer County Museum. Roseville, once a small agricultural center, became a major railroad center and grew to the county's most populous city after Southern Pacific Railroad moved its railroad switching yards there in 1908.

Loomis and Newcastle began as mining towns, but soon became centers of a booming fruit-growing industry, supporting many local packing houses. Penryn was founded by a Welsh miner, Griffith Griffith, who turned from mining to establish a large granite quarry. Rocklin began as a railroad town and became home to a number of granite quarries. Lincoln and Sheridan continue to support ranching and farming. Lincoln also is the home of one of the county's oldest businesses, the Gladding, McBean terra cotta clay manufacturing plant established in 1875.

The 1960 Winter Olympics were hosted in Squaw Valley, which is located in Placer County.


 

Nevada City | An Historic Downtown District

Welcome to Nevada City

When traveling along on Highway 49 from Auburn, you will come upon Grass Valley and find Nevada City. Like Grass Valley, Nevada City is a cluster of Victorian and art-deco buildings, some great independent hotels and shops boutiques and cafes, and a few surprisingly unique trains and wine tasting locations. In the historic downtown area of the city, you will find many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of the buildings date from the 19th century. European-Americans first settled Nevada City in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. Nevada is Spanish for “snow-covered.” 

Nevada County is the leading gold-mining county in the state. In 1851 to incorporated on April 19, 1856. In 1864, the word “City” was added to the name to relieve confusion with the nearby state of Nevada, and the town has legally been known as “Nevada City” ever since.

We prepare all our dishes made to order and use local ingredients when every possible.
Featured is a full bar with draft beers and cocktails.

Our hours are
Wednesday- Sunday 11:30 am-9:00 pm
Open Until 9:30 pm Friday

Reach us at
530-265-5838
for more information.

101 Broad St,
Nevada City, CA 95959

Lodging

Broad Street Inn - This two room inn is your own charming Victorian cottage in the heart of Nevada City, a beautiful, historically preserved gold rush era town in the Sierra foothills. Take a step back in time. This unique home is a perfect Victorian gem, a luxury rental from which to explore this amazing, cosmopolitan little town and its wonderful natural surroundings.

The cottage has all original stained glass windows imported from England, gorgeous redwood and elm interior, a fireplace built with cobblestones from Old San Francisco, a front deck surrounded by gardens, a very private "secret garden" behind the house. with a lovely stone patio and outdoor seating, a charming balcony off the bedroom upstairs, with views down Broad Street – the perfect spot in ovely Nevada City.

Restaurants & Food Specialty Shops

Lefty's Grill - We prepare all our dishes made to order and use local ingredients when every possible.
Featured is a full bar with draft beers and cocktails.

Treats Ice Cream - We are offering new Gelato flavors, sugar free and vegan flavors in addition to our house-made dairy ice creams.  Our most unusual flavor this month is Candy Cap Mushroom made from real mushrooms native to our Mendocino Coast.  Call (530) 913-5819 for more information.