This Historic California Town Offers Plenty Of Trails And Fun Outdoor Recreation

With gold glimmering in the nearby river and trees scattering their autumn leaves, the town of Auburn in Northern California certainly lives up to its name in the fall. In the heart of what used to be Gold Country, this underrated California town has rich history and plenty going on, both in and around its historic center. Located around 33 miles from Sacramento, Auburn is easy to reach on I-80 and is the ideal place to stop on this popular road trip route to Lake Tahoe.

Founded in 1848 during the California Gold Rush, Auburn soon became popular with prospectors who arrived from across the globe to make their fortune in the Sierra Nevada foothills. But for the Nisenan people who lived there, the area soon became overrun with miners, and they were pushed off the lands they had occupied for thousands of years. The town is now a registered California Historical Landmark and has several highlights where you can find out more about its glittering past, starting with the Gold Rush Museum. Gold panning and mining tunnel exhibits make for a fun family activity, immersing you in the local history through interactive experiences.

A walk through the old center brings you to the Placer County Courthouse, an elegantly restored building that houses many historic artifacts from the Nisenan and Gold Rush eras. And you can't miss the 45-ton statue of Claude Chana, the man who discovered those first nuggets of gold back in 1848. Once you've brushed up on the local history, spend some time exploring the outdoor recreation farther out of town. While others are heading off to underrated state parks in California, the nearby Auburn State Recreation Area provides the ideal playground if fun on the trails is what you're after.

Just a 10-minute drive from Auburn along Highway 49 brings you to Auburn State Recreation Area, which, at nearly 42,000-acres, is just waiting to be explored. As it follows the north and middle forks of the American River, the beautiful landscape is full of steep canyons framed by the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. More than 100 miles of trails draw horseback riders, mountain bikers, and hikers, while the fast-flowing rivers, lined with white alders, willows, cottonwoods, and dogwoods, provide the ideal playground for whitewater rafting, or perhaps a bit of gold panning. For a somewhat calmer water experience, farther upstream lies Lake Clementine, where you can swim or paddle to your heart's content. Three campsites are available if you want to soak up the atmosphere for a few days.

For wildlife enthusiasts, Auburn State Recreation Area is the ideal place to spot black-tailed deer, bobcats, black bears, and mountain lions, and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes on the trails, who also call the park home. It also has its fair share of history echoing through the canyon walls, with some early mining and railway structures worth taking a look at. Foresthill Bridge, which just happens to be the tallest bridge in California at 730 feet, was built in 1973 to span a proposed reservoir that was never completed. The construction of the Auburn Dam was eventually abandoned, and the bridge is just a remnant of what might have been. If the bridge looks familiar, you may recognize it from the film "xXx" starring Vin Diesel.

For some of the best hiking networks in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Auburn is the place to go, with 49 marked trails in the area. A nice mix of gentle riverside walks and steep canyon climbs keeps it interesting for everyone, whether on two wheels, horseback, or your own two feet. The 8.7-mile Western States Pioneer Express Recreation Trail is a moderate hike that takes you over another notable historic monument in the park, Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge, fondly known as "No Hands Bridge." Built by the Mountain Quarries Company in 1912 to transport limestone into Auburn, it eventually went out of use in 1942. Its nickname was given in the early days of the equestrian Tevis Cup Trail Ride, when Ina Robinson, while crossing the bridge, which had no guard rails at the time, supposedly dropped her reins and crossed with "no hands." You'll be pleased to know that guard rails are now firmly in place, and you can expect some wonderful scenic views as you follow the river.

The 6.2-mile Confluence and Clementine Trail Loop looks out at Foresthill Bridge and is also popular with mountain bikers, while the 10.8-mile Middle Fork American River Quarry Trail follows the path of the old railway line where you can see former tunnels and a cave once used for paleontological excavations. Car parks are dotted around near many of the trailheads for a $10 day pass. If you want to stay closer to town, Overlook Park sits on the outskirts of Auburn and is a lovely place for a picnic, with stunning views over the canyons and easy access to some of the trails.

For more gold rush history and outdoor fun in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, take a trip to Angels Camp, less than two hours from Auburn by car.