The counties that make up the Mother Lode are diverse and rich in resources and culture. Nestled along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, these delightful communities once bustled with the discovery of gold in the early 1840's and are now experiencing a new kind of gold rush. With mountains, rivers, lakes and rolling oakland , the winter and summer recreational opportunities are limitless. Fishing , hiking, rock climbing , and snow skiing are all on our doorstep especially with Yosemite just over the hill. Live theatre thrives in the Mother Lode and we are very proud of our fine restaurants and wonderful local wines, (as well as some of the best burgers around). Below are some links to introduce you to Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador counties and the towns that make them so unique.
Sonora lies in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills along HWY 49. Settled in 1848 as a thriving mining town, Sonora still retains its historic charm with many buildings dating back to the 1800's . Modern day Sonora is a vibrant community that extends its small town hospitality to resident and visitor alike. From the Mother Lode Round Up to the annual Christmas Parade down main Street, Sonorans enjoy their town. Sonora has excellent community facilities. Great schools, a new regional medical center, a thriving library program, excellent live theatres, and an abundance of recreational opportunities.
Angels Camp, 95222 Map It Angels Camp is at the heart of Calaveras County- geographically and historically. Named for a shopkeeper who started a trading post in 1848, Angels Camp prospered with the gold rush and subsequent hard rock mining. Mark Twain immortalized the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee with his short story written here in 1864. The "City of Angels" is also the only incorporated town in Calaveras County . Its charming main street is full of intriguing little shops and cafe restaurants and a vintage movie theatre. There is no shortage of recreation near by. New Melones Lake, the largest reservoir in California, is just down the road as is championship golfing and fantastic hiking and rafting.
Amador City, 95601 Map It Amador City is California's smallest incorporated city, and a visual treat. Main Street (California's historic Highway 49) is lined with either original or highly authentic buildings providing a genuine '49er experience.
Tuolumne, 95379 Map It Tuolumne, just 5 miles from Sonora, was inhabited by the Mi-Wuk Indians until the first log cabin appeared in 1854. Gold was mined here but what really put the town on the map was the large "Eureka" Quartz mine. The Mi-Wuk Indians run a fabulous new casino which has revitalized the area. New health facilities and improved roads have added to Tuolumne's appeal. It still retains much of its turn of the century charm and is a pretty little backwater nestled in the hills.
Arnold, 95224 Map It Located at 4,000 feet, Arnold is a year round mountain community known for its hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, camping , golfing and winter sports. Just up the road is the Calaveras Big Trees State Park and the Bear Valley winter and summer recreation areas. Arnold is an affordable vacation spot popular with families and groups.
Twain Harte, 95383 Map It Twain Harte is currently one of the fastest growing areas in Tuolumne County. Originally home to the Mi-Wuk Indians, Twain Harte came into its own when a road was constructed over Sonora Pass in 1861 between the bustling commercial town of Sonora and the very rich mining town of Aurora. Twain Harte nestles in the pines. Life is centered on the Twain Harte Lake and golf course which have subsequently taken over what was once a rich meadow. Living in Twain Harte is rustic but not without its share of charming little shops and restaurants.
Bear Valley, 95223 Map It Steeped in local history Bear Valley is located on Hwy 4 on the way up to Ebbits Pass. Bear Valley is a year round recreation area known for its alpine and cross country skiing in winter and fabulous hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking in summer . The Bear Valley Music Festival is one of the annual highlights, mixing culture and natural beauty.
Jackson, 95642 Map It Jackson sits at the 1200 ft level in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Site of tremendously rich gold deposits, Jackson has a rich mining history going back to the 1850's Its historic downtown retains its gold rush charm while modern day Jackson continues to grow as the residential and commercial hub of Amador County providing all 'big town' amenities in a small town environment.
Jamestown, 95327 Map It Originally called Woods Creek, the town was founded by Colonel George James on August 8, 1848. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown is a wonderful place to explore the legacy of the Sierra Railway Company who hauled lumber, passengers and freight from 1897. Jamestown is a growing residential community and is well served by local schools, churches and the amenities of Sonora, 3 miles away.
Copperopolis, 95228 Map It Once the 2nd largest national producer of copper (19M pounds) in the 1860s, Copperopolis is now a quiet foothill town with a rich history. Mining and workshop sites remain alongside buildings carefully restored by the local townspeople. "Copper" enjoys having the Saddle Creek Golf Course just outside of town as well as Lake Tulloch and the Lake Tulloch Resort. Copperopolis is the perfect place to escape the heat and bustle of 'the valley' below.
Sutter Creek, 95601 Map It Settled along the creek mined by John Sutter in 1848, Sutter Creek soon became a booming Gold Rush town. While it had its fair share of gold, it was in supplying the miners in the big hard rock mines that the money was made. Today, a beautiful historic town with wineries and local history galore, Sutter Creek remains a tourist favorite.
Columbia, 95310 Map It Columbia, the 'Gem of the Southern Mines,' became a town of 5,000 in the 1850s, following the discovery of gold here by the Hildreth party March 27, 1850. Gold shipments, estimated at $87,000,000, declined rapidly after 1858, but Columbia never became a ghost town. Columbia State Historic Park was created in 1945 to preserve its historic buildings and sites.
Mokelumne Hill, 95245 Map It Moke Hill was once one of the most bawdy and violent towns in the Mother Lode. It was also rich in gold. Founded in 1848, Moke Hill still retains many of its original buildings and the Mokelumne Hill History Center. Now a quiet historic village , Mokelumne Hill is well worth a visit.
Volcano, 95689 Map It Volcano has the feel of a town lost in time. It is amazingly authentic (1850's) and brimming with Gold Rush character which means it is often used as a movie location.
Groveland, 95321 Map It Groveland was originally called 'First Garrote' because of the hanging of a man for stealing a horse. Built in 1849 from adobe brick, adobe buildings were still standing in 1949. Gold was discovered here in 1849, and thousands of dollars in placer gold were taken from mines on Garrote Creek, Big Creek, and other diggings. Today, Groveland is the gateway to Yosemite National Park. It boasts wonderful music at the local Saloon and a series of festivals throughout the year.
Murphys, 95247 Map It Murphys is a charming gold rush town beautifully restored to modern functionality by its proud residents. Original brick and stone buildings, iron shutters and delightful cottage gardens boarder the tree lined main street. There are many 'up scale' shops and art galleries as well as restaurants and shady parks along the strong flowing mill chase. This charismatic town is at the center of the Calaveras Wine Country with many award winning vineyards to choose from. Murphys certainly lives up to its title "Queen of the Sierra".
San Andreas, 95249 Map It The hospitable little Gold Rush town of San Andreas is steeped in mining history. Main Street is lined with wonderful California style Victorian buildings - a far cry from the 1,000 tent city that stood here in the 1850's during the mining heyday. Black Bart was brought to trial here for the Milton-Sonora Stage Robbery and sentenced to 6 years in San Quentin. The town was named for the little canvas church of St Andrew which was built in 1852.
Valley Springs, 95252 Map It Originally the terminus for the San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada Narrow Gauge Railway in 1885, Valley Springs is now an up and coming historic town. Tucked between Hogan Reservoir, Pardee Lakes and New Hogan Lake means there is no shortage of water recreation. Golf is close by. The beautiful rolling oak land attracts many visitors and makes this an increasing popular place to live.
West Point, 95255 Map It Sitting at the base of the Blue Mountain (2,769 ft), Kit Carson was stranded here by high flood waters from the Mokelumne River in 1843. As he was able to go no further until the waters receded, he called this his western terminus, West Point. It was also one of the most productive mining districts in its day. West Point is still a popular dropping off point for those looking for the quiet home town feel of the Foot Hills.
Tuolumne County varies greatly from gentle rolling hills in the west to steep mountains in the east. Most population in the county centers around the town of Sonora ( 2,000 ft). The two mountain passes in Tuolumne County , Sonora Pass (9,628-feet) and Tioga Pass (9,941-feet) give testimony to the magestic mountain terrain which provides the main watersource for the Tuolumne and Stanislaus Rivers.
Climate
The Tuolumne County Climate varies with topography. Averages are in the 30's at lower elevations and the 20's at higher elevations. Average yearly highs at lower elevations are in the 90's with the occasional spike into the low hundreds and in the higher elevations in the 70's and 80's. Precipitation averages around 32" a year with a large proportion of this falling as snow in the upper regions.
Calaveras County has everything from almost sea level in its western regions to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east with peaks reaching 8,000 feet. Rolling hills covered with oak and chaparal give way to beautiful alpine regions.
Climate
The average temperature in Calaveras County is hugely varied. At the lower elevations average lows are in the 30's and highs are in the 90's. At the higher elevations you can expect temperatures in the 20's with highs a temperate 70-80 degrees. Average rainfall varies from 20 to 60 inches per year, a lot of which falls as snow in the upper regions.
Amador County enjoys a greatly diverese terrain just like its sister counties in the Mother Lode. From the oak covered hills, to an abundance of streams and waterways like the Mokeleumne River and Camanche Resevior ( 1200 ft), to the glorious alpine scenery of the Sierra Nevada ( Thunder Mountain 9,410). Recreation is the name of the game in Amador County and its historic mining towns and quaint byways make it an ideal vacation area.
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Climate
The Climate in Amador County varies with topography.In Jackson at 1200 feet, temperatures vary from the occasional dip into the 30's in winter to the low 100's in the summer. Snow at lower elevations is rarely a problem. Higher elevations enjoy temperatures in the 70's and 80's in the summer and benefit from good snowfall in the winter. Precipitation is from 15"-30" a year and with more falling as snow in the winter months.
