On an abnormally cool June weekend, I decided to spend some time in and near Auburn, California. Auburn was selected as the County Seat for Placer County long ago after an election in which more people voted yes than actually lived in the county! Although the cities near Sacramento are now much bigger, Auburn remains the main location for county government and an interesting gold country city to visit.
Main Entrance to County Courthouse
Every Saturday morning, the Placer County Museum has a walking tour of Old Town Auburn. After a quick stop at the popular Farmers Market next door, I joined the large group to learn about the history of the town. You may recognize the courthouse as it is very visible from Interstate 80. It was not the original courthouse as the first several burned down due to fire. Who would guess buildings made of wood would catch fire with people using fireplaces and candles? This version used bricks and stone from local quarries to avoid that pesky problem. And yes, it is still a fully functioning courthouse.
Old Town Auburn
The docents of the museum host an informative and entertaining walk around the courthouse and old town area. Both are immediately off the freeway with lots of parking. The free one hour tour includes history of the region and ends on the main street for a convenient lunch. Auburn is similar to other gold country towns with lots of hills and old buildings for a quaint, if not exhausting, stroll through the streets. Old Town Auburn also has several restaurants and bars, the latter are still on the premises of historic saloons.
The main reason for my trip to the area was to go hiking in the Hidden Falls Regional Park. I have been hiking here since they first opened the park several years ago. The park has really evolved into a fine regional destination with a nice variety of hiking trails for exploring the area. Mild weather attracted large crowds, but there always seems to be a place to stop and enjoy nature with hawks floating above and goats being used for weed control. The falls are always a treat and are especially fun with recent average rainfall. This place is highly recommended.
Out of Bounds Brewery in Placer County
A good hike deserves a good beer, and Placer County is now home to several excellent breweries. Auburn has Knee Deep and Auburn Ale House. South Placer has Out of Bounds, Dragas, and Monk's Cellar. Out in the farm country lies the amazing GoatHouse with lots of goats as one would expect. There are some wineries in the area too, but I have not been too impressed with their quality. Plus, kicking back a Cabernet after a three hour dusty hike just does not feel right.
Hiking Trail at Hidden Falls Regional Park
If you enjoy the outdoors and history, or just a good beer, Auburn and Placer County are a great destination or a perfect stopover between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.
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