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The California Gold Rush changed the country forever. 300,000 people came from across the US and every corner of the world to strike it rich. Dozens of towns sprang up overnight in what was once the backwaters of Mexico, sparsely populated with Native Americans. While the 1849 Gold Rush had terrible consequences for the indigenous people, a fact that can\u2019t be overstated, The Rush is what gave California its foundation as the most diverse state in the country, its entrepreneurial spirit, and its love of adventure.<\/p>\n
To get back to California\u2019s Wild West roots and many of my favorite places as a Cali kid, we took a three-week Gold Country road trip! CA Highway 49 winds through the Sierra Nevadas, connecting dozens of 19th-century Gold Rush towns, from Yosemite National Park to north of Lake Tahoe. So in addition to historic sites, this route serves up gorgeous mountains, raging rivers, alpine lakes, and wine country for a trip that\u2019s got it all!<\/p>\n
See our guide for the best things to do in Gold Country and get ready for one of California\u2019s greatest road trips.<\/p>\n