North San Juan - Hotspot
Driving south from Sierra County, North San Juan is a quaint town a stage stop along the route from Sierraville through Downieville to Nevada City. The old Methodist Church still stands and maintains weekly services sharing the Pastor with the Downieville Methodists Church. [hide]

Bridgeport State Park - Outdoor Recreation
South from North San Juan at Sweetoand is Pleasant Valley road. Turn right and travel to the park. Sites along the way: French Corral, where the first long distance telephone call was made, at the Wells Fargo Building. [hide]

South Yuba River - Outdoor Recreation
Independence Trail hiking trail along river. [hide]

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park - Outdoor Recreation
Driving south from Sierra County, the Park is 13 miles east on Tyler Foote Crossing Rd. Surrounding interest spots: Double Oak Winery, North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center. [hide]

Nevada City Historic Downtown - Hotspot
Nevada Theatre, Chinese Quarter, Miners Foundry Cultural Center and the Old Stone Brewery. Many fine restaurants, bed and breakfast inns, and wine tasting. [hide]

Truckee - Hotspot
Sites along the way are the historic mining town of Washington, locate along the South Yuba River, and a vista point to see the beautiful Sierra Buttes in Sierra County. [hide]

Donner Lake State Historic Park - Outdoor Recreation
No information is currently available. [hide]

Grass Valley - Hotspot
Interest spots include historic downtown with architecture of the gold rush and Empire Mine State Park. Grass Valley is the junction with scenic Highway 173 to Colfax in Placer County and Highway 20 west to Marysville. [hide]

American River Canyon - Outdoor Recreation
This is a diverse outdoor playground of wide-open spaces and natural beauty. The auburn State Recreation Area is included within its boundaries and contains approximately 38.00 acres and nearly 40 miles of shoreline of both the North Fork and the Middle Fork of the American River. Recreational uses include running and hiking on an extensive trail network, swimming and boating on Lake Clementine, camping, and panning for gold. Mountain biking is permitted on over 48 miles of trails and horseback riding on more than 50 miles of trails. Whitewater recreation is also very popular on both forks of the river, with Class II, III, IV, and V runs. [hide]

Foresthill Bridge - Heritage
Soaring 730’ above the streambed of the American River’s north fork, the bridge opened for public use on Labor Day 1973. The 2,428 long span with piers only 16’ shorter than those of the Golden gate, was built at a cost of the $13 million by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is the highest bridge in California and the fourth highest in the world. The bridge was constructed to connect Auburn to the Foresthill Divide. [hide]

Downtown Auburn - Hotspot
Auburn Drug Company and Soda Fountain, has brought summer smiles to Auburn locals since 1896. So what’s their sweet secret to over a 100 successful soda fountain years? Real syrup and soda. Even the root beer floats are made with soda water and syrup and then topped with rich ice cream. Childhood soda fountain goers will marvel at the still available “phosphates” and the tick milkshakes. [hide]

Auburn - Arts
The arts council of Placer County was founded in 1983 and is a catalyst for the arts and humanities in Placer County. The Arts Council of Placer County encourages excellence and expansion… For more information on the arts in Placer county go to the website. [hide]

Placer County Courthouse - Heritage
The building has been the continuous home of the Placer County Superior Court system since it’s construction in 18989. A county museum is housed on the first level of the building and tours of the restored courthouse are available. There is a large exhibit of gold nuggets found in Placer Country house in the museum. [hide]

Bernard Museum Complex - Heritage
The Bernhard house is an 1890’s era Victorian farmhouse that sits on 2.3 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds next to the gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. Originally constructed as the Travelers Rest Hotel in 1851, this recently restored building is one of the oldest frame houses in the Sierra foothills. The garden, vineyard and outbuildings of the complex provide an authentic setting for living history programs and family outings. This complex also houses an art gallery and a commercial winery, Hyatt-Baumbach. For more information on local wineries check the website: www.placerwineandgrape.org. [hide]

Bernard Museum Complex - Heritage
The Bernhard house is an 1890’s era Victorian farmhouse that sits on 2.3 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds next to the gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. Originally constructed as the Travelers Rest Hotel in 1851, this recently restored building is one of the oldest frame houses in the Sierra foothills. The garden, vineyard and outbuildings of the complex provide an authentic setting for living history programs and family outings. This complex also houses an art gallery and a commercial winery, Hyatt-Baumbach. For more information on local wineries check the website: www.placerwineandgrape.org. [hide]

Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge - Heritage
The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge is located about a quarter mile downstream from the confluence of the north middle forks of the American River. Completed in 1912 at the cost of $300,000 it was the largest concrete bridge in the world at the time. The picturesque and sturdy structure has also become as No Hands Bridge as part of the Tevis Cup 100 mile horse trail between Squaw Valley and Auburn. It has survived more then 90 years while bridge upstream have been destroyed during severe flooding. [hide]

Hiking Trails - Outdoor Recreation
With so many hiking opportunities in Placer County, anyone can find a suitable path to fit their interests. Trails range from strenuous High Country Treks to short out and back or loop trails. In order to get a taste of what the local river canyons have to offer, you only have to drive three miles down the Hwy 49 from Auburn to the confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the American River. You can begin on at least four different hikes starting from the same general area. A topographical map with 50 trails within the Auburn State Recreation Area is posted in a kiosk near the confluence. Detailed descriptions of a dozen popular local trails are available on Canyon Keepers website, www.psyber.com/asra/asrack.htm. [hide]