EL DORADO COUNTY

Located minutes from Sacramento, El Dorado County is a diverse playground of stunning scenic beauty, welcoming wine and agriculture scene and a proud Gold Rush history.

With elevations ranging from just a few feet to more than 10,000 feet above sea level, this is a year-round vacation destination. El Dorado County offers unforgettable experiences from world-class winter resorts around beautiful Lake Tahoe to summer boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and more. Or relax with a farm excursion, winery tour or craft beer tasting on our Ale Trail.

Vibe:

The perfect blend of laid back, relaxing, historic towns and rolling hillside farms with the opportunity for high-energy outdoor pursuits.

Known for:

Award winning wineries, amazing array of outdoor recreation and Gold Rush towns.

El Dorado Hotels
Don’t miss:

Placerville Hardware Store, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Apple Hill™

Historical Landmarks & Cultural Hotspots:
  • Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park — the park’s Gold Discovery Museum and Sutter’s Mill mark the spot where gold was discovered in 1848
  • Gold Bug Park & Mine — As you enter the 352′ drift of this historic hard rock mine, you will feel the cool air brush against your face. The park features a stamp mill, museum, blacksmith, gem panning, gift shop and hiking trails over 61 acres of natural flora and fauna. Just one mile from Historic Main Street in Placerville.
Key Attractions and Things To Do:
Major Annual Events:
Popular Food and Drink:

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Large group enjoying a glass of wine on the terrace at Penn Valley Pilot Peak Winery
Couple enjoying a bottle of wine while looking out over the vineyard
Jeeps navigating the challenging and exciting terrain of the Rubicon Trail
Family taking a break from their hike to rest near a waterfall
Rafting party floating a tranquil stretch of the American River
Old man and young girl in period dress with a gold pan
Delicious salad (Kimberly Tate photo)
Woman holding a glass of wine and inspecting grapes on the vine (Kirsten Lana photo)
Red barn in Gold Country with woman tasting wine in front
Pine O Mine Cider Shake (photo: Apple Hill Growers)
Kids playing in the snow at Camp Richardson on the shores of Lake Tahoe
Bell Tower in front of Empire Antiques in Placerville (Paul Cockrell photo)
Young girl holding freshly picked apples at Apple Hill
Young kid laughing while carrying an armload of freshly picked apples at Apple Hill
Snowboarder catching air on the slopes above Lake Tahoe
Rafters braving a section of whitewater (photo by OARS)
Family hiking through sun-dappled wood near Truckee in the summer
February snows covering a stone lodge in Nevada County
Wildflowers in bloom at Coloma Resort (photo: Coloma Resort)
Full boat in heavy spray while whitewater Rafting on the South Fork of the American River (photo: Tributary Whitewater)
Gold Panning in El Dorado County
Plate of pastries from Annabelles Chocolates (photo: Visit El Dorado)
Apple Donut from Rainbow Orchards (photo: Apple Hill Growers)
Lemonade flight from Grandpa’s Cellars (photo: Grandpa’s Cellars)
Closeup of basil martini at The Independent Restaurant (photo: Independent)
Another delicious meal at Smith Flat House (photo: Visit El Dorado)
Sunset over Cedarville Vineyard, Fair Play (photo: Lauren Lindley)
A Jeep on the Rubicon Trail (photo: First Track Productions)
Pine O Mine Cider Shake (photo: Apple Hill Growers)
Allez Rack of Lamb (photo: Visit El Dorado)
Skier shredding a powder day above South Lake Tahoe (photo: First Tracks Productions)
Two young "miners" at Gold Bug Park & Mine (photo: Gold Bug Park & Mine)
The Gold Cadillac cocktail at Poor Red's BBQ (photo: Poor Reds)
Hidden Star Hard Cider Flight (photo: Apple Hill Growers)
Downtown Placerville (photo courtesy City of Placerville)
Fall colors at Apple Hill Growers (Lynda Cortright photo)
Two kids enjoying fresh apples at the Pine O Mine pick-your-own apple orchard (photo courtesy Pine O Mine Orchard)
Closeup of a mouth-watering burger from Poor Red's BBQ (photo courtesy Poor Red's BBQ) Poor Reds BBQ
Recent Media Features

Experience a Golden Fall in Gold Country | VIA

This delightful vineyard pod is the winter wine experience worth traveling for | Time Out

How to take your Apple Hill day trip to the next level | Sacramento Bee

Want to learn more?

Visit El Dorado logo

Visit El Dorado

visit-eldorado.com

542 Main Street
Placerville, CA 95667

Travel Trade and Media Contact:

Director of Tourism
530-621-5885
tourism@eldorado.org