In 1848 a carpenter named James Marshall was inspecting the progress of a sawmill he was constructing on the banks of the American River in Coloma, CA. As he gazed into the water, he noticed something that would change the world forever.
Glittering in the sunlight were the nuggets of gold that would start the California gold rush. When the news of the discovery broke, immigrants from around the world swarmed to the California gold fields to seek their fortune. Following closely behind them were merchants and businesses. Before long Marshall's discovery had sparked the greatest mass migration of people in history.
The site of Marshall's discovery is now managed by the California State Parks system and known as the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. The visitors center and actual gold discovery site are easily accessible from the parking areas off of Highway 49, but the adventurous can take the road less traveled to get some fresh air, a feel for the terrain, and a bird's eye view of this historical place.
The 2.9 mile Monroe Ridge Trail follows the perimeter of the park. Along the trail you will see mining ditches, an abandoned mine, vistas that overlook Coloma, and the Marshall Monument. In the final quarter mile, the trail brings you to the visitors center, the replica of Sutter's Mill, and the actual sites on the American River where the mill was constructed and gold was first discovered.
Monroe Ridge Trail Conditions
The Monroe Ridge Trail is well maintained packed dirt and duff. It isn't fit for strollers, so parents hiking with small children will need a child carrier.
As you hike the Monroe Ridge Trail, you will travel a distance of 2.9 miles and climb about 600 feet in elevation. If you do plan to take the trail with a backpack style child carrier, you might want to review the rest step technique to help navigate the switchbacks that you will encounter along the way. If you are planning this hike with young kids, be sure to assess their capabilities to ensure that this hike is appropriate for each member of the family.
Action Scenery and Geocaching Opportunities:
Action scenery helps kids break a long hike into smaller, more manageable portions. By getting children to actively seek wildlife, trail markers, and species of plants and trees you can make the hike more fun and help keep spirits high. Be on the lookout for wild turkeys, squirrel, and deer. If you don't see any wildlife, look for the red, smooth bark of Manzanita trees.
If your family Geocaches, you can also break up the hike by finding any of the several hidden caches along this trail. If you are geocaching in the area, don't miss the earthcache at the end of the hike. If you don't know how to Geocache, but want to learn you can watch our free Geocaching seminar here.
Educational Opportunities
The park and visitors center are loaded with opportunities for hands-on history and geology.
The museum contains Indian and mining exhibits. Historical structures and structural remains are scattered throughout the park. The Monroe Ridge Trail will take you over mining ditches, near an abandoned mine, and to several historical structures. In the last half mile of the hike you will walk near the Wah Hop store, restored to re-create a shopping experience in the late 1800s. Next to it, you will see the Man Lee mining exhibit. Be sure to take a break here, both are worthy of attention.
This final leg of the trail also brings you near the actual gold discovery site. Here you can look at a replica of the mill, look at actual timbers salvaged from the original site, see where the mill stood, and see where gold was actually discovered by Marshall in 1848.
Hazards
Getting There and Mapping Info
The Monroe Ridge Trailhead is only an hour from Sacramento.
From Sacramento, Take US 50 east to Placerville, CA. Take Highway 49 North to Coloma. There is a $5 parking fee. The trailhead is located on the opposite side of Highway 49 from the northern parking area (near north beach).
Park Website
Map of the park and park brochure
Mapquest
Coordinates of the Parking Area: N 38° 48.284, W 120° 53.670