Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Today, SUVs en route to South Lake Tahoe pull off Hwy 50 to find a rolling hillside
dotted with the historic towns, sun-soaked terraces and the fertile soil of one of Califor-
nia's burgeoning wine-growing regions. If you make the stop, don't leave without toasting
a glass of regional Zinfandel, which, like the locals, is packed with earthy attitude and re-
gional character. It's also worth the detour to pause at the shore where a glint of gold
caught James Marshall's eye.
Traveling through much of the central part of Gold Country requires a car, as the public
transportation is unreliable between the towns, but this stretch of Hwy 49 makes an excel-
lent road trip.
Coloma-Lotus
Coloma-Lotus Valley surrounds Sutter's Mill (the site of California's first gold discovery)
and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. It is also a great launching pad for raft-
ing operations. The South Fork of the American River gets the most traffic, since it fea-
tures exciting rapids but is still manageable. Adrenaline junkies who have never rafted be-
fore should try the Middle Fork.
Activities
Half-day rafting trips usually begin at
Chili Bar
and end close to the state park. Full-day
trips put in at the
Coloma Bridge
and take out at
Salmon Falls
, near Folsom Lake. The
half-day options start in class III rapids and are action-packed (full-day trips start out
slowly, then build up to class IV as a climax). Full-day trips include a lavish lunch. The
season usually runs from May to mid-October, depending on water levels. Prices are gen-
erally lower on weekdays.
Don't want to get wet? Watch people navigate the
Troublemaker Rapids
, upstream
from the bridge near Sutter's Mill in the state park.
Whitewater Connection
RAFTING
( 800-336-7238, 530-622-6446;
www.whitewaterconnection.com
;
half-day trips $94-114, full-day
$119-139; Apr-Oct)
Whitewater Connection is typical of the area's operators, with knowledgeable guides and
excellent food.
