Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Volcano
One of the fading plaques in Volcano, 12 miles upstream from Sutter Creek, tellingly calls
it a place of 'quiet history.' Even though the little L-shaped village on the bank of Sutter
Creek yielded tons of gold and a Civil War battle, today it slumbers away in remote
solitude. Only a smattering of patinated bronze monuments attest to Volcano's lively past.
Large sandstone rocks line Sutter Creek, which skirts the center of town. The rocks,
now flanked by picnic tables, were blasted from surrounding hills by hydraulic mining be-
fore being scraped clean of their gold. The process had dire environmental consequences,
but generated miners nearly $100 of booty a day.
Sights & Activities
Daffodil Hill
FARM
( 209-296-7048; 18310 Rams Horn Grade; donations accepted; 10am-4pm mid-Mar-mid-Apr)
This hilltop farm, 2 miles northeast of Volcano, is blanketed with more than 300,000 daf-
fodil blooms in the spring. The McLaughlin and Ryan families have operated the farm
since 1887 and keep hyacinths, tulips, violets, lilacs and the occasional peacock among the
daffodils.
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
HISTORIC SITE
(
209-296-7488;
parks.ca.gov
; 14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Rd; per car $8;
museum 11am-2:30pm
Fri-Sun)
Two miles southwest of Volcano is a sacred area for the local Miwok. There's a village site
and a limestone outcrop covered with petroglyphs - 363 originals and a few modern addi-
tions - and over 1000 mortar holes called
chaw'se
, used for grinding acorns and seeds into
meal.
Black Chasm
CAVE
( 888-762-2837;
www.caverntours.com
; 15701 Pioneer Volcano Rd; adult/child $14.95/7.95;
10am-5pm)
