Located between Tahoe and Reno, Virginia City is really a neat little place to appreciate the…read morehistory of the area. I wanted my kids to have some hands on learning and I was searching for a place where they could pan for gold/other minerals. Apparently, one could theoretically pan just about anywhere that's not staked or claimed but I wanted the tourist experience - materials provided, easy-peasy, walk in and walk out. I was really happy I found about this new-ish shop which didn't have any Google reviews and wasn't listed on Yelp! We went and were very happy with the whole experience. Our group of kids were aged 4-12 and all of them thought this was the highlight of their Tahoe/Reno area trip. The prices are Pyrite, Gemstones, Silver and Gold are 5, 10, 20 and 30 per pan respectively. You get a pan of sand and your chosen mineral and then you go through the process of sifting and panning at the troughs with a short demonstration to get you going. Spencer, the owner, is a wealth of knowledge but I appreciated that he made it all age appropriate for the younger kids. Overall, highly recommended!

Despite the 95 deg weather, we really enjoyed the beautiful grounds and gardens. We still can't get…read moreover all the photos from that period and what the men had to endure. The park is very well maintained and such a bargain

Absolutely lovely grounds to explore, specifically the cottage house. A fun little glimpse into a…read moredifferent time of long ago. The mine shaft was obviously the highlight, which we were able to go down into without paying for a tour. Very cool with just the right element of spooky as you imagine being a miner at the turn of the century, traveling thousands of feet underground, by candlelight! We also checked out the surrounding buildings which have buttons you press that give you a synopsis of what you're looking at. We popped into the blacksmiths building where a couple blacksmiths were putting on demonstrations of skills required to work this job for the miners. There was also a quaint gift shop in the museum section where we got our kiddo a vile of gold as a fun little souvenir.

1/5/2019: I wrote several reviews for James Marshall Monument and Coloma State Park; however, all…read moremy reviews mysteriously disappeared! Yah~YELP! Where ARE my reviews, eh? THEREFORE, I searched ALL the YELP! photos I posted: I found a few photos dated 1/5/2019 as PROOF I did write my reviews for both locations. Disappointingly, ALL my photos AND reviews for James Marshall's Monument and Coloma State Park event MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED AFTER 2019! UNHAPPY! Anyway, in June 2022, I attended a Military Funeral I personally arranged at James Marshall's Monument for my deceased Army friend who passed away plus, instrumentally preventing his family from spending an egregious, heinous sum for funeral expenses, i.e., I contacted the Coloma State Park's Head Supervisor Ranger on my friend's family's behalf. Blessed, the Head Park Ranger Supervisor contacted my friend's family a couple days later who only had to pay $75.00 for reserving James Marshall's Monument location for my friend's Military funeral! The location presided a PRIVATE, dignified, Military funeral which involved the US Army Color Guards who fired off a 21-Gun Salute for my deceased Army friend, ample parking provided for all attending the Military Funeral, conveniently located picnic tables for food/libations setup, and more importantly, an easy, short stroll to James Marshall's Monument where the 21-Gun Salute was presided. My friend's family were so grateful to Coloma State Park's Head Park Ranger Supervisor for allowing presiding a Military funeral which was quite a distance from the Coloma State Park's American River parking lot. Reiterating, reserving the James Marshall's Monument location for my friend's family and all who attended my friend's Military Funeral, it was so PRIVATE, awesome, easy, uncomplicated set up due to the picnic tables for the food and libations were conveniently adjacent to the clean restrooms, and overall, a gorgeous, tranquil, serene, appropriate location presiding a somber, dignified, Military funeral. Finally, presiding a Military Funeral at James Marshall's Monument for my friend's family will always be remembered and revered. Best of all, all who attended my friend's Military funeral have ALL returned exploring James Marshall's Monument--again, James Marshall's log cabin, checking the construction updates for both St. John's Catholic Church and Emmanuel Church, Sutter's Mill, gold panning the American River, sent snail mail from the Coloma Post Office, ate at my friend, Noah's Argonaut Cafe, and hiked all the trails, too! BTW: Since I'm 100% Service-Connected Vietnam Veteran possessing a Veteran's Distinguished Park Pass, reserving James Marshall's Monument would be NO FEE for me! FYI: Resource Building For PHYSICALLY Applying For A Veteran's Distinguished Park Pass Resource Building 1416 9th Street Sacramento CA 95814 (916) 657-4380 https://www.mapquest.com/us/california/resources-building-375367030 www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30958​ Contact CA Park Pass Sales Office: (800) 777-0369 ext. 2 Send email: parkpassinfo@parks.ca.gov

Awesome historical stop. This cute 1800s old town brings the California Gold Rush era to life with…read moreover 20 historic mining buildings. You can still see a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, a cafe, event venue (Gold Trail Grange), museum and a charming little post office that is actually still functional. It's a great spot for all, kids enjoy the fun gold-panning activities, adults interest to learn the Gold Rush history, walking trail, picnic and hanging out by the river. We also walked around the Mt. Murphy Road Bridge, this bridge offers great views of the South Fork American River and the white-water rafting, please watch out for cars, the bridge is narrow! Highly recommend stopping by this place.

I had site #19 and came in on Memorial Day. It's a beautiful campground, but there was no host,…read moreand Sierra City was closed until Wednesday. Good thing I always bring my own firewood and water. I don't know why it's one of Recreation.gov's favorite sites because there are much better sites. There's no few of the creek/river (from a socal point of view it's a river), and there are sites that look right down on you. I had to leave after the first night as my ears couldn't take the sound of the rushing river. It took 2 days for the ringing to stop. I had no idea it would be so loud. It was deafening. Maybe a site not so close would have been better.

Great spot in the Sierras on the Yuba River's north fork. No water, but beautiful location and…read moreright on a large stream. The camp is 1/2 mile off 49, but in an area with all nearby 20 campgrounds all right on the highway. We had site 32, probably the best site. In the back on a corner of the stream. Large space, nice groomed surface, fire pits, benches and food lockers. Trees all around, and so with the stream we felt like we were in the middle of a forest. $35 a night. We got lucky but someone told us it usually is reserved months out on the weekend. They have 8 spots on first come first serve basis with a 14 day limited stay. Get there mid-week and usually you can get one. We were there for a show at the nearby Kentucky Mine. It was a perfect combo. We'll be back.

Went up in the morning before Humbug Day (2nd Saturday in June). Hike a couple miles visiting…read moreoverlook, church, school and town site. Drove in on the dirt road over the Yuba River and Edward's Crossing. Also drive through campground and used restrooms that were clean.

I recently spent a few nights at Malakoff Diggins, and it was really nice…read more If you're going there, make sure to read the directions on their website, or you'll end up going eight miles down a dirt road for no reason, like I did. The correct way is to take 49 to Tyler Foote, NOT North Bloomfield (although Tyler Foote eventually takes you to the paved end of that road). The drive into the park is beautiful. The gold tails almost look like sand dunes, and, on my drive in, the pools between them had turned interesting colors of green due to Mineral discharge. All of the staff was great, from the rangers to the maintenance to the museum host. The campsites themselves are fairly large and well spaced, as compared to somewhere like Yosemite. There is about a fifty foot walk through brush to get from the parking space to the site. Reservations can be made online at least two days in advance. I noticed that they still have a lot open for this summer, including in two of the three cabins (which are located in the old town area). There are several trails in the park, but they are all short. An avid hiker could easily cover them all in one day. Malakoff Diggins is essentially a wasteland of where a forest used to be. You don't really go there to enjoy the beauty of nature as much as to see how much humans have destroyed it. Where there used to be whole mountains, there are now miles of cliffs washed away due to hydraulic gold mining. You can also see this in lots of other places in Northern California, including Folsom. Where there used to be a valley, there are now mounds of rocks half as tall as the adjacent mountains. It's weird because you can tell that a lot of the redwoods are buried, and you are hiking by their tops. The Valley itself was so miserable with mosquitoes that I was inspired to buy my first mosquito net. Lemon Eucalyptus was not enough. Deet was not enough. My favorite hike through the park was at the end of the rim trail, where I found some really big pine cones and ancient looking manzanitas. I think this park is great for kids, especially for showing them the gold mining ghost town or the effects of gold mining. For adults who are super into hiking, this probably won't be your new favorite park. I enjoyed the beauty that was still left, the nice shaded campsites, and the fact that I was able to make reservations about a week ahead of time.

Made reservation for campsite 16 for 5/26-5/28. Was a little bummed that the weather was going to…read morebe shoddy (raining the whole time), but I was still stoked to be able to spend a couple nights solo camping. Night one went fine, lots of rain but kept a nice fire in the provided fire pit where I was able to stay warm and mostly dry. However, a Ranger showed up on 5/27 around 2pm and told me there was a fire ban in effect and I needed to extinguish my fire. In the rain. In the provided fire pit. I went to the Mineral Bar website- nothing but instructions to use provided pits. Went to Reserve California- ditto. Decided I couldn't make a mid 40 degree night with no fire in the pouring rain so I quickly packed up and left- but not before being absolutely drenched in the DOWNPOUR. I called Reserve California and she said "there's a ban every year 6/16-10/15" to which I said "great! It's May" Finally googled "fire ban mineral bar campground" when I got home and they posted a ban 5/26 (the day I got there). No notices displayed at campsite. No information given but ruining a camp trip I so desperately needed for my mental health. Will never return, even for day camping. This was a favorite spot before that.

We love it here! Such a lovely spot. We come several times in the summer. Pay for parkingread more

Bartley Ranch is a beautiful local park. There is a small trail that takes you up a hill to see the…read morecity. There is a horse stable, an amphitheater for shows and events. Its just a beautiful, local staple. It's nice to have something so close to the city that allows you to be in peace and enjoy nature. Dogs are permitted on leash and its a very easy terrain to walk. They also have public restrooms available.

I think this place is one of Reno's best kept secrets. Not only is it centrally located, but it…read moreserves as a preservation site featuring historic buildings, old farming equipment an interpretive center, an amphitheater and hiking/walking trails. I have previously been to the amphitheater for a Summer concert and loved how intimate of a venue it is. They also hold various events at the interpretive center throughout the year. When I come here though, it's usually to hit the Trails. There are 3 trails, the 1.5 mile Ranch Loop Trail, .4 mile Quail Run and .2 mile Flume Trail. I hiked all three trails and really enjoyed my time. It's really peaceful!!

The campground looks like it is permanently closed. They put huge boulders in the campground…read moreentrance area. The day use parking lot is open. The river is very pretty here, and clean, and there's a big gravel bar. We did not have to pay to park. We went gold panning and found zero gold flakes or nuggets. It was a weekday and there were only 4 cars in the parking lot.

Beautiful and I had a great time. We had 17 people a group and it was the best Camp Grounds we've…read moreever been to.