With Gold Country, wine country, and ski country all in one,Amador Countyis a versatile destination located an hour east ofSacramento. Extending from rolling foothills and into the high country south ofLake Tahoe, Amador County has something for everyone—whether you’re interested in exploring historic Gold Country towns or going to extremes on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada.
Historic Towns and Landmarks in Amador County
Many of Amador County’s towns trace their origins to the famed California Gold Rush, and, appropriately enough, State Highway 49 (aka theGolden Chain Highway) helps connect theGold Countrycommunities ofSutter Creek,Jackson,Amador City, andPlymouth.Ione, another town steeped in Gold Rush history and the historical home of the Sierra Miwok people, is in the county as well.
Known as “the Jewel of the Motherlode,” Sutter Creek is beloved for whatSunsetmagazine has lauded as “the prettiest Main Street you’ve ever seen,” where the filigreed balconies of 19th-century buildings cantilever out over sidewalks lined byshopsandrestaurants. It’s also the home ofKnight Foundry, the last water-powered machine shop in the nation, which hosts demonstrations of the thunderous machinery every second Saturday of the month and self-guided walking tours every fourth Saturday. For all of its historic charm, though, Sutter Creek is no museum piece and has a contemporary side too, with such tasting rooms as the acclaimedScott Harvey WineryandLe Mulet Rougeright on Main Street, as well as theSutter Creek Theatre, where you’ll find independent theatre productions, film screenings, and live music (tickets for shows and events are sold at the adjoiningUphill Vineyardstasting room).
In Jackson, Amador’s original county seat, take aself-guided walking tourthat leads to 45 local landmarks, including the impeccably restoredNational Hotel, which was built in 1852 and commands the town’s Main Street. For more history, visit theAmador County Museumin an 1859 Greek Revival–style house that’s surrounded by gorgeous gardens. Just outside Jackson, theKennedy Gold Minewas one of the world’s deepest mines and offers tours that explore surviving facilities, including the stamp mill and mine office building.
Amador City may be one of California’s smallest incorporated cities, but it boasts theAmador Whitney Museum, a must for anyone interested in Gold Country history. Amador City is also a surprising dining destination, thanks to the diverse menu at theImperial Hotel Restaurant & Bar, where favorites like the roasted beet salad and pork cheek with star anise glaze have earned the restaurant raves from Yelpers. Also on the short list of must-visit establishments isBreak Even Beermakers, where you’re likely to find a significant portion of the town’s 200 residents at any given time. Hoist highly crushable lower-ABV brews inside or on the outdoor patio (which is lined with misters to ward off the valley heat), order up a porchetta-and-peach sandwich, and enjoy.
The tiny community of Volcano has less than 100 residents but was once a bustling boomtown with a population of 5,000. TheSt. George Hotel, founded in 1862, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a reminder of Volcano’s glory days. Book one of the front rooms with a second- or third-floor balcony to take in the easy pace of a small Gold Country town.
Plymouth is the gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, the heart ofAmador County wine country. While the county’s wine scene has boomed in recent years (there are now more than 40 wineries), winemaking here dates to the 19th century and Shenandoah Valley is home to the oldest Zinfandel vines in the U.S. Plymouth’s acclaimedTaste Restaurant & Wine Baris in a onetime saloon known for its rough-and-rowdy ways and serves creative American and contemporary dishes prepared with locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
Parks and Outdoor Adventures in Amador County
Outside Jackson,Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Parkpreserves the country’s largest collection of bedrock mortars, which were used by the region’s Native American populations to pound acorns and seeds for food. You’ll also find a reproduction of a Miwok village and the park’sChaw’se Regional Indian Museumdisplays Miwok baskets and other traditional crafts.
Near Volcano, walking tours atBlack Chasm Caverntake you 100 feet underground into a cave famed for its remarkable helictites—unique tubular formations that seem to defy gravity. From Amador County’s hidden subterranean world, climb to slopes at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing atKirkwood Mountain Resort. Kirkwood averages 354 inches of snowfall annually but once the white stuff melts off, the resort opens for mountain biking and hiking. For more summer fun,Pardee Reservoiris a popular destination for trout fishing, boating, and hiking, as well as camping at a 141-acre campground. is a popular destination for trout fishing, boating, and hiking, as well as camping at a 141-acre campground.
Depending on conditions, springtime visitors could well be in for a treat in the form of blankets of wildflowers; poppy superblooms are not uncommon on the hillsides between Amador and Calaveras counties. These tiny, fiery flowers also grow on a hillside beside Electra Road near Highway 49 along the Mokelumne River south of Jackson. Other wildflowers, such as winter vetch, fiddleneck, lupine, and more can also be spotted along this stretch.Vaught's Beachis a great spot to enjoy the area and local blooms.
Amador County Wine Tasting
Gold used to draw people to Amador County, but these days it’s reds and whites, thanks to the county’s outstanding growing conditions. Historically known for its signature Zinfandels, Amador County also has earned a reputation for such varietals as Barbera, Aglianico, and Sangiovese.
Notable for its contemporary architecture,Andis Winesis one of the few places in Amador County where you’ll find wines made from old-vine Zinfandel grapes. In addition to tastings of outstanding Zinfandel and Rosés,Helwig Vineyards & Wineryhosts a summer concert series and produces premium olive oils from trees grown in its own orchards.
And if you want to pair handcrafted, small-batch Grenache and Zin with sweeping Sierra Nevada views, it’s tough to beatIron Hub Winery’s modern tasting room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows. Iron Hub is one of eight wineries on Amador County’sStart on Steinerwine trail.
Skip-Gen Destinations in Amador County
Amador County is full of things to do that lend themselves perfectly to the “skip-gen” trend, or travel itineraries planned specifically for grandparents and grandchildren. In addition to the aforementioned Black Chasm Cavern, Kennedy Mines, Indian Grinding Rock, and Knight Foundry, there are options such asthe electric-powered vehicles that ride on railroad tracks atRail Explorers in Ione; the paranormal tours conducted at the very possibly hauntedPreston Castle, also in Ione;Roaring Camp Mining Company in Pine Grove, where you can pan for gold; and49er Village RV Park in Plymouth.
