Area Parks
South Yuba River State Park
California’s first river corridor
state park takes in 20 miles of the South Yuba River, ranging from the
edge of the Tahoe National Forest near Nevada City to Bridgeport
on the west.
Empire Mine State
Historic Park
The Empire Mine was once California’s richest
gold mine. Today, it is a state historic park where visitors can
relive the history of the Gold Rush. See the mines, mining equipment
and methods used by early miners. Descend into the dark and damp
main shaft. Explore the mansion and gardens of the wealthy mine
owner.
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
Malakoff was California’s
most famous hydraulic gold mine. Miners used high pressure streams
of water to wash away hillsides in their quest for gold. Hydraulic
mining was halted in 1884 because of its environmental consequences
but its colorful history lives on at Malakoff.