This Tiny California Gold Rush Town Has Old-World Inns, Sourdough Bakeries, And Outdoor Adventures

If you're craving small-town charm, you could do a lot worse than California Gold Country. This slice of the Golden State runs the length of the Western Sierra Nevada, unfolding in a montage of hills, rivers, and enchanting little towns that can trace their lineage back to the days of the 49ers. While the headline acts are dazzling and historic, Nevada City and the perfectly-preserved coffee and beer hub of Auburn, there are also hidden gems like Volcano.

Hidden among the hills to the east of Jackson, Volcano is a pint-sized town of under 100 permanent residents, but it wasn't always this sleepy. During the city's boom in the 1850s, there were a whopping 300 separate homes here, along with theaters, saloons, and a library, a town developed solely for gold-hungry miners prospecting in the nearby creeks. Hints of that bygone era remain today. You'll find evidence in the historical landmarks in the area, including the St. George Hotel, which has stood since 1863, and the ruined town jail from 1857. 

Volcano might have the feel of a remote frontier settlement, but it's actually pretty easy to get to. Sacramento International Airport is under a 1.5-hour drive to the northwest, with plenty of arrivals that come in from all over the U.S. The alternative is to take the glorious fall color road show that is the Carson Pass, an ultra-scenic route that links Volcano to Lake Tahoe in under two hours.

The entire town of Volcano is listed on the Register of California Historical Landmarks. This fact is impressive but also unsurprising. Many of the buildings here hearken back to the days of the Gold Rush. In fact, a stroll down Main Street can be like stepping back in time. You'll move on covered sidewalks that look like they're straight out of a cowboy movie and encounter structures that date from the middle of the 19^th century.

One such landmark is the St. George Hotel. Not only is it this the biggest building in town, it has stood here since the early days of the prospecting boom. You can't miss its old-world timber balconies, protruding from the front. Just up the street, the Sizemore Country Store is the sort of place you'd expect to find Clint Eastwood — spurs and all. It's been serving hearty food since 1852.

The country store is just one example of how the town's buildings have stood the test of time. Another can be found on the corner of Main Street in the form of BAKED In Amador. You'll smell it before you see it, because the kitchen churns out naturally leavened breads, toasted sandwiches, and sourdough cinnamon buns that are practically famous. As one past diner put it on Yelp: "Best sourdough in the world. Owners Kris and iTom have brought something so special to downtown Volcano."

The other thing to know about Volcano is that it's a well-placed stepping stone to the Western Sierra Nevada. Unlike the other main Gold Rush towns that cling to the famous yet wildly scenic Highway 49 road trip route, this one's a bit of a detour into the mountains, a land of caves and flower-covered ranches.

The Black Chasm Cavern is right on Volcano's doorstep, at just a three-minute drive away. Delve underground there to view strange mineral formations twisting and bending off the roofs of big caves. Another five-minute drive will bring you to the Indian Grinding Rock State Park, where a duo of interpretive walking trails weave around an old Chaw'se village amid creeks and woodlands.

Feeling the pull of the High Sierra? Driving east from Volcano on State Route 88 means going higher and higher until you top out at Carson Pass, some 8,573 feet above sea level. The scenery along this route involves a who's who of granite summits and an access point for the legendary Pacific Crest Trail, roughly an hour out of town.