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The Golden Chain

Liquidambar, Sutter Creek (11/8/20) Steve Arita

California’s Golden Chain is comprised of the Gold Rush-era towns that are linked together along State Route 49.

It includes such beautiful towns as Nevada City, Placerville, Sutter Creek, Jackson and Columbia. If you have never visited the Gold Country, now is the time to do so. Wear a warm sweater and be prepared to be dazzled by their autumn beauty. Good choices would be any of the above named places.

  • Chinese pistache, Jackson (11/8/20) Steve Arita
  • Chinese pistache, Sutter Creek (11/8/20) Steve Arita
  • Chinese pistache, Jackson Museum (11/8/20) Steve Arita

Color spotter Steve Arita wisely followed fall color down in elevation to the Sierra foothills where it is painting the golden chain crimson and gamboge. Much of the color is coming from iridescent exotics (Liquidambar and Chinese pistache), though native trees are contributing to the show.

He rates fall color at peak with enough still to turn, that peak will last a week, perhaps longer. Peak color was particularly striking near the Jackson Museum and along the main streets of Jackson and Sutter Creek.

Sutter Creek is a charming, old west town, almost entirely constructed from wood. It is unusual that it was not destroyed by fire, when many other Gold Rush towns were. So, you can see the architecture as it was, originally. The same occurs in Columbia, a state historic park.

A week ago, Arita reported that the trees were still patchy at Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, but now the rangers there are putting on their winter jackets and readying themselves for a flush of bright color. Plan on visiting it this weekend.

  • Bear Valley, (5,000’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Sierraville, (4,957’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Downieville, (2,966’) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
  • Nevada City, (2,477’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Grass Valley, (2,411’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Auburn, (1,277) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Placerville, (1,867’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Newtown Rd, Placerville, (2,447’) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
  • Apple Hill, Camino, (3,133’) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
  • Cameron Park, (1,198’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • El Dorado Hills, (768’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Mormon Island Wetlands State Park, Folsom, (377’) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Sutter Creek, (1,188’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Mokelumne Hill, (1,473’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • San Andreas, (1,017’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Columbia, (2,139’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Sonora, (1,785’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Jamestown, (1,427’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Coulterville, (1,699’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Mariposa, (1,949’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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