Empire Mine State Historic Park

Empire Mine State Historic Park is a true gem in California’s Gold Country!

Once the largest and richest gold mine in the state, the entrance is still open for visitors see and it’s absolutely worth the stop – we were blown away.

From the beautifully kept museum and grounds to our tour of the mine yard, everything felt very impressive. There’s even an operating blacksmith shop to visit with their handmade items to purchase.

After all of our exploring, we sat on the grass beside the fountain, watched leaves fall, and admired the estate’s architecture.

We didn’t make it to the trails this time but the park encompasses a whopping 856 acres of forest that we’re sure makes for beautiful hiking.

If you’re road-tripping through Northern California, you won’t regret putting this park on your list. Plus you have all the food of Grass Valley right there.