A Day on the Divide
Looking for a lovely fall drive? Want to avoid the traffic and crowds? Try a day exploring on the Divide! It is easy to get here, about 30 minutes from either the Placerville Hwy 50 side or the Auburn I-80 side.
The Divide is the ridge of foothills between the Middle Fork and the South Fork of the American River. The views driving up and down the hills are simply spectacular. If you come from Hwy 50, stop in Historic Coloma where James Marshall discovered gold. If you are a history buff, the visitors center is well worth your time. We also highly recommend a short walk to the river at the Dave Moore Nature Area, especially delightful for children, but adults will also appreciate the local surprises (shhhh, don’t tell). If you have a designated driver, you HAVE to stop at Jose Wine Caves We suggest you plan your stop here on the way home, around sunset if ya can. Stunning views of the South Fork American River .
Garden Valley Park has a spot to play horse shoes and plenty of grass for the kids to run. There is a small creek running alongside, a great place for kids. Believe it or not, another great place for kids is BarmHaus Brewing Co. This place is amazing! Kids and friendly dogs are welcome. They often have live music. Pick up you favorite GOAT CHEESE before or after, but stop in, you will not be disappointed.
When you get hungry for more than goat cheese (WHAT??) head over to Red Rooster Burgers for the Best Burgers!! Charley’s favorite is the Cheddar Burger which comes with a skirt of crispy-melted-fried cheddar. The shakes are hand made from real ice cream.
While you are in Garden Valley, you will not want to miss the GOAT farm! Stop by and feed the goats. If you are here in the morning you can watch them get milked. You can chill out at the picnic table and snack on cheese. Or take your cheese with you to your next adventure!
Head up to historic Georgetown (No. 484 California Historical Landmark) for a walk down Main Street. If you have more time, head up to Stumpy Meadows for the scenery, swimming or fishing.
There is also Music on the Divide , Art on the Divide and even a small olde time theatre (ok, technically that is in Coloma, but still a fun local activity).
Looking for more ideas? Check out this road trip for Foodies from AAA
I am sure we left out many ideas. Do you have a favorite place to visit while on the Divide? Drop us an email and we will be happy to add your favorites here, too.
In closing, I’d like to add that many of the businesses here were impacted by the mosquito fire; Road closures, fire evacuations, and really bad air quality resulted in loss of a month of income for some. Your dollars spent on the Divide go to small businesses that really appreciate your support! Keep it local!