Discover El Dorado County
El Dorado County is, quite literally, where the California Gold Rush began: on January 24, 1848, James Marshall spotted gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, on the South Fork of the American River. Placerville — first nicknamed 'Hangtown' — became a vital supply town and the county seat, and the gold camps along the river drew tens of thousands of miners almost overnight. As the gold thinned, the foothills turned to ranching, apple orchards, and vineyards, and today the county climbs from the Apple Hill and wine-country ridges all the way to South Lake Tahoe.
Things to see & do
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Coloma's riverside park marks the spot where the Gold Rush started, with a replica of Sutter's Mill.
Apple Hill
A cluster of family orchards, bakeries, and wineries above Camino, busiest during the fall harvest.
Historic Main Street, Placerville
A walkable Gold Rush downtown of brick buildings, shops, and the county's civic core.
El Dorado wine country
High-elevation vineyards and tasting rooms across the El Dorado and Fair Play growing areas.
Annual events & traditions
- Apple Hill harvest season (September–December) around Camino
- El Dorado County Fair (Placerville, June)
- Gold Rush living-history days in Coloma
- Wine-trail passport and tasting events across the county
From the birthplace of the Gold Rush in Coloma to apple orchards, vineyards, and the road to Tahoe, El Dorado County mixes deep history with foothill and mountain living — explore it town by town below.