Angels Camp Day Trip California Gold Country

Angels Camp is located in California’s gold country along Highway 49 and is a fun day trip destination to dig into California’s Gold Rush history. Explore the town’s historic downtown, visit a gold rush museum, or go wine tasting at a nearby Calaveras County wineries.

Angels Camp was founded during the Gold Rush by a shopkeeper who decided to make more money providing supplies to the gold miners than looking for gold himself. He did pretty well; at its apex, Angels Camp served as the home base for over 4,000 miners.

Things to do in Angels Camp

Today, Angels Camp is a friendly town of about 3,000 people. The town is identified as California Historical Landmark #287. It is recognized as an area rich in gravel mining and one of Mother Lode’s most prolific quartz mining sections.

Angels Camp City Museum

When you get to Angles Camp, a great place to start is at the Angels Camp Museum and Carriage House. Located on South Main Street, this museum covers three acres and displays a comprehensive collection of artifacts that speak to the rich and diverse history of the area. Gold Rush mining equipment, historic wagons, carriages, and many more items can be seen. Open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Website. 753 S. Main Street (Highway 49).

Historic Downtown Angels Camp

Downtown Angels Camp is a pleasure to stroll and browse art galleries and antique shops. There are several restaurants where you can relax for a meal and people-watch. You may notice an abundance of Mark Twain-related paraphernalia around town. Downtown is where Mark Twain based his short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County: on a tale he claims to have heard at a local hotel.

 Angels Hotel

The Angels Hotel is still standing and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While the building is no longer used as a hotel, the sidewalk in front of the hotel features plaques for the winners of the frog jumping contest. The town plays up on this notoriety and hosts a Jumping Frog Jubilee. Angels Camp is also nicknamed & “Frogtown.” The frog jumping event is held along with the Calaveras County Fair in May each year.

Angels Camp Nearby Attractions

Mercer Caverns

Located five miles from Angels and minutes from downtown Murphys, you will find Mercer Caverns. Prospector Walter J. Mercer discovered the caverns while searching for gold in the mid-1880s. Today visitors can climb down into the main chamber of the caverns via a steep stairway. There are numerous speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites inside the cave: 1665 Sheep Ranch Road, Murphys, California.

Ironstone Vineyards

Calaveras County boasts several wineries and tasting rooms. If you want to sample the local offerings, head on Highway 4 from Angels Camp to Vallecito, Douglas Flat, and downtown Murphys. Ironstone Vineyards in nearby Murphys is one of the most extensive vineyards in the area and well worth a look. Award-winning wine tasting, Gold Rush Heritage Museum, and beautiful gardens are part of the Ironstone Vineyard’s expirence. 1894 6 Mile Rd, Murphys, California. Website.

Moaning Cavern Adventure Park

Eleven miles from Angels Camp. Suppose you want to explore the subsurface while in Angels Camp, head to Moaning Cavern Adventure Park. It is an enormous vertical chamber public cavern in California. The park offers various options to explore the limestone cavern, from gently guided walks to more thrilling rappelling options. They also have zip lines and an adventure trip.

New Melones Lake

New Melones Lake is located about 7- miles outside of Angels Camp and has a visitor center between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Popular activities at the New Melones Lake include boating and fishing. There is also a developed network of hiking and biking trails. Campgrounds are available, which are popular in the summer months.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

At least one sequoia was known to be 3200 years old! The Calaveras Big Trees State Park is designed to preserve these giant trees and allow people to experience and learn about them. Calaveras Big Trees State Park is designed to be a park for all seasons and is operated year-round. So any time of the year is an excellent time to visit, 23 miles from Angels Camp.

Getting to Angels Camp

Getting There: Angels Camp is about a 2.5-hour drive from the San Francisco Bay Area or a two-hour drive from Sacramento. The town is located at the intersection of SR-4 and SR-49. If you want to make a weekend of it, there are several lodging options in town, including basic motels, bed and breakfasts, camping resorts, and vacation cottages.

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