A new road trip itinerary released on Apr. 3 showcases California’s most notable ghost towns, inviting travelers to explore remnants of the state’s gold and silver mining past. The suggested route takes visitors through a series of historic sites, each reflecting a unique chapter in California’s mining history.
The tour begins at Shasta State Historic Park, located west of Redding on Highway 299. Once considered the queen city of northern California’s mining district, Old Shasta now features crumbling brick buildings and mining memorabilia at the 1861 County Courthouse. Visitors are advised that some park structures were damaged by the Carr Fire earlier this summer.
Travelers then head to Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park near Nevada City, where North Bloomfield was briefly home to the world’s richest gold mine until hydraulic mining was banned in 1884. The area preserves its original saloon, barbershop, general store, and dance hall.
Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley is next on the route. Known as California’s richest hard-rock mine with an extensive network of underground tunnels, Empire Mine offers tours including a scale model display and access to the former owner’s residence.
The journey continues east to Bodie State Historic Park near Bridgeport. In its heyday around 1880, Bodie had a population of about 10,000 people and nearly fifty saloons; today it remains California’s largest unrestored ghost town with numerous deserted buildings open for exploration.
Other stops include Bennettville near Yosemite National Park—where visitors can hike to old mine structures—and Ballarat in Death Valley, which saw its population rise after late-19th-century gold strikes but now has only one or two residents according to Atlas Obscura reports. Randsburg south of Ridgecrest is described as a living ghost town with preserved original buildings and historical attractions like a soda fountain dating back to 1904; during its peak years it was known for significant gold production from nearby mines.
The tour concludes at Calico, once a major silver-mining hub where guests can participate in guided ghost tours or off-road adventures while exploring restored attractions such as museums and train rides.
