Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
4.5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is a state park of California, United States, marking the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
10 within 3 miles
Attractions
17 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
276 reviews
Excellent
155
Very good
100
Average
16
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Lottelli
Wirral, UK2,934 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We came in the afternoon and so felt slightly rushed to get round it all as it is made up of several stops within the park. We started at the museum and learnt about the history of the park and how gold was discovered here which led to the gold rush. I liked the video which showed how to pan for gold.
You can book to go gold panning which would have been excellent but we arrived too late!
We walked down to the river where gold was first discovered, the mill reconstruction, had a look at all the houses here with the information signs and then went up to look at the statue of James w Marshall pointing at where he first found gold. It was really good!
You can book to go gold panning which would have been excellent but we arrived too late!
We walked down to the river where gold was first discovered, the mill reconstruction, had a look at all the houses here with the information signs and then went up to look at the statue of James w Marshall pointing at where he first found gold. It was really good!
Written November 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maryann L
Fair Oaks, CA1,313 contributions
Aug 2020
The historic park is open for day use from 8 AM until 8 PM. The Visitors Center, Museum and the historic buildings are closed but there is much to see and do in the park. On the day we visited, the park was uncrowded. There were so many picnic tables available and we had our picnic lunch overlooking the American River. The outdoor exhibits are well done and informative. We hiked the Loop and the Monument trails. The restrooms are open and very clean. Gold panning is open as is the gift shop. There are hand washing stations and water fountains available. No food concessions are open. There is a modest fee for day use, $8.00 and $7.00 for seniors. Come here and enjoy the river, the lovely breeze, the well maintained trails, solitude and a look back at California history.
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn M
Carmel, California, United States916 contributions
Mar 2022
Nice leisurely day exploring the grounds of this park. Parking at the time we were there was $10. We picked up a map and walk out to the re-constructed mill. There are a number of informational plaques that describe the entire history. Great for 3rd and 4th graders who are studying California History. Picked up a picnic at the Farm to Fork Cafe the explored the displays on the other side of Highway 49. Lots of gold mining equipment - visit the Museum next to the park headquarters. Then sit at one of the picnic tables on the grounds and enjoy your lunch. Great day for all ages. On certain weekends during the summer we have been here when docents dressed in period costume man the different cabins/blacksmith and other living museum areas in the park. Then we actually drove to visit the James Marshall Monument. Though you can walk there, it isn't that far but we chose to drive. There are also a few hikes around the park. We didn't have an opportunity to do them. The park maps shows their location. We write audio tours for VoiceMap and this destination is one of the stops on our gold rush tour California’s Gold Rush: A Highway 49 driving tour from Auburn to Placerville. Happy Adventures
Written May 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelDreamin
24 contributions
Jun 2023
A beautiful and interesting place to spend the day. The park includes a small but very well done museum, original buildings open to the public (including a chinese store fully stocked), nice trails, and, of course, a load of history. I strongly recommend taking the tour. There is a small fee but it is well worth it. Longtime park volunteer Ed took us around and he was a wealth of knowledge. Bonus tip: Take a very short drive for lunch at the hamburger place hiding inside the Chevron gas station in Lotus (just across the bridge).
Written June 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
imub4ur
Hesperia, CA379 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
In an hour's time you can see a reproduction of Sutter's Mill, and some ruins of a nineteenth century town. It takes no more than an hour to see it all, unless you pan for gold, there seems to be a bit of a wait for that. Ten dollars to park, make sure you go into the Chinese buildings, they have some nice displays there. In mid July I was able to find some ripe wild blackberries, but the weather was hot.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teresa S
64 contributions
Oct 2022
We were visiting Sacramento and my son really wanted to see where the gold rush began in California so we drove to the Marshall Gold Discovery Park that afternoon. We grabbed sandwiches across the street at the Farm to Fork Cafe and then walked around the park and museum. The museum was small but the staff were friendly and very informative. We saw the movies in the museum and then walked across the street to the river and the mill. Overall an enjoyable afternoon and cool seeing where the gold rush started in California.
Written October 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jaimexplorer
California1,155 contributions
Jan 2023
I went on a tour with Ed who volunteers three days a week here. He knows a humungous amount about gold mining and the people who lived here. I highly recommend taking the tour if you have the chance.
Written January 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judy E
Mariposa, CA65 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
Although there was construction to update the park, we found the Gold Discovery State Historic Park to be fun and educational. There are informational signs where historical buildings are/have been. There are also lots of picnic tables and shaded areas for just relaxing. There are guided tours for a fee with senior citizen discounts, but you can walk around on your own and still find a great deal of information.
Written January 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thegreatwallendo
Yorba Linda, CA2 contributions
Apr 2011
We visited Sutter's Mill & the Gold Discovery site with our grandchildren, ages 6 and 10. As we'd been years before with our kids, we had a better idea what to do to really make it fun and interesting to the kids.
The sawmill itself isn't much of an attraction to kids. There's a visitor center which helps explain the site. But what our grandkids loved best was actually panning for gold along the riverbank. (The actual riverbank, not the tourist setup in a trough by the mill.) We had brought along plastic mining pans; you can buy them just about anywhere they sell gold-rush-themed tourist stuff.
If you follow the little trail that begins on the opposite side of the parking lot from the sawmill (there's a little informational sign at the trailhead), it's a short, easy walk to, first, the actual gold discovery site, where there's a large stone monument, and then on a few yards more to a little cove and a tiny, sandy/pebbly beach where the kids can pan for gold.
It's important to be VERY careful here. In the spring and early summer, the American River runs wide, swift, and deep and is EXTREMELY dangerous. Even though the water by the little cove is calmer, it's still hazardous. We didn't let the boys in the water at all; they could only scoop up some sand and water in their pans at the water's shallow edge. They were perfectly fine with that and very happily searched for gold flakes. We stayed right beside them. Under those circumstances, it was safe and fun. And the boys remember it as a highlight of the trip.
The sawmill itself isn't much of an attraction to kids. There's a visitor center which helps explain the site. But what our grandkids loved best was actually panning for gold along the riverbank. (The actual riverbank, not the tourist setup in a trough by the mill.) We had brought along plastic mining pans; you can buy them just about anywhere they sell gold-rush-themed tourist stuff.
If you follow the little trail that begins on the opposite side of the parking lot from the sawmill (there's a little informational sign at the trailhead), it's a short, easy walk to, first, the actual gold discovery site, where there's a large stone monument, and then on a few yards more to a little cove and a tiny, sandy/pebbly beach where the kids can pan for gold.
It's important to be VERY careful here. In the spring and early summer, the American River runs wide, swift, and deep and is EXTREMELY dangerous. Even though the water by the little cove is calmer, it's still hazardous. We didn't let the boys in the water at all; they could only scoop up some sand and water in their pans at the water's shallow edge. They were perfectly fine with that and very happily searched for gold flakes. We stayed right beside them. Under those circumstances, it was safe and fun. And the boys remember it as a highlight of the trip.
Written April 26, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
Costa Mesa, CA1,573 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
We visited here with my son's fourth grade class field trip over the week of April 10. This is a park that can easily take up the whole day and we pretty much spent the majority of the day here before leaving for Sacramento Airport. Unfortunately, it rained off and on all day and the water level in the American River was swift and high making gold panning somewhat difficult. Here's some observations to make your visit enjoyable.
First, if you plan on trying your hand at gold panning and this is your first try, visit with the rangers at the museum first and get some tips on how to pan. They'll give a good demonstration on what to do.
Second, get there early. The place is popular and gets crowded. There's a lot of parking to be had but the park is large and you'll want to get an early start to the day.
Third, restrooms. There are some at the museum but they're single person only restrooms, leading to a looong wait. I would recommend using the restrooms in the parking lot exactly due north of the museum. There are eight single-person restrooms and the wait time will be significantly less. Look at the park using Google Maps in satellite view, find the museum, and look just to the north on the other side of Highway 49. There will be a parking lot just a short walk from the museum. That's where the additional restrooms are located.
Fourth, take your time. The museum and visitor's center is well worth a visit. If you visit during summer it is air conditioned. During our visit, it was a welcome break from the rain. There's the requisite gift store and penny-smashing machine.
... And take a camera but that's (hopefully) obvious!
Docents and staff are awesome, the park rangers are very helpful, and the place is beautifully maintained. Make sure to make this part of your Sacramento-Area visit.
Getting there: Depending upon where you are starting from in Sacramento, I might recommend using Highway 50 to Placerville and then taking Highway 49 north to Coloma. If you use Highway 80 to Auburn and then take Highway 49 south to Coloma, it is longer and the road is considerably more "twisty". Highway 50 is slightly slower than Highway 80 but you'll also have the opportunity to stop in Placerville (formerly known as Hangtown) and visit another gold-rush era city. If you're coming in from North Shore, Lake Tahoe, you'll have to use Highway 80. If you're on the South Shore of Tahoe, you'll use Highway 50.
Again, take a look at Google Maps and plan according to your needs. Have fun and be prepared to get bit by Gold Fever!
First, if you plan on trying your hand at gold panning and this is your first try, visit with the rangers at the museum first and get some tips on how to pan. They'll give a good demonstration on what to do.
Second, get there early. The place is popular and gets crowded. There's a lot of parking to be had but the park is large and you'll want to get an early start to the day.
Third, restrooms. There are some at the museum but they're single person only restrooms, leading to a looong wait. I would recommend using the restrooms in the parking lot exactly due north of the museum. There are eight single-person restrooms and the wait time will be significantly less. Look at the park using Google Maps in satellite view, find the museum, and look just to the north on the other side of Highway 49. There will be a parking lot just a short walk from the museum. That's where the additional restrooms are located.
Fourth, take your time. The museum and visitor's center is well worth a visit. If you visit during summer it is air conditioned. During our visit, it was a welcome break from the rain. There's the requisite gift store and penny-smashing machine.
... And take a camera but that's (hopefully) obvious!
Docents and staff are awesome, the park rangers are very helpful, and the place is beautifully maintained. Make sure to make this part of your Sacramento-Area visit.
Getting there: Depending upon where you are starting from in Sacramento, I might recommend using Highway 50 to Placerville and then taking Highway 49 north to Coloma. If you use Highway 80 to Auburn and then take Highway 49 south to Coloma, it is longer and the road is considerably more "twisty". Highway 50 is slightly slower than Highway 80 but you'll also have the opportunity to stop in Placerville (formerly known as Hangtown) and visit another gold-rush era city. If you're coming in from North Shore, Lake Tahoe, you'll have to use Highway 80. If you're on the South Shore of Tahoe, you'll use Highway 50.
Again, take a look at Google Maps and plan according to your needs. Have fun and be prepared to get bit by Gold Fever!
Written April 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We plan to visit in a few days. Will it be too cold to standing in the river panning the gold right now?
GeoDaddy77
Sacramento, CA66 contributions
Agree that the water will be too cold right now, unless you’ve got an insulated wet suit.
Ashleigh P
Bakersfield, CA1 contribution
How much time should we plan on spending here?
Carmen C
Los Angeles, CA191 contributions
We were there about 3-4 hours.
GaylaOlson
21 contributions
Does the mill operate for visitors of the park daily?
MarshallGoldDiscover
Coloma, CA7 contributions
We used to be able to run the Mill daily on our tours (offered at 11am and 1pm). However the recent flooding from both January 2017 and February 2017 caused the water from the South Fork of the American River to spill over the banks thus getting water into motor that we used to run Sutter's Mill. We are working to repair the damage but do not have an ETA for when the Mill will be operational again.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing