A road trip through California’s historic ghost towns was announced on Apr. 3, offering travelers a journey into the state’s gold and silver mining past. The tour features stops at several abandoned and partially preserved towns that played key roles during the Gold Rush era.
The itinerary aims to give visitors insight into California’s history by guiding them through locations once bustling with miners and fortune seekers, now left with remnants of their former glory. The trip is designed for those interested in exploring old storefronts, mining relics, and deserted buildings scattered across remote areas of the state.
The first stop is Shasta State Historic Park, west of Redding, where visitors can see brick ruins and mining memorabilia at the old courthouse. Next is Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park in North Bloomfield, known for its main street lined with historical buildings from its time as a leading hydraulic mine before such operations were banned in 1884.
Travelers then head to Empire Mine State Historic Park near Grass Valley to view underground tunnel models and tour the mine owner’s residence. Bodie State Historic Park follows as California’s largest unrestored ghost town, featuring dozens of deserted structures that reflect its once-thriving population.
Further stops include Bennettville near Yosemite National Park—an abandoned silver-mining camp accessible by hiking—Ballarat in Death Valley with adobe ruins and wooden shacks (noted for having possibly only one resident), Randsburg south of Ridgecrest where original buildings still stand along Butte Avenue from its peak gold production years, and finally Calico, a former silver hub now offering tours and outdoor activities like mountain biking.
The route highlights both well-known sites such as Bodie and lesser-visited outposts like Ballarat or Bennettville. Organizers say this journey provides an opportunity to experience California’s Old West heritage firsthand while visiting some of its most remote landscapes.
