Our Story
From the Foothills to the Alpine
El Dorado County is one of the most diverse, beautiful places you’ll ever visit. Sierra scenery is nothing short of spectacular, spanning across more than 1800 square miles with elevations ranging from just a few feet to more than 10,000 feet above sea level. The 1848 discovery of gold in Coloma touched off the largest gold rush in history. Today we are much more than rustic mining towns and historic sites. We are a year-round vacation destination overflowing with outdoor adventure, a welcoming wine and agricultural scene, enriching family activities, and a proud Gold Rush history.
Whitewater rafting on the South Fork of the American River is an unforgettable experience for water lovers aged 7 to 75! Made famous by the 1849 Gold Rush, this is the river where James Marshall first discovered gold. Today the South Fork is California’s most famous whitewater river.
The El Dorado wine region, nestled in the Sierra foothills between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, has attracted attention from critics and consumers around California and beyond. With over 150 years of history steeped in gold and agriculture, the region is poised for its newfound resurgence in viticulture. Today, the county has more than 2,000 acres of vines at the highest elevations across California and is home to over 70 wineries.