About Calaveras County, California
Calaveras County is located in the heart of the Gold Country in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
Calaveras County Real Estate is somewhat undiscovered and is becoming the destination of choice due to the close proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area. Calaveras County is known for many reasons. It is probably the best known for it’s history during the gold rush era. Did you know there are still places to pan for gold? Some do it for recreation – some for income. Mark Twain wrote about the Celebrated Jumping Frog in 1865. These writings have put Calaveras County on the map. Angels Camp is the home of the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee and Fair held at Frogtown in May of each year. The Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County are known across the country for the jumping frog competition. Contestants come from miles and miles to participate in this event. The residents of the county have taken on FROG as their icon. There is a painted frog contest and artists are commissioned to paint the frogs then are auctioned off each year at the frog gala. You can drive around Angels Camp and the county and see frogs in front of businesses and on the street corners.
Angels Camp is a historic town at the crossroads of Hiway 4 and 49. The charm remains and you can browse the galleries, museums, and shops. Greenhorn Creek is a golf course community located just outside the Angels Camp area. Greenhorn Creek offers guest facilities with private villas, cottages, and a condo unit all near the 18 hole Robert Trent Jones II golf course. Visitors can enjoy dining, tennis, excersize facilities, hiking and biking trails, and a pool.
Calaveras County also is the home ot two growths of giant sequoias. Take the path through the sequoia grove to view these majestic – amazing trees. Among the historic town list is Murphys, a quaint, charming town with many historic buildings including the Murphys Hotel. Enjoy dining, shopping, wine tasting, and galleries. There is a golf course and places to stay in the community of Forest Meadows – just a few miles outside of Murphys.
As you travel through Murphys, you can visit the Mercer Cavern which is open to the public. It’s famous for a rare formation of Aragonite. Also within the county is Moaning Cavern which holds the largest vertical chamber in a California cavern. Columbia State Park and Stanislaus National Forest present beautiful scenery and serenity. Stanislaus National Forest is over 6000 acres of pine forest on either side of the Stanislaus River.
Local Community and Attractions
Enjoy miles and miles of biking and hiking trails, campgrounds, and picnic areas. Arnold is a cute mountain town with amenities to cater to the vacationing public whether its to ski or participate in other mountain sports. Golf is also available. Calaveras County is also the home to Bear Valley Mountain Resort which is near snow sports. Copperopolis has a whole new look with it’s Copperopolis Town Square. Shopping, services, and restaurants are opening every week for travelers or residents pleasure. Copperopolis is the first town you come to on Hiway 4 coming from the Bay Area.
Saddle Creek Golf Resort Community is located only 4 miles from the Town Square. There is an award winning restaurant called the Copper Grille. Saddle Creek Golf Resort is great for golf players of all levels. The resort features 18 holes and has been ranked 8th by Golf Week Magazine for best public access in California. There are accommodations for guests that want to spend some time at the resort. A group of Bungalows are available and located just a few steps from the course and the lodge. Each unit is uniquely decorated with luxury – just as you would expect from an upper class resort. This is a friendly place – you may not want to leave.
"The resort features 18 holes and has been ranked 8th by Golf Week Magazine for best public access in California."
Valley Springs is located down the Hiway 49 corridor. There are beautiful lakes such as Camanche, Pardee, and New Hogan. The golf course – La Contenta is a wonderful golf course community and has a new driving range. This community has an easy commute access. There are many recreational activities to choose from.
Calaveras ounty offers many activities throughout. Lakes such as Melones and Lake Tulloch are all enjoyed for water sports, fishing and camping. Other activities are visiting art galleries, antique shops, and museums throughtout the historic towns. Don’t forget the horseback riding opportunities or if you ride an iron horse – the motorcycle rides are some of the most beautiful around.
Another draw to the county is the growing numbers of fabulous foothill wineries spread out all over the county. You can drive up the Hiway 4 corridor and stop in to taste the different types and varieties of wine. There are always festivals and events happening all year long in this beautiful area. Don’t forget Yosemite National Park. Even though it’s not in Calaveras County – this is a must see and the ultimate day trip from Calaveras. The park stretches along California’s eastern border and is part of the Central Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. There are almost 1200 square miles of wild lands and is only about an hour from our county. The elevations ranges from 2000 to more than 13,000 feet above sea level. The Yosemite Valley offers some of the most beautiful waterfalls and cliffs.
The population of the county is approximately 38,000. The geography is extremely varied from near sea level in the western part of the county to over 8000 feet in the eastern part. The topography is varied from the flat terrain of the valleys and rolling hills to the steep Sierra mountains and canyons. Climate varies with the topography. The average yearly lows are in the 30’s and highs in the 90’s in the lower elevations. Rainfall varies from 20 – 60 inches per year.
San Andreas is the County Seat. Other towns included in the county area:
Copperopolis, Saddle Creek, Angels Camp, Greenhorn Creek, Murphys, Arnold, Dorrington, Vallecito, Valley Springs, San Andreas.
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