Empire Mine State Historic Park
State Park · Grass Valley, California
Empire Mine State Historic Park sits on the edge of Grass Valley in Nevada County, in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Highway 49. From the 1850s until 1956 it was a working hard-rock gold mine, often described as one of the oldest, largest and richest in California, with a total commonly given as about 5.8 million ounces of gold. The park keeps the surface of that operation: the mine yard with its heavy machinery and buildings, a mine shaft you can look down, and the Bourn Cottage and gardens, the English-style estate of owner William Bourn (confirm which rooms and grounds are open). Tours of the surface buildings (confirm schedule) explain how the mine worked. A network of trails runs through the surrounding woods (confirm mileage). Old shafts and mine hazards make staying on the path a real rule. It suits history readers, families and hikers who like a slow visit, and winter can bring snow to the foothills.
10791 E Empire St, Grass Valley, California, 95945, United States
California State Parks has generally kept Empire Mine open daily for day use, with roughly 10 AM to 5 PM for the visitor centre and buildings - confirm the posted hours, which can shift by season and with staffing. The trails in the surrounding woods are usually open for longer daylight hours than the buildings. Guided tours of the mine yard and the cottage run on set days and times, and some interiors open only on tour days - confirm the schedule before a long drive. Winter can bring snow or ice to this foothill elevation, summer afternoons are hot and dry, and fire danger can close trails, so check the park page on the day you go.
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