Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
State Park · Pine Grove, California
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is near Pine Grove on Highway 88 in Amador County, in the Sierra foothills of the Gold Country. Its centrepiece is a broad limestone outcrop covered with over a thousand bedrock mortars, the hollows where Miwok families ground acorns into meal over many generations, along with petroglyphs carved into the stone. The Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum explains the culture and holds baskets and tools - confirm the opening hours. Nearby are a reconstructed Miwok village and a roundhouse used for ceremonies, which is a living cultural place and not a prop. Big Time Indian Gathering and acorn festival days are held in September - confirm the dates. Treat the site with respect: stay on marked paths, do not touch the petroglyphs or stand on the carved rock beyond the permitted routes. Volcano and Sutter Creek are close by. It is a small park, but a deeply meaningful one.
14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Rd, Pine Grove, California, 95665, United States
The grounds and the marked path to the rock have generally been open during daylight hours throughout the year, while the Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum keeps shorter, set hours and has opened on fewer days, often with a closing day or two in the week - confirm the current times and any winter changes before you travel. The reconstructed village and the roundhouse may be closed to the public except during events or with a guide, and the roundhouse is a sacred place. Big Time gatherings in September change the schedule and the parking, and snow or ice on Highway 88 can close the park in winter, so check State Parks the morning you leave and call the museum for its current times.
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