“There’s gold in the hills of California!” Very soon after the discovery of gold in 1848 near Sutter’s Mill, Major Pierson B. Reading discovered gold on Clear Creek. The result was a creek turned upside down. Due to the wildly successful efforts to restore its salmon runs, Clear Creek now hosts increasing numbers of spawning fall Chinook salmon. The best place to see spawning is at the Clear Creek Gorge Overlook. If it is not salmon spawning season, you will be fascinated by some of the earliest gold working features in California, and expect to see some of the abundant wildlife within this biologically rich corridor.

Distance: 1.25 Miles (One Way)

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate