The El Dorado National Forest stretches from Lake Tahoe on its northeastern border to within an hour's drive of Sacramento on the southwest. It is a mecca for people seeking serenity and an escape from the frenzied lifestyles that are commonplace today. Beautiful mountain vistas, multitudes of trails and small towns with unique shopping and restaurants provide a reprieve from the traditional amusement park and swimming pool summers and offer quality time with your family or that special someone.
The area was made famous by the California gold rush pioneer John Sutter and later by the legendary Kit Carson who led expeditions across the Sierra Mountain ranges and through the northern California forests. The historic Kennedy Gold Mine gives great insight to how those early settlers put all of their hopes into the Mother Lode and the fortune they probably never acquired. Visitors today can still pan for the precious metal and may be lucky enough to find more than Fool's Gold at the bottom of their pan. Outlaws and wagon trains are a thing of the past in the forest setting, but this well-kept secret of die-hard skiers and summer mountain enthusiasts is bustling with activity. Kirkwood Ski Resort, with America's deepest snow packs, provides champion quality ski slopes and trails in the winter and thrilling mountain bike and horseback riding trails in the summer. The El Dorado National Forest offers hiking trails and fishing holes and camp sites for anyone looking to become one with nature. Mountain Resorts and campgrounds offer a wide variety of accommodations from rustic decorated cabins with all of the amenities to walk in camp sites with merely a creek for running water. Anyone can be comfortable in the El Dorado National Forest.
A favorite destination of many is Kit Carson Lodge at Silver Lake. While they do not have a web site for making reservations, a quick phone call to the resort at (209) 258-8500 will end in acquisition of the accommodations best suited to you. Lakeshore hotel rooms have a bedroom, bath and private sundeck while the cottages have larger accommodations and include a full kitchen for weeklong stays. There is a well-established restaurant nestled in large pine and fir trees that offer superb views of the lake and a general store to keep you stocked with those late night snacks. Within a short distance, all activities in the El Dorado National Forest can be easily accessed and, for those days when the lake lapping against the rocky shore and pinecones falling nearby are enough to occupy your senses, the adjacent deck of a cabin or hotel room is a wonderful place to spend the day.
For those more interested in fine dining and great antique shopping, Jackson is definitely worth a visit while you explore the mountain range. You will feel as if you have completely escaped into a different time and setting but you will not have to give up the lifestyle you've come to appreciate. Incorporated in 1905 and the county seat of Amador County, Jackson is a haven for the weary traveler not quite ready to end a vacation or for the eager traveler just starting out on a week of adventure. Antique shops, restaurants and Bed and Breakfast Inns adorn the city with a population of 3,806. Images of Bonanza and Davey Crockett start to form in your head when you drive through town, but rest assured, while the Wild West is still alive, it is now refined. Wine tasting is a pastime that has come to the forefront of the community in recent years.
A number of small, family owned wineries have been established in recent years. Fabulous Bordeaux, Rhone, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Zinfandel wines have brought many awards to the El Dorado region and put the new vineyards on the map for wine connoisseurs. Barrel tastings and conversing with the winemakers top the list of activities in the fresh wine country. The Wild West is full of pleasant surprises for everyone. A week touring the El Dorado forest will not leave a visitor disappointed.
