State Route 49 (SR 49) is a north–south
state highway
A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either ''numbered'' or ''maintained'' by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a ...
in the
U.S. state of
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
that passes through many historic mining communities of the 1849
California gold rush
The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California f ...
. Highway 49 is numbered after the "49ers", the waves of immigrants who swept into the area looking for gold, and it is known as the Golden Chain Highway. This roadway begins at
Oakhurst,
Madera County, in the
Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada () is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primar ...
, where it diverges from State Route 41. It continues in a generally northwest direction, weaving through the communities of Goldside and Ahwahnee, before crossing into
Mariposa County. State Route 49 then continues northward through the counties of
Tuolumne,
Calaveras,
Amador,
El Dorado
El Dorado (, ; Spanish for "the golden"), originally ''El Hombre Dorado'' ("The Golden Man") or ''El Rey Dorado'' ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (''zipa'') or king ...
,
Placer,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
,
Yuba,
Sierra, and
Plumas, where it reaches its northern terminus at
State Route 70, in
Vinton.
Route description
SR 49 starts at an intersection with
SR 41 near
Oakhurst. The road heads west before turning north before the town of
Ahwahnee near the
Wassama Roundhouse State Historic Park. SR 49 continues north, passing through
Nipinnswassee before entering
Mariposa County and the
Sierra National Forest
Sierra National Forest is a U.S. national forest located on the western slope of central Sierra Nevada in Central California and bounded on the northwest by Yosemite National Park and the south by Kings Canyon National Park. The forest is know ...
. Continuing to the west, SR 49 passes through
Mormon Bar before running concurrently with
SR 140 briefly through the town of
Mariposa. Near the town of
Mount Bullion, SR 49 passes by
Mariposa-Yosemite Airport before turning northwest and going through
Bear Valley and the intersection with
CR J16. The highway passes by the southern edge of
Lake McClure and intersects
SR 132 in
Coulterville before passing into
Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County (), officially the County of Tuolumne, is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,620. The county seat and only incorporated city is Sonora.
Tuolumne County comprises th ...
.
SR 49 continues north through the town of
Moccasin
A moccasin is a shoe, made of deerskin or other soft leather, consisting of a sole (made with leather that has not been "worked") and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top, and sometimes with a vamp (additional pane ...
, where
SR 120 runs concurrently for several miles to the town of
Chinese Camp. SR 49 then turns northeast and runs concurrently with
SR 108, intersecting
CR E5, into the city of
Sonora
Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
. SR 49 splits from SR 108 and enters downtown Sonora as Stockton Street, turning north onto Washington Street before leaving the Sonora city limits. SR 49 intersects the north end of CR E5 before passing through
Tuttletown and crossing into
Calaveras County at the bridge over the
Stanislaus River
The Stanislaus River is a tributary of the San Joaquin River in north-central California in the United States. The main stem of the river is long, and measured to its furthest headwaters it is about long. Originating as three forks in the hig ...
.
SR 49 passes by Robinson's Ferry, a ferry across the
Stanislaus River
The Stanislaus River is a tributary of the San Joaquin River in north-central California in the United States. The main stem of the river is long, and measured to its furthest headwaters it is about long. Originating as three forks in the hig ...
established in 1848. Next is the Birthplace of
Archie Stevenot
Archie Stevenot (September 25, 1882 – August 1, 1968) was a prominent citizen in Calaveras County, California and Supreme Noble Grand Humbug of E Clampus Vitus. Born in Carson Hill, Stevenot helped found the California Chamber of Commerce and h ...
, who helped found the California State Chamber of Commerce and was officially named "Mr. Mother Lode" by the California legislature. SR 49 then enters
Carson Hill,
where the largest gold nugget in California (195 pounds
troy
Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Ç ...
) was found. Passing by
New Melones Lake
New Melones Lake is a reservoir on the Stanislaus River in the central Sierra Nevada foothills, within Calaveras County and Tuolumne County, California.
The New Melones Dam and reservoir are a water collection and transfer unit of the Central V ...
, SR 49 briefly runs concurrently with
SR 4 in the city of
Angels Camp,
which lies in one of the richest
quartz
Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica ( silicon dioxide). The atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical f ...
mining sections of the Mother Lode and is home of "
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County".
SR 49 continues through
Altaville, which was an important foundry town. Fourth Crossing was an important
stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are dra ...
and freighting depot that served the
Southern Mines until after the turn of the 20th century. The highway continues into
San Andreas, where
SR 12 terminates.
This is where
Charles Bolles
Charles E. Boles (b. 1829; d. after February 28, 1888), also known as Black Bart, was an American outlaw noted for the poetic messages he left behind after two of his robberies. Often called Charley by his friends, he was also known as Charles ...
, also known as "Black Bart", was tried and sentenced.
Chili Gulch is the site of the
Chilean War. SR 49 continues into
Mokelumne Hill, where it intersects with
SR 26;
Mokelumne Hill was the richest
placer mining
Placer mining () is the mining of stream bed ( alluvial) deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit (also called open-cast mining) or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment.
Placer mining is frequently used fo ...
section of
Calaveras County and one of the principal mining towns of California in its heyday.
SR 49 then passes through Big Bar, which is located on the county line between
Amador County
Amador County () is a county located in the U.S. state of California, in the Sierra Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,474. The county seat is Jackson. Amador County, located within California's Gold Country, is known as "T ...
and
Calaveras County. The
Mokelumne River
The Mokelumne River ( or ; ''Mokelumne'', Miwok for "People of the Fish Net") is a -long river in northern California in the United States. The river flows west from a rugged portion of the central Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley and ul ...
was mined at this point in 1848. Established in 1849, the "Whale Boat Ferry" operated until the first bridge was built, about 1852. The Butte Store is the only structure remaining of Butte City, prosperous mining town of the 1850s.
Argonaut and Kennedy Mines
The Argonaut Mine is a gold mine in Jackson, California, United States. The deposit was discovered 1850 and was the site of the worst gold-mining disaster in the state's history. The mine closed in 1942 and, along with the nearby Kennedy Mine, ...
were two of the highest-yielding gold mines in the state. SR 49 runs concurrently with
SR 88 briefly through the town of
Martell before intersecting the eastern terminus of
SR 104
Route 104, or Highway 104, may refer to:
Brazil
* BR-104
Canada
* New Brunswick Route 104
* Nova Scotia Highway 104 (Trans-Canada Highway)
* Prince Edward Island Route 104
* Quebec Route 104
China
* China National Highway 104
Costa Rica
* Nat ...
and passing near (a bypass around Sutter Creek and Amador City was constructed in 2009 )first the city of
Sutter Creek and then
Drytown.
Drytown is the oldest town in Amador County and the first in the county in which gold was discovered.
SR 49 then intersects the eastern end of
SR 16 before passing through the city of
Plymouth
Plymouth () is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to ...
. The highway continues through
Enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterprise ...
before crossing into
El Dorado County
El Dorado County (), officially the County of El Dorado, is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 191,185. The county seat is Placerville. The County is part of the Sacramento- Roseville- ...
and passing through the towns of
Nashville
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and th ...
,
El Dorado
El Dorado (, ; Spanish for "the golden"), originally ''El Hombre Dorado'' ("The Golden Man") or ''El Rey Dorado'' ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (''zipa'') or king ...
, and
Diamond Springs (the latter two as Pleasant Valley Road) before entering
Placerville. SR 49 traverses downtown on Pacific Street and Main Street before continuing onto Spring Street, where it intersects the
US 50 expressway
at-grade At-grade may refer to:
*At-grade intersection, a crossing between roads on the same level
* Road junction
*Level crossing, where a road or path crosses a railway on the same level
* Diamond crossing, where two railway tracks cross
* At-grade railway ...
before continuing north as Georgetown Road.
As it leaves the Placerville city limits, SR 49 intersects the southern terminus of
SR 193 before continuing northwest as Coloma Road into the town of
Coloma,
where gold was first discovered in 1848, sparking the gold rush. It is home of the
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. The highway continues through
Lotus before turning north at
Pilot Hill and intersecting the northern terminus of SR 193 at
Cool. SR 49 continues through the
Auburn State Recreation Area
Auburn State Recreation Area is a state park unit of California, along of the North and Middle Forks of the American River. The state recreation area (SRA) is situated on the border of Placer and El Dorado Counties in the heart of historic Go ...
before crossing into
Placer County and entering the city of
Auburn as High Street for a very short distance before turning west on Elm Avenue. SR 49 continues onto
I-80 west at an interchange for a very short distance until the interchange at exit 119B where SR 49 departs from I-80. SR 49 then continues almost due north out of the Auburn city limits.
SR 49 continues north, crossing into
Nevada County and passing through
Higgins Corner and
Forest Springs. SR 49 becomes a freeway and enters the city of
Grass Valley, where it runs concurrently with
SR 20 and interchanges with the northern end of
SR 174.
Empire Mine in
Grass Valley was the richest hard-rock mine in California in its mining history of 106 years (1850–1956). SR 49 and SR 20 continue into
Nevada City, where SR 49 exits from the freeway and heads due west out of the Nevada City city limits.
SR 49 continues through the towns of
Sweetland and
North San Juan, where it crosses into
Yuba County
Yuba County (; Maidu: ''Yubu'') is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 81,575. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is included in the Yuba City, California Metropolitan Statistical ...
and enters
Tahoe National Forest. The route goes through
Log Cabin
A log cabin is a small log house, especially a less finished or less architecturally sophisticated structure. Log cabins have an ancient history in Europe, and in America are often associated with first generation home building by settlers.
Eur ...
and
Camptonville.
Camptonville is a gold rush town where the
Pelton wheel was invented and is a
Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
__NOTOC__
The following is a list of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks as designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers since it began the program in 1964. The designation is granted to projects, structures, and sites in the United State ...
. SR 49 then crosses into
Sierra County, where it passes through
Goodyears Bar,
Downieville, and
Sierra City on its forest journey. After passing near
Kentucky Mine Historic Park, SR 49 goes through
Bassetts and
Haskell Creek, then shares a
wrong-way concurrency
A concurrency in a road network is an instance of one physical roadway bearing two or more different route numbers. When two roadways share the same right-of-way, it is sometimes called a common section or commons. Other terminology for a concur ...
with
SR 89 briefly through
Sattley and
Sierraville. SR 49 then leaves the forest as Loyalton Road, passing through the city of
Loyalton and intersecting
CR A24 before crossing into
Plumas County as Vinton Loyalton Road, where SR 49 ends at
SR 70 in the town of
Vinton.
SR 49 is part of the
California Freeway and Expressway System
The California Freeway and Expressway System is a system of existing or planned freeways and expressways in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses both State highways and federal highways in California. It is defined by Article 2 (comme ...
,
and from SR 140 to a point north of SR 88 as well as from I-80 to SR 20 is part of the
National Highway System,
a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program ...
.
SR 49 is eligible to be included in the
State Scenic Highway System,
and from the Sierra-Yuba county line to Yuba Summit is officially designated as a scenic highway by the
California Department of Transportation
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is an executive department of the U.S. state of California. The department is part of the cabinet-level California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). Caltrans is headquartered in Sacram ...
.
The segment of SR 49 from SR 20 in Nevada City to SR 89 in Sierraville also forms part of the
Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway, a
National Forest Scenic Byway.
SR 49 is known as the Golden Chain Highway for the entire route. SR 49 is known as the
John C. Begovich Memorial Highway from
Jackson to
SR 88 (honoring the California legislator and
U.S. Marshal), and the Mother Lode Highway from
Sonora
Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
to
Auburn.
Major intersections
See also
*
References
External links
WestCoast Roads- State Route 49Caltrans: Route 49 highway conditionsHistory Highway 49Weather on Highway 49 in Angels Camp, CA
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Sierra Nevada (United States)
Gold rush trails and roads