Murphys

Murphys is an old gold-mining town in Calaveras County within the Gold Country region of California. The town has been a tourist destination since the late 1800s due to its proximity to the giant sequoia trees in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Today the walkable main street offers a number of wine-tasting rooms, restaurants, and tourist-friendly shops while providing an "old-timey" feel that hearkens back to the Gold Rush days.

Understand
In 2010, the town was hone to 2,200 people.

Do
There are three golf courses, tennis, fishing, hiking, gold panning expeditions, white water rafting, shopping, winter skiing at Bear Valley plus summer water skiing on New Melones Lake.



Drink
Murphys is becoming a rival to some Napa Valley towns for vineyards and wineries, with more than a dozen tasting rooms located along Main Street, and vineyards located just outside of town.



Go next

 * - Angels Camp is a Gold Rush town where Mark Twain overheard a tale that inspired his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"; today the town hosts a "Jumping Frog Jubilee" every May that draws thousands of visitors. Visitors will also enjoy the historic downtown and find amenities including several hotels and restaurants.  Attractions located just outside of town include the Natural Bridges trail, a 2 mi hike through two short but spectacular limestone caverns that have been carved out by Coyote Creek, as well as the Carson Hill ghost town, a former mine where a 195 pound troy gold nugget was unearthed in 1854.
 * - Arnold is a tiny town that offers supplies, restaurants and lodging for visitors to the giant sequoia groves of neighboring Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The town is also the starting point for the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway, a 61 mi stretch of Highways 4 and 89 that leads through incredible mountain scenery as it crosses over 8736 ft Ebbetts Pass, one of the Sierra's least-traveled mountain passes.  Additionally, Arnold is home to a 7 acre logging museum that has indoor and outdoor exhibits of large logging equipment and artifacts.
 * - This 6,498-acre park preserves two groves of giant sequoia trees, with the easily-accessible north grove home to approximately 100 trees, while the more remote south grove is home to about 1,000 trees. It has been a tourist destination since 1852 and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California. A campground is available from March through November.
 * - This 6,498-acre park preserves two groves of giant sequoia trees, with the easily-accessible north grove home to approximately 100 trees, while the more remote south grove is home to about 1,000 trees. It has been a tourist destination since 1852 and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California. A campground is available from March through November.
 * - This 6,498-acre park preserves two groves of giant sequoia trees, with the easily-accessible north grove home to approximately 100 trees, while the more remote south grove is home to about 1,000 trees. It has been a tourist destination since 1852 and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California. A campground is available from March through November.