Empire Mine State Historic Park
Grass Valley, CA
One of California’s richest hard-rock gold mines, worked until 1956, with the owner’s stone cottage and gardens. Look down the main shaft and walk the forest trails.
The Empire Mine near Grass Valley operated from 1850 to 1956, interrupted only by a wartime closure during World War II (October 1942 to June 1945). It produced about 5.8 million ounces of gold from roughly 591 km (367 miles) of tunnels. In 1897 the mine owner William Bowers Bourn II had Willis Polk design a cottage built from the mine’s waste rock, set among gardens with fountains and a reflecting pool.
Today California State Parks manages the site as a historic park (since 1975). In the visitor center, the former carriage and automobile house, exhibits include a model of the underground workings; the gardens cover about 5 hectares (13 acres). From May to October there are living-history tours on weekends. You can also hike about 22 km (14 miles) of trails through the extensive park grounds. Allow two to three hours for the mine, cottage and gardens.
- Nearest town
- Grass Valley, CA
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 39.2060, -121.0466
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. Hot in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camp WatandaCampsite6 mi from Empire Mine State Historic Park
- Cottage Creek CampgroundCampsite14 mi from Empire Mine State Historic Park
- Giant Gap CampgroundCampsite14 mi from Empire Mine State Historic Park
- Schoolhouse CampgroundCampsite15 mi from Empire Mine State Historic Park
- Thousand TrailsMotorhome stopover17 mi from Empire Mine State Historic ParkMotorhomes
- Sycamore Ranch CampgroundMotorhome stopover19 mi from Empire Mine State Historic ParkTentsMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
All campsites in California · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Empire Mine State Historic Park?
Empire Mine State Historic Park is in Grass Valley, CA, at GPS 39.2060, -121.0466. It is about 4 mi from Nevada City.
Can you camp near Empire Mine State Historic Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Inn Town Campground, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 46 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Empire Mine State Historic Park?
Empire Mine State Historic Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Gold Country on Highway 49.
What is there to see near Empire Mine State Historic Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park (29 mi), Emerald Bay (53 mi), Sand Harbor (60 mi) and Mormon Station State Historic Park (66 mi).
When is the best time to visit Empire Mine State Historic Park?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)