Got Your Free State Historic Parks Pass? Here’s Three Ideas for Where to Use It Near the Bay Area

That’s why we delved into three spots — each no more than a few hours from the Bay Area — where you can spend the whole day immersed in history, with a taste of outdoors exploration on the side.

That’s the main draw of these state historic parks, said Ryan Forbes, spokesperson for California State Parks. Visiting them is “both an adventure and a chance to learn a lot about our past.”

Keep reading for three ideas for where to use your free California State Parks Historian Passport. And if you haven’t downloaded yours yet, make sure you do so before the state’s deadline on July 6.

Idea 1: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Sierra Foothills

Nestled in the Sierra Foothills in the town of Coloma is Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, the site of Sutter’s Mill where James Marshall first discovered gold, ushering in the California Gold Rush.

Holly Thane, an interpreter at the park, said the park shares this history, its subsequent effect on the indigenous people living in the area and on the natural environment and its agricultural future.

If you’ve never been to this state historic park before, Thane suggested taking a guided walking tour of the park, exploring the museum and — if they’re open — popping into the old Coloma buildings.

You can also try your luck at panning for gold, either with an instructor in a prepared trough that’s been filled with real gold, fool’s gold and red garnets, which are gemstones or on your own in the South Fork of the American River at the park’s gold panning beach.

Just know ahead of time: The walking tour costs $3 per person, and the panning tour is $12 — costs that aren’t included in your Historian Passport pass. Panning in the river is free, but unless you have one already, you will need to purchase a pan from the gift shop.

The plus side? You get to keep any gold you find.

Thane suggested coming to the park in the mornings during the summer, as later in the day can get both busy and hot — and staff doesn’t run the tours if the temperature gets above 95 degrees. If you’re heading to the river, Thane stressed that anyone planning to bathe or swim should absolutely use the lifejackets the park supplies, given how quickly this cold river moves.

Marshall Gold Discovery is an interactive park, but Thane said first-time visitors are often most surprised by the diversity of the people who came to the area in the 19th century in search of gold, “looking for that opportunity to better their lives, to provide for their families,” she said.

Want to make it a day trip? 

Experience the South Fork of the American River yourself with a rafting trip, or snag a nearby spot at one of the many campgrounds and make a weekend out of your trip. Thane also suggested visiting the nearby wineries for tastings or tours.

Idea 2: Olompali State Historic Park, Marin

Right here in the Bay Area is our own slice of state history at Olompali State Historic Park, the site of the oldest surviving house north of the San Francisco Bay. This structure was built by the head of the Olompali band of the Coast Miwok people, who would go on to become the only Native American to be given a land grant in northern Alta California.

This place is also oft-overlooked, Forbes said, because it’s right off Highway 101 but easy to miss.

“Olompali is one of the places that I would call one of our little hidden treasures,” Forbes said. “Most people don’t think to go to it, but it is a site with probably some of the most rich history that you can find in any of our parks.”

People have been living in the area “almost continuously for 8,000 years,” Forbes said. It’s also the site of a brief battle during the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt and would go on to have many renters and owners, including ranchers, Jesuit priests, the Grateful Dead and members of a hippie commune. “It’s a web of different stories,” Forbes said.

You may come to Olompali for the history, but you can stay for the excellent hiking. Once you’re done exploring the historic buildings, you can choose from a three-mile loop trail that meanders through oak woodlands and grassland before opening up onto views of San Pablo Bay or the longer 9-mile out-and-back to the top of Mt. Burdell for a bird’s-eye view of the Bay, “depending on how ambitious you feel,” Forbes said.

Want to make it a day trip? 

Bring a cooler or bag lunch and set up for a picnic near the historic area, which Forbes said is particularly family-friendly. Or, if you and your family are more the adventurous type, a network of trails connects the state and local parks in this area — so you can explore even farther into Marin County Parks and beyond.

Idea 3: Jack London State Historic Park, Sonoma

Located in Glen Ellen off of Highway 12 between Sonoma and Santa Rosa, Jack London State Historic Park memorializes the famous writer and the Sonoma Valley home he shared with his wife Charmain. The entire park is 1,400 acres, with more than 26 miles of trails to explore.

“It’s an incredibly well-preserved property with redwoods,” Forbes said.

For first-time visitors, Forbes suggested starting with the visitor center in “The House of Happy Walls” before heading down a short trail to Wolf House, a mansion the Londons had built but which burned down before they could enjoy it.

Along the way, you can explore Jack London’s grave before taking on any of the more rugged corners of the park — which has everything from creeks to orchards to meadows to redwood groves.

“Keep in mind, if you go to somewhere like Jack London, you might start in the museum and maybe end up on a hike out in the redwoods,” Forbes said. “So, prepare for not just history, but for a full adventure.” In other words, dress accordingly.

Want to make it a day trip?

While you’re out visiting Jack London, be sure to stop in the town of Sonoma on your way in, where you can grab lunch and also pop into Sonoma State Historic Park, which is also free under the historian pass.

If you’re looking for even more hiking, pop over to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park or head north to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, all the way to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, where you can hike to the top of Mt. St. Helena and — on a clear day — see all the way to Mt. Shasta. Don’t forget to stop at the many wineries on the way to make a whole day out of it.

Want even more ideas for state historic parks to visit for free?

Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park

The first permanent European colonial settlement in the Central Valley, now on display at Sutter’s Fort, is not just a celebration of the Gold Rush, but also a lesson in its founders’ exploits of Native American people and lands — and the ripple effects of the Gold Rush across the state.

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

Home to the state’s largest hydraulic gold mine, Malakoff Diggins explores the boom and bust of the Gold Rush, as visitors can explore the historic ghost town of North Bloomfield (formerly known as Humbug) and its more than 20 miles of hiking. The park’s rustic cabins are also a great spot for glamping.

Bodie State Historic Park

This eerie park is a long way away from the Bay, but if ghost towns are your thing, look no further. Making the trek all the way to the Eastern Sierra is worth it to explore the deserted streets of Bodie, a former Gold Rush boomtown of around 8,000 people that suffered from extreme population loss and fires and that’s now preserved in “arrested decay.”