Near the Bear Family Ranch - Activities and Services

From hiking to antiquing, ATV to boating, there are plenty of activities and places to explore in gold country. Here is a starting list of places to see, great restaurants and wineries to visit and key services you might need.  Don’t forget to reference the brochures at the ranch for more information. All phone numbers listed start with area code (209). 

Websites for finding Nearby Events


If you’re driving from the Bay Area, check out this On the Way to the Ranch guide. 


Airports

  • Westover Field – Amador County Airport (20 miles west in Jackson)
  • Mather Field - Sacramento International (50 miles west in Folsom)


Antiques

  • Downtown Sutter Creek (Several stores, try Water Street Antiques on Main Street and their warehouse in Martel near the intersection of Ridge Road and Highway 88)
  • Downtown Jackson


Art Galleries

  • Best selection in Downtown Sutter Creek
  • Volcano Gallery (Downtown Volcano, 296-3334)


ATM/Bank

  • St. George Hotel lobby (downtown Volcano)
  • Bank of Stockton (Pine Grove, 296-5500)
  • Wells Fargo (Jackson, 223-0113)


ATV Rental


Bakery

  • Kneading Dough Bakery (Volcano, 209-296-4663)
  • Just 10 min drive away. In addition to their pastries and awesome bread, also pick up a few frozen lasagnas for an easy dinner.
  • http://kneadingdoughbakery.com/
  • Amador Café & Bakery (Pioneer, 295-7794)
  • Wonder Hostess (Sutter Creek, 267-0736)


Bars

  • Whiskey Flat Saloon (Downtown Volcano, 296-4458)
  • Perfect spot to go for a shot of whiskey after a long day mining for gold, a must see!
  • The Annex at American Exchange Hotel (Downtown Sutter Creek, 267-5211)
  • Full bar and billiards, building circa 1850’s
  • Cook’s Station (Pioneer, 295-7900)
  • OK Corral (Pioneer, 295-4883)
  • Sutter Creek Palace Restaurant and Saloon (19 miles west in Sutter Creek, 267-1300)
  • www.suttercreekpalace.com/ 
  • Susan’s Place – Wine Bar & Eatery (19 miles west in Sutter Creek, 267-0945)
  • www.susansplace.com/ 


Boating/Personal Watercraft (see Lakes)


Bowling

  • Gold Country Lanes (Sutter Creek, 223-3334)


Casino


Dining

  • We have a couple favorites, and we listed the other nearby below as well. 
  • Volcano Union Inn + Pub is our favorite closeby place for meals. Excellent food and only 10 min drive away. 10 minutes away, personal favorite. Must try their watermelon salad if it’s on the menu. Great food and you can play darts and shuffleboard while you wait. But they are closed Tuesday to Wednesday. Check their schedule before going. http://www.volcanounion.com/pages/home.cgi  (Downtown Volcano, 296-7711)
  • Kneading Dough Bakery in Volcano is 10 min drive away as well, and has excellent pastries of all kinds. http://kneadingdoughbakery.com/
  • The Jackson Rancheria Casino has a good buffet and is an extremely great deal at lunch from Monday to Wednesday (only $9.95 no tax for adults, at least in 2016 when we went). This one is about 25 min drive away. http://www.jacksoncasino.com/dining/rancheria-buffet
  • Strings Italian Cafe in Jackson has the most affordable Cioppino I’ve ever had! Relaxed atmosphere with soup or salad coming with every meal, it feels like an Olive Garden but the menu is more Italian. It’s 30 min drive away. http://www.jacksonstrings.com/
  • 88 Giant Burgers To Go (Pine Grove, 296-7277)
  • Bru-Go’s Take and Bake Pizza (Pioneer, 295-2253)
  • Café Via d’Oro (Downtown Sutter Creek, 267-0535)
  • Country Store (Great lunch fare, Downtown Volcano, 296-4459)
  • The Crooked Fork (Downtown Sutter Creek, 267-5211)
  • Located in American Exchange Hotel, circa 1850’s
  • Franco’s Italian Café (Buckhorn Center in Pioneer, 295-1700)
  • Gianninis Italian Dinners (Pine Grove, 296-7222)
  • Kirkwood Inn & Saloon (Kirkwood, 258-7304)
  • Historic, classic old saloon, great food
  • Kit Carson Lodge & Restaurant (Great brunch, Silver Lake, 258-8500)
  • Las Minas Mexican Restaurant (Pine Grove, 296-6400)
  • Le’s Chinese Restaurant (Pioneer, 295-7000)
  • Voted Best Asian Food by local newspaper readers
  • Lone Wolf Steak & Seafood (Jackson Rancheria, 800-822-WINN)
  • OK Corral (Pioneer, 295-4883)
  • Pine Grove Market Deli (Great sandwiches, Pine Grove, 296-3443)
  • Raging River Restaurant (Jackson Rancheria, 800-822-WINN)
  • Red Corral Mini Mart Deli (Pioneer, 295-5400)
  • Sequoia Drive-In (Pioneer, 295-8838)
  • Best burgers, Cajun fries, and whole smoked chickens
  • Sierra House Restaurant (Nice breakfast and lunch spot, Pine Grove, 296-4894)
  • St. George Hotel Restaurant (6.7 mile drive southwest in Volcano, 296-4458)
  • Voted #1 Restaurant in Amador County for Best Fine Dining, brunch on Sundays, you can also eat in the adjacent Whiskey Flat Saloon
  • Sutter Creek Palace Restaurant and Saloon (19 miles west in Sutter Creek, 267-1300)
  • www.suttercreekpalace.com/ 
  • Susan’s Place – Wine Bar & Eatery (19 miles west in Sutter Creek, 267-0945)
  • www.susansplace.com/ 
  • Taste Restaurant (18 miles west in Plymouth, 245-DINE)
  • Voted one of the Top 50 restaurants in the U.S. by OpenTable
  • www.restauranttaste.com
  • The Meadows (Mace Meadows Golf Course, 295-8808)


Emergency Care

  • Sutter Amador Hospital (18 miles southwest in Jackson, 223-7500)


Farmers Markets

  • Saturdays:  Sutter Creek, 8AM – 11AM on Eureka Street
  • Sundays:  Jackson, 10AM – 1PM behind Mel and Faye’s, Hwy 49
  • Wednesdays:  Pine Grove, 3PM – 6PM at Pine Grove Park
  • Thursdays:  Plymouth, 4PM – 7PM at McGee Park, Main Street
  • For more details, go to www.amadorfarmersmarket.com 


Fishing

  • Lake Tabeaud (14 miles SW) - 25 minutes drive from the ranch. No motorized boats allowed.
  • Bear River Reservoir (25 miles east) - Only a 25 minute drive from the ranch.  Have restaurant, bar, canoe and fishing boat rentals. 
  • www.bearrivercampground.com 
  • Silver Lake (35 miles east)
  • Kirkwood Lake (38 miles east)
  • Lake Amador (30 miles west)


Gas

  • Pine Grove Stage Stop (10 miles southwest in Pine Grove)
  • 76 (Pine Grove)
  • Entrance to Jackson Rancheria on Highway 88


Gold Rush Attractions

  • Gabby's Historic Gold Rush Tours (Pine Grove, 296-3106)
  • Historic Kennedy Gold Mine Surface Tours (20 miles west in Jackson) - Open 10-3 on Sat/Sun, FREE. www.kennedygoldmine.com/
  • Roaring Camp Mining Co. (Pine Grove, 296-4100) (Open May to September) www.roaringcampgold.com/
  • Sutter Creek General Store Museum


Golf


Groceries

  • Pine Grove Market (10 miles southwest in Pine Grove, 296-3443) - Best local grocer, super nice people, great selection
  • Swingle Meat Company (on the way in Jackson, 223-0731) - www.swinglemeat.com   -Kona marinade on chicken or beef is the best! Worth the stop even if you don’t eat meat…kids love it!
  • Walgreens Store (17 miles west in Sutter Creek, 267-5128) - Good selection of convenience food and beverage items
  • Country Store (Historic, 6.7 miles southwest in downtown Volcano, 296-4459)
  • Frontier Mini Mart (4.3 miles southwest in Pine Grove, 296-8944)
  • Payless Market (8.3 miles east in Pioneer, 295-7112)
  • One Stop Market (9 miles southwest in Pine Grove)
  • Albertsons Supermarket (21 miles west in Jackson, 223-5945)
  • Safeway Supermarket (19 miles west in Jackson, 257-0779)
  • Raley’s Supermarket (19 miles west in Jackson, 223-9650)


Hospital

  • Sutter Amador Hospital (18 miles southwest in Jackson, 223-7500)


Hiking

  • On the ranch property itself. See maps referenced in subsequent pages.
  • Salt Springs Reservoir (access off Ellis road, 17 miles uphill off Highway 88)
  • Potholes (Silver Lake, near Kirkwood, see Swimming for details)
  • Lake Margaret trail head (38 miles east in Kirkwood)
  • Eldorado and Stanislaus National Forests
  • www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/recreation/trails-nomoto/hwy88/
  • Mokelumne Wilderness area


Horseback Riding/Carriage Rides

  • Bunker Hill Ranch in Amador City (near Sutter Creek) http://www.bunkerhillranches.com/ 
  • Joe or Shirley Sinai (209) 267-0123  bunkerhill @wildblue.net
  • 14555 Bunker Hill Rd, Amador City, CA 95601
  • Wild West Trails at Amador Creek Ranch
  • Reeves' Carriages/Wild West Trails (Sutter Creek, 267-1100)
  • Kirkwood Sierra Outfitters (38 miles east)  www.kirkwoodsierraoutfitters.com
  • Try the new Red Cliffs Sunset Ride
  • This Adventure ride begins near the Lodge at Kirkwood, riding through Thunder Saddle and into the Mokelumne Wilderness to the top of Red Cliffs, with a rest by Shep’s Lake. Expect about a 3 hour ride with outrageous views! Rides are Saturday evenings after the mountain bike park closes (3:30). $125/person. Midweek, day and evening rides also available. For information or to make advance reservations, call Kirkwood Sierra Outfitters 209-258-RIDE (messages only) or Ranch phone: 209-785-7066  
  • Camp Richardson’s Corral (71 miles east in South Lake Tahoe)
  • www.camprichardson.com/  
  • Cascade Stables (74 miles east in South Lake Tahoe, 530-541-2055)
  • 2199 Cascade Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 
  • Zephyr Cove Stables (77 miles east in South Lake Tahoe)
  • www.zephyrcovestables.com/  

Ice Cream

  • Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium (Downtown Sutter Creek, 267-0543)
  • Munnerlyn’s Ice Creamery (Hwy 88 in Pine Grove)
  • Great selection of homemade ice cream!
  • Ice Cream To-Go (Pioneer, 295-7477)


Kid’s Favorites

  • Black Chasm Cavern Natural Landmark (4 miles west) - Gemstone mining is our kid’s favorite - www.caverntours.com/BlackRt.htm 
  • Chaw'se Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park (8 miles west) - See the holes ground in the rocks by the Indians, teepees - www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=553  
  • Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium (Downtown Sutter Creek, 267-0543) -Old-fashioned ice cream spot, like going back in history
  • Historic Kennedy Gold Mine Surface Tours (20 miles west in Jackson) www.kennedygoldmine.com   
  • Grover Hot Springs State Park (69 miles east) www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=508 
  • Clements Rodeo (43 miles west in Clements) www.clementsarena.com   
  • Lumberjack Day (West Point, First Saturday in October, 293-4325)


Lakes

  • Bear River Reservoir (25 miles east) -Only a 25-minute drive from the ranch.  Check out the restaurant, bar, and boat rentals.
  • Silver Lake (35 miles east) -Our favorite. BYO boat. $5 parking. Beautiful alpine lake. Hiking nearby. 
  • Kirkwood Lake (38 miles east)
  • Lake Amador (30 miles west)
  • Lake Camanche (36 miles west)
  • Sly park recreation area ( SPRA) at Jenkinson Lake  (1 hr drive) -Our second favorite if we want a warmer lake than Silver Lake. https://www.eid.org/recreation/sly-park-recreation-area-spra-at-jenkinson-lake. Day use fee $5 if you go on the east side of Jenkinson lake. You pay $14-15 ( senior $10/12) if you take Sly park recreation area entrance, drive until you see the last campground, about 1 Mile walk to the waterfall. Large lake separates the boating area from the swimming areas. Go early if you want to get a picnic table. 


Liquor Store

  • Buckhorn Liquor Store (Pioneer, 295-7374)


Massage

  • A Natural Balance (Jackson, 223-3216)
  • Davina’s Healing Hands (Jackson, 223-1497)
  • Eugenia’s Massage (Pine Grove, 296-5200)


Mountain Biking


Movie Theater

  • Regal Cinemas (Jackson, 223-2506)


Pharmacy

  • Walgreens Pharmacy (17 miles downhill, brand new in Sutter Creek, 267-5128)
  • Albertsons Supermarket (21 miles west in Jackson, 223-5945)
  • Safeway Supermarket (19 miles west in Jackson, 257-0779)
  • Raley’s Supermarket (19 miles west in Jackson, 223-9650)


Restaurants (see Dining)


Rock Climbing


Shopping

  • Downtown Sutter Creek (16 miles down Shake Ridge Road)
  • Downtown Jackson (19 miles west)
  • Sierra Mountain Home (Pioneer, 295-4488)
  • Wal-Mart (19 miles west in Martell, 223-5384)


Skiing and Snowboarding

  • Kirkwood Mountain Resort (38 miles east)
  • World class downhill and cross country, sled dog tours
  • www.kirkwood.com  
  • Heavenly Ski Resort (73 miles east in South Lake Tahoe)
  • www.skiheavenly.com  


Sledding


Snow Shoeing

  • Caples Lake Resort, near Kirkwood


Swimming

  • Bear River Lake Resort
  • Only a 20-minute drive from the ranch.  Check out the restaurant, bar, and boat rentals at www.bearrivercampground.com 
  • Silver Lake (35 miles east)
  • Nice spot to swim, play and fish
  • “The Potholes”
  • Take a right out of Lockwood Lane and take Shake Ridge Road up to highway 88 (6 miles) and then head left/uphill on Highway 88 for ~27 miles and you will see a sign for Kit Carson Lodge right after Silver Lake.  Pull into the parking area right next to the dam on the lake and park right next to the highway.  Cross over the highway and you will see the start of a trail to the right.  Follow this trail along the Silver Fork of the American River which begins at Silver Lake.  It is a level walk and the trail is well worn, but not marked.
  • Detert Park
  • Lake Amador Resort
  • Pine Acres Resort


Tennis

  • There are 4 tennis courts at Amador High School in Sutter Creek (330 Spanish Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685) and 4 courts at Argonaut High School in Jackson (501 Argonaut Ln., Jackson, CA 95642)


Theater (Live)


Waterskiing (See Lakes)


Wine Tasting (Wine Maps) 


Whitewater Rafting

  • Ahwahnee Adventures
  • Beyond Limits Adventures
  • O.A.R.S., Inc.
  • Sierra Mac River Trips
  • Zephyr River Expeditions, Inc


Zip Lining


Contact

Bear Family Ranch
Bear Family Ranch
Volcano, CA

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