California Goldfield Routes

In 1848 and 1849, as word spread that gold had been found in wondrous quantities in California, there were two ways an adventurous Argonaut-wannabe could travel to California: by land or by sea.

Just getting to California wasn't easy, and once they got here, they still had a long way to go before reaching the goldfields.

Once a ship reached port in 1848 San Francisco, the Argonauts - soon to be called 49ers in honor of the year when most first arrived - still had a trek ahead of them. Whether they were headed to the Northern mines or the Southern, it was about 140 miles to the goldfields.

Both routes required getting through the Coastal Mountain Range and crossing the Great Central Valley to reach the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

There were supplies to be acquired and arrangements to be made for transportation.

Those traveling to Coloma and the Northern mines sailed up the Sacramento River to New Helvetia (Old Sacramento), where they would meet up with the covered-wagon folk who had pulled into Sutter's Fort after their long journey.

Those heading for the Southern mines sailed along the San Joaquin River to Stockton. Either way, they would continue across the Central Valley on foot, on horse- or mule-back, or aboard a wagon.

An Interesting Tidbit of Info: One of the fascinating things that happened during this period in California history had a profound impact on the newly burgeoning city of San Francisco.

So many ship's crews caught the gold fever along the way and deserted their ships for the get-rich-quick promise of California's goldfields that the captains couldn't return to their home ports.

Instead they sold their sails for tents, rented out their ships for warehouses, shops, etc., or sold the ship for its lumber and/or as landfill.

Much of what is now the City of San Francisco is built atop what used to be harbor!

But whether they traveled by sea or by land, along the Sacramento River or the San Joaquin, they were a determined lot, and they were taking part in what was to become one of the greatest human migrations in recorded history.

From 1848 to 1850, California's population increased from 14,000 to 100,000, growing to 200,000 by 1852, and exceeding 300,000 in 1853.

These 49ers also ultimately provided the impetus for the creation of a Transcontinental Railroad which would bind the Eastern and Western seaboards of the United States and greatly hasten the settlement of the vast territories in between.

If you're interested in the goldfield routes that the 49ers took to get to California, check here:

Around the Horn
One way to get to the California goldfields was to traverse the Horn by sailing ship.

Overland by Covered Wagon
The other way to get to the California goldfields was to spend up to 6 months walking alongside a prairie schooner.

San Francisco Gold Rush
Follow the self-guided walking tours called "The Barbary Coast Trail" and "The Gold Rush Trail".

Follow the Sacramento River
Want to know which route the 49ers took from San Francisco to Sacramento City?

Old Sacramento
What did the 49ers find when they reached Sacramento City?

Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort - a step back in time!

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CALIFORNIA GOLDFIELD ROUTES