Northern California has its fair share of ghost towns. While there are still a few left that are empty and barren, around here we believe in recycling. This means we appreciate the old towns and have fixed many up to be loved and lived in well again. This region was the go-to spot during the 1800s gold rush. In 1848, gold was discovered in Coloma. The rush lured thousands out to Northern California. Hoping to strike it rich, they panned for gold, hoping and praying it wouldn’t take long. Meanwhile, small towns like Placerville, Bodie, and Auburn among many others, popped up to accommodate these treasure hunters. Unfortunately, gold is a fickle friend and many were destitute within months, leaving behind their dreams of striking it rich for jobs on the railroad and anywhere else they could find work. What’s left are now some of the best ghost towns in Northern California.

1. Bodie
Bodie, CA, USA
flickr/Wolfgang Staudt
Bodie began as a mining camp of little note following the discovery of gold in 1859 by a group of prospectors, including W. S. Bodey. Bodey perished in a blizzard the following November while making a supply trip to Monoville (near present-day Mono City, California), never getting to see the rise of the town that was named after him.
2. Auburn
Auburn, CA, USA
flickr/James Gaither
French miners were the first to camp and find gold here in May 1848. The restored Old Town has houses and retail buildings from the middle of the 19th century. The oldest fire station and the Post Office date from the Gold Rush years. Casual gold-mining accessories, as well as American Indian and Chinese artifacts, can also be viewed by visitors at the Placer County Museum. Auburn was the home and birthplace of noted science fiction and fantasy poet and writer Clarke Ashton Smith. A memorial to him is located near Old Town.
3. Placerville
Placerville, CA 95667, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
AKA: Hangtown.

Placerville is a gold rush town rich in history. It's the oldest hardware store in business and the oldest newspaper in the state: The Mountain Democrat.
4. Susanville
Susanville, CA, USA
Jasperdo/Flickr
In 1855 a prospecting party discovered gold in nearby Honey Lake Valley. On the site of Susanville Isaac Roop, who named the town after his daughter, had already established a trading post in 1854 on one of the Sierra emigrant routes. Today Susanville is a busy center of agriculture, stock raising, lumbering, and vacationing. Still standing on Weatherlow Street is Isaac Roop's cabin. This photo is from a building downtown established in 1912.

Related Stories

The Remnants Of This Abandoned Prison In Northern California Are Hauntingly Beautiful

The Remnants Of This Abandoned Prison In Northern California Are Hauntingly Beautiful

 The Story Behind This Ghost Town Cemetery In Northern California Will Chill You To The Bone

The Story Behind This Ghost Town Cemetery In Northern California Will Chill You To The Bone

 The Awesome Hike In Northern California That Will Take You Straight To An Abandoned Mine

The Awesome Hike In Northern California That Will Take You Straight To An Abandoned Mine
5. French Gulch
French Gulch, CA 96033, USA
flickr/susan stienstra
French Gulch was founded by French miners in 1849 and became one of California's major gold-producing areas. The town became a major supply place when it became the terminus of the western branch of the California Trail.
6. Old Shasta
Shasta, CA, USA
flickr/Jasperdo
Located 6 miles west of Redding, California, along Highway 299, Old Shasta City was founded in the 1850s, and was a bustling gold rush town. The shells of many of the brick buildings still remain.
7. Coulterville
Coulterville, CA 95311, USA
flickr/Tom Spaulding
Coulterville was settled in 1850 by George W. Coulter, for whom it is also named. For a time Coulter lived in a tent flying the American Flag, prompting local Mexicans to call the place Banderita (Spanish for "small flag"). The Maxwell's Creek post office opened in 1852 and changed its name to Coulterville in 1853. The name Maxwell honored George Maxwell, with whom Coulter cast lots to determine the name of the town.
8. Angels Camp
Angels Camp, CA 95222, USA
Alden Jewell/Flickr
Henry Angell, a native of Rhode Island, set up a tent store on the banks of the creek. The placers around his camp were productive but gave out after a few years, and the population began to dwindle until gold-bearing quartz veins were discovered in the town, which brought people back. Those mines operated for the next few decades, producing more than $20 million worth of gold, processed by stamp mills in town. It was said that when the last mill finally ceased operations, the townspeople couldn't sleep, the silence was so loud.
9. Coloma
Coloma, CA, USA
flickr/bob white
Just north of Placerville, Coloma was the home of Johan Sutter whose name will be forever linked to the gold rush days. Sutter came to California from his native Switzerland in 1834 and was granted some land on the Sacramento River. It was toward the end of 1847 that Sutter began construction of his sawmill at a site the Indians called Cullooma. Sutter had a partner named James Marshall in building the sawmill. It was Marshall, not Sutter, who first discovered gold at Sutter's Mill. Ironically, neither Sutter nor Marshall profited from a discovery that should have made them independently wealthy. Among the things to see while visiting Coloma is the home of James Marshall at the time of his discovery in 1849 as well as his grave which overlooks the site of his discovery.

Many of the ghost towns around these parts have little left to photograph: a brick foundation, an old fireplace and some stray beams. We respect the ghosts of a time gone by and love coming across a town on a country drive that’s remained hidden just waiting to be discovered once again. Are there any ghost towns in your neck of the woods? Share your favorite ones in the comments below!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Ghost Towns in Northern California

Tori Jane | October 04, 2023

What are some of the spookiest ghost towns in Northern California?  

There are a surprising number of ghost towns in Northern California – and in all of California, really. It’s not surprising, considering how large the state is. Some of the most notable ghost towns in Northern California include towns like:  

  • Bodie – This incredibly well-preserved old mining town is actually a part of a state park now, ensuring it can be enjoyed and explored for generations to come.  
  • Placerville – This old town is home to the single oldest hardware store in the country. Once upon a time, it was a thriving gold rush town.  
  • Old Shasta City – Though not much remains of Old Shasta now besides some brick skeletons of old structures you can see from the highway, it’s still a place full of mystery nonetheless.  

Learn more about some of the most interesting ghost towns in Northern California. 

Which Northern California ghost towns can I still explore today?  

While many Northern California ghost towns are inaccessible or long gone, there are still a number of them you can explore to this day. Some of the best Northern California ghost towns to explore are:  

  • Bodie – Of course, worth mentioning again! This classic wild west town is one of the best-preserved ones in the country, and it’s definitely worth a trip.  
  • Chinese Camp – Home to many vacant businesses and abandoned homes, this little town is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas.  
  • Falk – There isn’t much left in Falk besides an old cabin and some of the eeriest woods you’ll ever visit, but it’s still worth checking out.  

Learn more about Chinese Camp and its possibly haunted streets! 

What are some other interesting, abandoned places in Northern California? 

Of course, the list of abandoned places in Northern California doesn’t end with the above-listed ghost towns. There are dozens more, such as:  

  • The Punta Gorda Lighthouse – This abandoned lighthouse is found on a remote section of the King Range National Conservation Area in Humboldt County. It’s difficult to access, assuring you’ll almost certainly have it to yourself should you hike the five miles to reach it.  
  • J’s Amusements Park – This creepy old abandoned amusement park is full of memories... and probably ghosts.  
  • The Tomales Bay Shipwreck – This is quite possibly the most photographed shipwreck in the United States.  

Learn more about all these amazing abandoned places in NorCal on this epic road trip.  

Related Articles

Explore Northern California