Kyburz California is a quaint mountain town located in El Dorado County and surrounded by the Eldorado National Forest. It is a popular place to grab a treat or a hiking permit as you make your way from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Placerville up to Lake Tahoe on the Highway 50 corridor. This is one of those small towns in Northern California where should you blink as you pass it, you’ll miss it entirely. Eager to see what awaits you in this charming area? Here are the best things to do in Kyburz, California.

Kyburz is famous for this sign which tells you all you need to know about the size of the town.
Flickr/ Laura Gilmore
There are only about 170 people living in Kyburz, but you will see a few cabins in this area as it is quite a popular place for city dwellers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of more populous areas on the weekends.
You could definitely call it a one-horse town, but a two-ski town would be more accurate.
Flickr/ Laura Gilmore
Snowshoe Thompson skied through this area between 1856 and 1876. He carried mail back and forth between Placerville, California, and Genoa, Nevada, when these areas were all snowed in. The town has retained its connection to the ski industry over the years.
There is also evidence of Pony Express landmarks. In the summer, messengers on horseback and in stagecoaches would carry letters in and out of California via this route.
Flickr/dj venus
This window is located near a swimming hole in Kyburz. It's apparently the site of the 'first pony express building' in the country.
A beloved local landmark that towers above the community is a granite spire named Sugarloaf.
Flickr/ sandwich

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It's a popular place for hikers and rock climbers to play and explore the granite slopes of the Sierra.
Wikimedia/ Benjamin Chun
The terrain here is rough and windswept. Only the heartiest of trees can survive in this area.
Flickr/ Neil Kelley
This high-elevation plant is called the Juniperas occidentalis.
The American River flows through this area. It's quite a large river where it flows down in Sacramento, but up here at these higher elevations, it's more like a creek during much of the year.
Howcheng/Wikipedia
Another nearby tiny community, Silver Fork, gets its name from this same stretch of the river.
Not only will the whole family love this area, four-legged creatures are well loved in this neck of the woods, almost more than humans! People who make their homes here usually crave quiet and solidarity. It's definitely a popular place for weekenders, though!
Flickr/ /k
This friendly guy's name is Zeker!
It doesn't matter if you are coming or going, Kyburz is one of the most unique towns you can swing through in Northern California.
Wikimedia/ Eoghan

This tranquil video shows a fun place to hang out along the river in this beautiful alpine setting:

There are a ton of tiny little towns all over Northern California, but we think Kyburz takes the cake! What are your favorite
things to do in Kyburz, California? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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things to do in Kyburz, California

Tori Jane | October 10, 2022

Where is Kyburz, CA?  

Kyburz is a small town in Northern California – and we mean a small town – located in El Dorado County. It’s nestled right along the south fork of the American River and U.S. Route 50. It’s surrounded by the gorgeous Eldorado National Forest, which is a wonderful place to go camping in Northern California if you ever get the chance! Kyburz is tiny, with a population of fewer than 150 people. More tourists frequent this small Northern California town than residents.  

What are some fun things to do in Kyburz, CA?  

Some fun things to do in Kyburz, California include:

  • Hike around Wright's Lake
  • Explore the Sierra Nevada mountains
  • Take pictures of Horestail Falls

 

Kyburz is one of our favorite bucket list towns in Northern California, and there are just a handful of reasons why. It’s got all the small-town charm you could ever hope for packed into a cute, compact little place to escape from real life for a while. The most popular destination in Kyburz is Wright’s Lake, which isn’t just one of the most beautiful lakes in Northern California, but also one of the most beautiful places in Northern California, nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the west border of the famed Desolation Wilderness. Then, nearby the lake, you’ll find the Ice House Reservoir and Horsetail Falls on Pyramid Creek, both of which are excellent options to add to your outdoor to-do list.  

What small towns in Northern California should I add to my bucket list? 

The best small towns in Northern California are:

  • Nevada City
  • Sausalito
  • Dunsmuir
  • Bodega Bay
  • Mariposa

 

Speaking of bucket lists, there are numerous small towns in Northern California – on top of Kyburz – that you ought to add to your bucket list. Some of the most beautiful small towns in Northern California belong on that list, like Nevada City, Sausalito, Mendocino, Pacific Grove, and Ferndale. Northern California small towns are part of what makes this part of our beautiful state so fun and inviting, and we cannot get enough of the small-town charm each and every one seems to ooze from every crevice.  

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Kyburz, CA 95720, USA