The Ponderosa Ranch Guide to Amador County

Julianna
The Ponderosa Ranch Guide to Amador County

City/town information

Volcano is a hidden gem of the foothills and very close to where you will be staying! This "micro" gold-mining town is just one block long but contains some amazing restaurants, a wonderful bar, a general store, and a community theatre whose summer events in the amphitheater are not to be missed (advanced tickets always required!) Be sure to grab dinner at The Union Inn or St. George Hotel and get your nightcap at Whiskey Flat Saloon.
12 locals recommend
Volcano
12 locals recommend
Volcano is a hidden gem of the foothills and very close to where you will be staying! This "micro" gold-mining town is just one block long but contains some amazing restaurants, a wonderful bar, a general store, and a community theatre whose summer events in the amphitheater are not to be missed (advanced tickets always required!) Be sure to grab dinner at The Union Inn or St. George Hotel and get your nightcap at Whiskey Flat Saloon.
This amazing little town is a haven of the Amador County culinary scene. While it's only about 1 block long, the thriving little main street includes an incredible brewery, wonderful cafe, natural wine bar, local tasting rooms, and more!
31 locals recommend
Amador City
31 locals recommend
This amazing little town is a haven of the Amador County culinary scene. While it's only about 1 block long, the thriving little main street includes an incredible brewery, wonderful cafe, natural wine bar, local tasting rooms, and more!
Be sure to explore the main street of Sutter Creek. Loaded with restaurants, tasting rooms, and antique shops, this gold town is the true "jewel" of Amador county with something for everyone in a beautiful setting.
70 locals recommend
Sutter Creek
70 locals recommend
Be sure to explore the main street of Sutter Creek. Loaded with restaurants, tasting rooms, and antique shops, this gold town is the true "jewel" of Amador county with something for everyone in a beautiful setting.

Food scene

This upcountry mountain bar is a fun, rustic spot to pull over for a hot chocolate or cold beer on the way up to or back from the mountain. Food isn't the best, but the setting in the historic cabin from the late 1800's is not to be passed up!
Ham's Station
34950 California 88
This upcountry mountain bar is a fun, rustic spot to pull over for a hot chocolate or cold beer on the way up to or back from the mountain. Food isn't the best, but the setting in the historic cabin from the late 1800's is not to be passed up!
This natural wine bar is the tasting room of End of Nowhere, serving delicious whites, rosés and carbonic red wines along with small bites. Through the season they have various pop-up dinner events, so check their IG page for details. Beautiful patio overlooking the creek along Main Street in Amador City.
7 locals recommend
The End of Nowhere
14204 Main Street
7 locals recommend
This natural wine bar is the tasting room of End of Nowhere, serving delicious whites, rosés and carbonic red wines along with small bites. Through the season they have various pop-up dinner events, so check their IG page for details. Beautiful patio overlooking the creek along Main Street in Amador City.
Absolutely stellar local ice cream spot. So many flavors to choose from. Don't miss taking a pint home for later.
20 locals recommend
Munnerlyn's Ice Creamery
20145 CA-88
20 locals recommend
Absolutely stellar local ice cream spot. So many flavors to choose from. Don't miss taking a pint home for later.
The best local coffee shop in the county with a location on Main Street in Sutter Creek. Cold brew, speciality coffees, and regular coffee are all wonderful.
Choc-O-Latte
204a Main Street
The best local coffee shop in the county with a location on Main Street in Sutter Creek. Cold brew, speciality coffees, and regular coffee are all wonderful.
Excellent restaurant located in the small town of Volcano. Reservations usually required. Lovely patio and wonderful location inside the main floor of a revived historic hotel.
31 locals recommend
Volcano Union Inn
21375 Consolation St
31 locals recommend
Excellent restaurant located in the small town of Volcano. Reservations usually required. Lovely patio and wonderful location inside the main floor of a revived historic hotel.
This place serves burgers, fries, and shakes. That's about it. Do not sleep on these burgers, and beware that a "small" fry is an entire fast food bag full, enough for at least 3 people to share. If you get a large fry, you are insane. This is primarily a pick-up window, with only 3 or 4 seats inside at the grill bar. Be smart and place your order by phone in advance to avoid the wait.
6 locals recommend
88 Giant Burgers To Go
19845 California 88
6 locals recommend
This place serves burgers, fries, and shakes. That's about it. Do not sleep on these burgers, and beware that a "small" fry is an entire fast food bag full, enough for at least 3 people to share. If you get a large fry, you are insane. This is primarily a pick-up window, with only 3 or 4 seats inside at the grill bar. Be smart and place your order by phone in advance to avoid the wait.
Delicious family run cafe using their farm-grown produce. Excellent quality American diner fare, with wonderful vegetarian options, good coffee, and delicious pie. Check their hours before visiting to ensure they're open!
23 locals recommend
Rosebud's Cafe
26 Main St
23 locals recommend
Delicious family run cafe using their farm-grown produce. Excellent quality American diner fare, with wonderful vegetarian options, good coffee, and delicious pie. Check their hours before visiting to ensure they're open!
Amador County has a large and strong Serbian community, and this bakery is an amazing spot resulting from that fact. Stop in for fresh loafs and delicious fresh baked goods.
The Serbian Bakery/Blue Door Bakery
4 North Main Street
Amador County has a large and strong Serbian community, and this bakery is an amazing spot resulting from that fact. Stop in for fresh loafs and delicious fresh baked goods.
Breakeven Beermakers is a wonderful new addition to the Amador cultural scene. On the one side of the street in Amador City you have their brewery and kitchen, serving up their own house brews, plus a small addition of outside sourced beer and wine and small bites. On the other side of the street they have their tasting room in the historic Tavern with a fantastic summer patio covered in vines, wildflowers, and a cozy retro fireplace.
Break Even Beermakers - Brewery & Beergarden
Breakeven Beermakers is a wonderful new addition to the Amador cultural scene. On the one side of the street in Amador City you have their brewery and kitchen, serving up their own house brews, plus a small addition of outside sourced beer and wine and small bites. On the other side of the street they have their tasting room in the historic Tavern with a fantastic summer patio covered in vines, wildflowers, and a cozy retro fireplace.
The Imperial Hotel has been newly updated and by the team behind Breakeven Beermakers (located just up the street). Wednesday's are "local's night" with food popups on the patio and drink specials inside, but any night is a great night to step into the bar for a drink, or grab dinner or brunch on the weekend! A beautiful building that we're so happy to have fixed up and rejoining the local community scene!
8 locals recommend
Imperial Hotel
14202 Main Street
8 locals recommend
The Imperial Hotel has been newly updated and by the team behind Breakeven Beermakers (located just up the street). Wednesday's are "local's night" with food popups on the patio and drink specials inside, but any night is a great night to step into the bar for a drink, or grab dinner or brunch on the weekend! A beautiful building that we're so happy to have fixed up and rejoining the local community scene!
This local brewery's second location in Pine Grove is housed in the historic red school house which actually continued to function as a school all the way up through the early 2000's. Today, the brewery has an excellent selection of beers on tap and by the can with a rotating food truck schedule and back patio for enjoying it all in the shade of the towering pines.
Hoist House by Amador Brewing Company
This local brewery's second location in Pine Grove is housed in the historic red school house which actually continued to function as a school all the way up through the early 2000's. Today, the brewery has an excellent selection of beers on tap and by the can with a rotating food truck schedule and back patio for enjoying it all in the shade of the towering pines.
No frills setting but excellent breakfast in this upcountry diner! Get a booth seat in the back room and take time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or brunch!
Graze
No frills setting but excellent breakfast in this upcountry diner! Get a booth seat in the back room and take time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or brunch!
Excellent new restaurant on the shore of Caples Lake, just five minutes from Kirkwood. Highly recommend this spot for an after ski meal or drinks! Lounge menu available in the afternoon and full dinner menu starts at 5pm. Great wine and beer selection and amazing food.
Caples Lake Resort
1111 CA-88
Excellent new restaurant on the shore of Caples Lake, just five minutes from Kirkwood. Highly recommend this spot for an after ski meal or drinks! Lounge menu available in the afternoon and full dinner menu starts at 5pm. Great wine and beer selection and amazing food.

Sightseeing

Beautiful local "secret" lake with wonderful trail that takes you around it, about a 3 mile loop. Expect folks on horses, kayakers, and fishermen tailgating after work in the summer.
19 locals recommend
Lake Tabeaud
19 locals recommend
Beautiful local "secret" lake with wonderful trail that takes you around it, about a 3 mile loop. Expect folks on horses, kayakers, and fishermen tailgating after work in the summer.
Incredible local used book store, you can spend hours here!
7 locals recommend
Hein & Co. | Bookstore
61 N Main St
7 locals recommend
Incredible local used book store, you can spend hours here!
Superblooms! If it's late spring, a drive down Highway 49 towards Mokelumne Hill will take you past hillsides that burst with wildflowers in late March- early May. Pull over before you get to the Mokelumne River crossing at Electra road (or turn around here and head back up to the north-bound shoulder for easier parking) to view hillsides bursting with orange California poppies and bright purple lupine.
Electra Rd, California 95642, USA
Superblooms! If it's late spring, a drive down Highway 49 towards Mokelumne Hill will take you past hillsides that burst with wildflowers in late March- early May. Pull over before you get to the Mokelumne River crossing at Electra road (or turn around here and head back up to the north-bound shoulder for easier parking) to view hillsides bursting with orange California poppies and bright purple lupine.

Activities

The Drytown Social Club is the new home of Feist Wines in the old Drytown Club. Once a run down beer and wine spot, Feist bought the building and re-opened it as their tasting room while sprucing up the whole building and booking out live music every weekend, creating the Drytown Social Club. A fun spot to check out that's just over the hill from Amador City's food and drink scene.
Drytown Club
15950 CA-49
The Drytown Social Club is the new home of Feist Wines in the old Drytown Club. Once a run down beer and wine spot, Feist bought the building and re-opened it as their tasting room while sprucing up the whole building and booking out live music every weekend, creating the Drytown Social Club. A fun spot to check out that's just over the hill from Amador City's food and drink scene.
This historic gold-rush era theatre on Main Street Sutter Creek offers an intimate live performance experience all year long. Music acts span from bluegrass and country to celtic rock and cover band acts. While you're not going to see any modern or big name acts here, you'll be delighted by the cozy and friendly atmosphere and fun performances found in this authentic small town theatre.
10 locals recommend
Sutter Creek Theatre
44 Main St
10 locals recommend
This historic gold-rush era theatre on Main Street Sutter Creek offers an intimate live performance experience all year long. Music acts span from bluegrass and country to celtic rock and cover band acts. While you're not going to see any modern or big name acts here, you'll be delighted by the cozy and friendly atmosphere and fun performances found in this authentic small town theatre.
Per the LA Times, "the all-volunteer theater began in 1974. Shows take place in the outdoor amphitheater and, across the street, the Cobblestone Theatre built in 1856. With just 35 chairs, it is reputedly the smallest fixed-seat theater in California." The LA Times continues by calling the Volcano Theatre "the cultural heart of this Amador County hamlet," which is only half the story. Summer shows in the outdoor amphitheater are a highlight of Amador summers for folks from all walks of life. Show goers bring their own chairs (low slung beach chairs or blankets only unless you want to get designated to the far sides), coolers, picnics, booze and the theatre company provides the entertainment for the night: typically a very campy show, melodrama or comedy full of badly acted accents, forgotten lines, and lost props that make every show a hilarious and unique experience for an increasingly wild and boozed up audience. Tickets almost always sell out in advance, so don't wait to buy at the gate! Advice: no matter how hot it is during the day, it gets super cold here at night! Bring blankets and sweatshirts and don't forget mosquito spray!
15 locals recommend
Volcano Theatre Company
16121 Main St
15 locals recommend
Per the LA Times, "the all-volunteer theater began in 1974. Shows take place in the outdoor amphitheater and, across the street, the Cobblestone Theatre built in 1856. With just 35 chairs, it is reputedly the smallest fixed-seat theater in California." The LA Times continues by calling the Volcano Theatre "the cultural heart of this Amador County hamlet," which is only half the story. Summer shows in the outdoor amphitheater are a highlight of Amador summers for folks from all walks of life. Show goers bring their own chairs (low slung beach chairs or blankets only unless you want to get designated to the far sides), coolers, picnics, booze and the theatre company provides the entertainment for the night: typically a very campy show, melodrama or comedy full of badly acted accents, forgotten lines, and lost props that make every show a hilarious and unique experience for an increasingly wild and boozed up audience. Tickets almost always sell out in advance, so don't wait to buy at the gate! Advice: no matter how hot it is during the day, it gets super cold here at night! Bring blankets and sweatshirts and don't forget mosquito spray!
This gorgeous cavern tour will take you deep into several levels of a unique vertical cave with a lake at the bottom! The decent down the stairways is narrow and very steep, but the crystalline formations and bright subterranean lake are breathtaking.
49 locals recommend
Black Chasm Cavern National Natural Landmark
15701 Pioneer Volcano Rd
49 locals recommend
This gorgeous cavern tour will take you deep into several levels of a unique vertical cave with a lake at the bottom! The decent down the stairways is narrow and very steep, but the crystalline formations and bright subterranean lake are breathtaking.
Just one mile from where you'll be staying, this small winery located on an organic farm is like being transported to an old world European wine cellar! The wines are all classified as "natural" meaning nothing is used to make them besides grapes and a small amount of sulphur at bottling for preservation. Tastings are by appointment only and can be made by visiting their website. If you don't see availability, just send an email to request accommodation. This spot is owned by my family, and I myself work as our operational director. If you have any questions or are having trouble making an appointment, you can reach out to me directly! Delivery of bottles to the house may also be available.
Tabeaux Cellars- by appointment only
Just one mile from where you'll be staying, this small winery located on an organic farm is like being transported to an old world European wine cellar! The wines are all classified as "natural" meaning nothing is used to make them besides grapes and a small amount of sulphur at bottling for preservation. Tastings are by appointment only and can be made by visiting their website. If you don't see availability, just send an email to request accommodation. This spot is owned by my family, and I myself work as our operational director. If you have any questions or are having trouble making an appointment, you can reach out to me directly! Delivery of bottles to the house may also be available.

City advice

Getting around

Your Cell Phone Is No Good Here!

Know that cellphone coverage is spotty, especially as you head further upcountry. In towns like Volcano cell service is totally non-existent. Be prepared by coordinating with friends in advance and looking up driving directions and maps before you leave!