On Graniteville Road, 16 miles East of Nevada City. A massive gash on the side of a mountain caused by hydraulic mining – a form of gold mining that stripped away entire hillsides with high-pressure water hoses – has become a serene expanse of meadows and canyons populated by deer, coyote and squirrels. A few buildings dating from the mining settlement here have been restored, but it is the self-healing capacity of nature (for ecological reasons, hydraulic mining was banned as long ago as 1884) that impress most throughout the 3,000-acre park.

The visitor centre has recreations of some old Gold-rush era buildings based on the old town of North Bloomfeild which used to supply the park, one of which is now used as the headquarters for the visitor centre. In the summer there are tours of these old buildings. Nearby there is hiking, picnicing, and rustic wooden cabins that can be rented out as part of the state park facilities.