Allroad Gold in Coal Country
All aboard the train to coal country.
We want to be transparent: this route is tough. While the majority of the ride is actually on rolling pavement, the tail of this route has a real sting to it.
I originally cobbled together this route as an excuse to explore the history of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. Set in a cradle of steep hills with lost towns and an abandoned cemetery, the park doesn’t disappoint. EBRPD has done a great job displaying old photos, you can still see entrances to several of the old mines, and they even offer underground tours.
But you know those steep hills around you? Well, you have to climb them. And after all those relatively easy miles at the start it’s kind of a painful contrast.
Top tip: while Summer gets blisteringly hot here, in Winter and Spring if the air is clear you can turn your eyes east and catch a glimpse of the snow-covered Sierras.
