Day Hike (1A) Empire Mine State Historic Park and Museum (Placer Group)

Join the Sierra Club Placer Group on Saturday, August 30, 2025, for an easy hike at Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, CA. We'll be hiking the 2.8-mile Hardrock, Osborne Hill, and Conlin Mine Loop, one of the park’s well-maintained trails that passes through several historic mining sites. After the hike, we will spend about an hour at the visitor center/museum and surrounding grounds and have an optional lunch stop in Grass Valley afterwards. Those who wish to stay at the museum longer than the allotted time for a guided tour (if available) will likely not be able to join the lunch activity.

The trail is suitable for those new to hiking, families, and experienced hikers who love to explore new places. The pace of the hike will be on the slower side of moderate and the dirt trail is mostly flat, with a few gentle ups and downs. Wildlife sightings are possible. The trail is in a forest setting, so there should be plenty of shade, including benches and informational signs about historic sites to stop and learn on the way. Rest breaks will be taken as needed. We estimate the hike will take 1 to 1.5 hours at an easy pace. Well-behaved dogs on leash are allowed on the trail, but not in the museum. So, if you want to visit the museum after the hike, its probably best to leave your furry friend at home this time around. More than a light rain or inclement weather cancels.

Hike stats: Approximately 2.8 miles with a total elevation gain of 387 feet, and a base elevation at around 2,700 ft. Please only sign up if you’re committed to attending, as the hike is limited to only 15 attendees.

Bring: Comfortable walking or hiking shoes and the essentials, including water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, and layers for changeable temperatures. Please bring cash if you wish to join a carpool. (Note: Recommended carpool reimbursement rate is up to $7.00 per hour per carpool participant, or whatever you and your driver agree to.) Bring an additional $5 for the visitor center/museum.

Sierra Club Medical/Waiver Forms: Fill out and bring this emergency medical form: [https://tinyurl.com/ycy985mt](https://tinyurl.com/ycy985mt). Leader will check to make sure you have a completed form, then you'll carry it with you in your pack. Each participant will also be required to sign the Sierra Club Sign-In & Waiver Form at the trailhead or meetup location.

The hike is limited to 15 participants. Leader: Aileen Allison-Zarea. If needed, email us at: (placeroutingsleads@gmail.com), but messaging in the MeetUp app is preferred, as emails may not be checked frequently.

Carpooling Meet at 7:45 AM at Taylor Road Park-n-Ride (adjacent to Golfland Sunsplash). Vehicles will depart by 8:00 a.m.

Trailhead: For those meeting at the trailhead, meet at approximately 9:00 a.m. The trailhead is at the far end of the museum parking lot. After entering the parking lot, turn left and continue to the end of the lot.

Link to Hike:
[Conlan Mine via Hardrock, Osborne Hill, and Conlan Mine Loop, California - 379 Reviews, Map | AllTrails]

Link to Park Website:
Empire Mine State Historic Park

Notes: Parking is free in the visitor center parking lot, but the museum has a $5 entry fee. Address is 10791 East Empire Street, Grass Valley.

Signup Restrictions: If you are feeling sick or have been exposed to someone who has recently (within the past 5 days) been sick from or tested positive for COVID-19, please do not join this trip.

Also, please do not sign up for this outing if you: (1) are not committed to attending as space is limited, or (2) have disabled your Meet-Up email, in whole or in part. (We need to be able to communicate with RSVPs collectively and individually.) If your Meet-Up settings do not allow us to use the Meet-Up email system as indicated, your RSVP will not be accepted.