Daytripper
Golden blooms
Daffodil Hill offers a sea of bright flowers to visitors
Date Published: April 2007
[Susan Jameson/Granite Bay View]
A popular place for picture taking, Daffodil Hill is in Amador County.
[Susan Jameson/Granite Bay View]
Daffodil Hill in Amador County opened March 17 to a crowd of people ready to experience a taste of spring.
[Susan Jameson/Granite Bay View]
The hill will be open until 25 percent of the half million blooms remain (usually about mid-April).
To get there:
Take Auburn-Folsom Road to Highway 50.
Take Highway 50 toward Placerville.
Exit on Latrobe heading southeast (right).
Turn left on Highway 16.
Make a right on Highway 49.
Stay on Highway 49 past Sutter Creek.
Turn east on Gopher Flat Road.
Follow the signs to Daffodil Hill.
Take Auburn-Folsom Road to Highway 50.
Take Highway 50 toward Placerville.
Exit on Latrobe heading southeast (right).
Turn left on Highway 16.
Make a right on Highway 49.
Stay on Highway 49 past Sutter Creek.
Turn east on Gopher Flat Road.
Follow the signs to Daffodil Hill.
A sea of yellow extending down gentle slopes is what you'll find each spring at Daffodil Hill between Sutter Creek and Jackson.
Although not a year-round destination, Daffodil Hill has been a well-known stop off for folks heading down Highway 49 in Amador County even before there were cars. In fact, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, teamsters hauling timber on Amador-Nevada Wagon Road (now Highway 88) would regularly stop on the property owned by rancher Arthur McLaughlin and his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie).
After coming west, the McLaughlins made their home just behind what is now Daffodil Hill. In 1887, they established the McLaughlin Ranch (now Daffodil Hill) and operated a way-station for teamsters, providing food and shelter for the men and their animals.
The previous owner of the land, a Dutchman named Pete Denzer, had planted daffodils from his homeland. Lizzie so loved the blooms that she began to divide and replant the bulbs each year, planting daffodils on the hillside in her spare time.
Since that time, and particularly in the past few decades, the McLaughlin family, who still owns the homestead, continue to plant about 7,000 new bulbs of more than 300 varieties of daffodils each year.
The grounds now boast a half million blooms each spring - depending on the weather.
Last year, heavy rains forced the closure of the hill for its regular season, which is usually mid-March to mid-April. Nature sets the exact dates and the rest of the year, the McLaughlin family runs the land as a working ranch, growing walnuts. The hill is open to the public when 25 percent of the flowers are in bloom and closes when only 25 percent remain. This year the hill opened March 17.
Although not a commercial venture, during the season (and as weather allows) the hill is open to visitors 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, free of charge. The Soroptimists offer concessions across the road. Or you can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the grounds.
Whatever the case, leave the pets at home (no dogs allowed on the premises) and bring your camera.
For information, call the Amador County Chamber of Commerce at (209) 223-0350.
Although not a year-round destination, Daffodil Hill has been a well-known stop off for folks heading down Highway 49 in Amador County even before there were cars. In fact, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, teamsters hauling timber on Amador-Nevada Wagon Road (now Highway 88) would regularly stop on the property owned by rancher Arthur McLaughlin and his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie).
After coming west, the McLaughlins made their home just behind what is now Daffodil Hill. In 1887, they established the McLaughlin Ranch (now Daffodil Hill) and operated a way-station for teamsters, providing food and shelter for the men and their animals.
The previous owner of the land, a Dutchman named Pete Denzer, had planted daffodils from his homeland. Lizzie so loved the blooms that she began to divide and replant the bulbs each year, planting daffodils on the hillside in her spare time.
Since that time, and particularly in the past few decades, the McLaughlin family, who still owns the homestead, continue to plant about 7,000 new bulbs of more than 300 varieties of daffodils each year.
The grounds now boast a half million blooms each spring - depending on the weather.
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According to the American Daffodil Society, daffodils are one of the easiest and most dependable flower to grow and are tolerant of cold. And a good thing, too; at an elevation of 3,000 feet, Daffodil Hill has had it's share of cold weather. Last year, heavy rains forced the closure of the hill for its regular season, which is usually mid-March to mid-April. Nature sets the exact dates and the rest of the year, the McLaughlin family runs the land as a working ranch, growing walnuts. The hill is open to the public when 25 percent of the flowers are in bloom and closes when only 25 percent remain. This year the hill opened March 17.
Although not a commercial venture, during the season (and as weather allows) the hill is open to visitors 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, free of charge. The Soroptimists offer concessions across the road. Or you can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the grounds.
Whatever the case, leave the pets at home (no dogs allowed on the premises) and bring your camera.
For information, call the Amador County Chamber of Commerce at (209) 223-0350.
Susan Jameson is the editor of the Granite Bay View. She can be reached at susanj@goldcountrymedia.com.
