The Sierra Nevada is a long (400 miles) and narrow (50 miles) mountain range that runs almost entirely in California and includes Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks. Known for stunning natural features like Mount Whitney and the “General Sherman” giant sequoia tree, the Sierra Nevada is also home to a wonderful collection of idyllic mountain towns. Most of the seven towns on our list date back to the California Gold Rush of the late 1840s and all of them exude historic charm.
Quincy is the offshoot of a Gold Rush community formerly called Elizabethtown and has maintained much of the look and feel of its Old West heritage. The Plumas County Museum recounts the history of the area, while the quaint downtown includes historic buildings such as a classic movie theater and a schoolhouse from 1905. Main Street is also home to several art galleries, which reflects the fact that artists and photographers flock to Quincy for stunning natural vistas, most especially of fall foliage. Autumn also marks the arrival of Quincy’s popular Mountain Harvest Beer Festival.
Located only about 60 miles from Sacramento, Nevada City is a genuine step back into the past as a well-preserved town from the Gold Rush era. The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places and is filled with Old West Victorian homes and historic structures like the 1865 Nevada Theater. For visitors seeking outdoor recreation, Tahoe National Forest and South Yuba River State Park are close by, and the Lake Tahoe ski areas are less than two hours away. Along with several fine dining establishments and wineries, Nevada City is also home to the Nevada City Film Festival each June.
Settlers originally came to the Sierra Nevada foothills that surround Murphys looking for gold, but today, those same hills are covered with grape vines. Both gold and wine brought wealth to Murphys, as reflected in the numerous fine 1800s brick buildings along Main Street, several of which now house tasting rooms and restaurants. Murphys is great to visit any time of year but really comes to life in autumn with the wine harvest when the town hosts popular events like the Calaveras Grape Stomp and Gold Rush Street Faire. When winter hits, the nearby Bear Valley Ski Resort takes center stage.
The seat of Placer County, Auburn, sits along the west side of the Sierra Nevada and is yet another Gold Rush mining town. Visitors can explore this history in the restored Old Town section of Auburn, as well as at the Placer County Museum in the former county courthouse. Auburn is also gaining a reputation for its surrounding wineries, but the area’s outdoor attractions still serve as the main draw for visitors. The Auburn State Recreation Area offers hiking trails for all skill levels, while extreme athletes come each summer for the Western States Endurance Run, a single-day, 100-mile race that ends in Auburn.
Downtown Bishop looks like a classic Hollywood western movie set slightly updated for modern times, and more than 400 movies have been filmed in the beautiful Alabama Hills just outside of town. This idyllic setting is perfect for parades and festivals, such as the annual Mule Days celebration. Also downtown, the Laws Museum presents the important history of the railroads in the Sierra Nevada. Meanwhile, lovers of outdoor beauty and natural wonders simply must explore the nearby Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to the world’s oldest trees, some more than 5,000 years old. Now, that is some history!
Unlike the Gold Rush era towns that populate this list, South Lake Tahoe is a true resort town. As its name indicates, the town sits on the southern shore of famous Lake Tahoe, and South Lake Tahoe is directly adjacent to Stateline, Nevada—the border would be indistinguishable if not for all the casinos on the Nevada side! Whether you prefer boating, skiing, hiking, shopping, fine dining, or gambling, South Lake Tahoe offers an essentially endless supply of things to do and see. You can also find some history amidst all the glitz, such as the opulent Vikingsholm Mansion, which is open for tours.
Truckee is only about 20 minutes away from Lake Tahoe but has a different vibe than the resort towns along the lake. Famous in earlier times as the endpoint of the tragic Donner Party and as an important railroad hub, Truckee is best known today as a center for outdoor adventure. Premier ski slopes and hiking trails surround the town, and the lovely Lake Donner holds up well compared to its bigger and more famous neighbor. Downtown Truckee still has several Old West buildings, now housing wineries and eateries, making it perfect for an evening stroll after a day of enjoying the outdoors.
From ancient trees to towering mountains to shimmering lakes, the Sierra Nevada region offers one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world. In addition to tapping into the tourist potential of the surrounding environment, several of the small towns in the Sierra Nevada effectively showcase the region’s Gold Rush and Old West history. These idyllic towns let you step back into the past, step out into nature, and step away from everyday life for a little while. So, make your travel plans today!
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A string of deadly crashes in and around Pahrump has prompted Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill to push for more safety measures along dark, sidewalk-free roads.
“The worst penalty is death, if you consider that,” McGill said.
The recent deaths include a single-vehicle rollover on State Route 160 during the morning hours of the last Wednesday in January that killed one person and injured another.
Then, into February, two pedestrians were killed in less than three days.
The first was a 7 p.m. crash on Quarter Horse Avenue. Investigators believe a 2006 Jeep Liberty was driving on the street when it hit a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A few days later, this last Saturday, state troopers responded to a crash just after sundown at Charleston Park Avenue. A sedan hit a pedestrian, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Nevada State Police investigators are still investigating both pedestrian cases before more details are released.
McGill said the recent crashes were enough to spur action.
“When the third one came out, I was sitting at home and watching TV. I looked at my wife and I said, ‘We got to do something about this,’” McGill said.
McGill is responding with a reflective vest giveaway, pointing to limited infrastructure as a possible factor. He noted a lack of street lights off State Route 160 and no sidewalks inside the community.
“The only light that you have is the ambient light from houses and cars so it is really dark,” McGill said.
John Treanor of AAA Nevada said poor visibility can quickly turn dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.
“It is very easy to be confronted with a situation that you cannot see coming because the visibility might be bad,” Treanor said.
Treanor encouraged pedestrians to carry lights and drivers to be prepared if they end up outside their vehicles in dark conditions.
“Having lights on you. Even carrying a flashlight allows something where a driver can see it,” Treanor said. “If you are a driver, make sure you have the right stuff in your car, in case you do get in a situation where you are on the side of the road and now you are in dark. Make sure you have a kit with some reflectors, some lights. Anything the trunk of your car in case you need it.”
McGill said vigilance is important even in daylight.
“Any time of the day, you have got to be vigilant. You have to keep aware of your surroundings if you are a walker or on a bicycle or if you are the driver,” he said.
Authorities also urged caution as more people may pull off roads in rocky areas along the route toward Death Valley National Park during springtime blooms, increasing the need for drivers and pedestrians to stay alert.
A waterfront mansion on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe just sold for $46 million, less than three weeks after hitting the market.
The speedy deal marks a departure from the typical U.S. market.
Nationwide, homes took a median 78 days to land a buyer in January, five more than the same time last year and the 22nd straight month of homes taking longer to sell on a year-over-year basis, according to data from Realtor.com.
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The lavish log cabin-like residence, in Incline Village, listed on Jan. 24 for $47.5 million. It sold 20 days later, on Feb. 13, listing records show.
The more than 7,000-square-foot residence was built in 2014, and has double-height living spaces, walls of windows, beamed ceilings, fireplaces, and plenty of rustic exposed stone and wood, listing images show.
There’s also a gym, a wet bar, a spa, a wine room, an office, two separate game rooms, seven bedrooms and dramatic Lake Tahoe views. Outside, there’s a private sandy beach, multiple decks, a heated driveway and two exterior fireplaces, according to listing information.
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The seller and the buyer are both limited liability companies, according to property records. Both parties were represented by Jeff Brown of Tahoe Mountain Realty, who declined to comment on the deal.
The median home price in Incline Village was $1.595 million as of December, a fall of 3.3% from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com. Listings, meanwhile, spent an average of 130 days on the market.
Updated February 26, 2026 – 8:28 pm
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Green Valley’s softball team claimed an 8-6 win at Liberty on Thursday on the first day of high school spring sports competition in Nevada.
Green Valley next hosts Silverado at 3 p.m. Friday. Liberty plays at Bishop Gorman at 3 p.m. Friday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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