Overview
Angels Camp is a town of 4,000 people (2019) in Calaveras County in California's Gold Country.
7 sights · 3 things to do · 6 places to eat · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Angels Camp
Angels Hotel
Built in 1851, the Angels Hotel was the hotel where the author Mark Twain heard a story that he would later turn into his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". In front of the building is the "Fr…
Calaveras County Bank
The Calaveras County Bank is a historic, two-story Classical Revival building that was built in 1900 and designed by architects E. Depierre and Perseo Righetti of San Francisco. The bank's design features an iron boxed c…
Carson Hill
Carson Hill is a ghost town located about 4 mi south-southeast of Angels Camp. It was one of the most productive mining camps in the state, with nearly $26 million in gold and quartz found in the area, including a 195 po…
Sam Choy Brick Store
Built in 1860, the Sam Choy Brick Store is the only building remaining from a large Chinese settlement that contained over twenty properties during the California gold rush. It was listed on the National Register of Hist…
Utica Mansion
The Utica Mansion is a historic house that was built in 1882 as a two-story stone building designed in the Federal style. Robert Leeper, then owner of the Utica Mine, built the house next to the Utica Mill. Leeper sold t…
Mark Twain's Cabin
A partial replica of the cabin that famed author Mark Twain used to live in, with original chimney and fireplace.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 32°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Sonora)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SCK Stockton Metropolitan Airport, Stockton — 40 mi away. Directions
- MCE Merced Regional Macready Field, Merced — 54 mi away. Directions
- SMF Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento — 72 mi away (major hub). Directions
Angels Camp is approximately 2½ hours' drive from the Bay Area via California Routes 49 and 4 and approximately 2 hours southeast of Sacramento.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $75–$75 a night (typical $162), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$120, mid-range ~$240, comfortable ~$240.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Angels Hotel, Utica Mansion, Calaveras County Bank
- Lunch Angels Food Market & Deli
- Afternoon Sam Choy Brick Store, Outdoor Adventure River Specialists
- Dinner CAMPS Restaurant & Steakhouse
Day 2
- Morning Carson Hill, Mark Twain's Cabin
- Lunch Crusco's
- Afternoon Natural Bridge Day Use Area
- Dinner Far East Cafe
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Tourism information
Get in
By car
Angels Camp is approximately 2½ hours' drive from the Bay Area via California Routes 49 and 4 and approximately 2 hours southeast of Sacramento.
See
See Angels Hotel
Built in 1851, the Angels Hotel was the hotel where the author Mark Twain heard a story that he would later turn into his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". In front of the building is the "Frog Hop of Fame", where commemorative plaques are embedded in the sidewalk for the winners of the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee frog jumping contest. The building no longer operates as a hotel and is an apartment complex. It is registered as California Historical Landmark #734 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
See Calaveras County Bank
The Calaveras County Bank is a historic, two-story Classical Revival building that was built in 1900 and designed by architects E. Depierre and Perseo Righetti of San Francisco. The bank's design features an iron boxed cornice with brackets on each end and stone pilasters on both sides. The interior trim of the bank used a variety of different woods, a rarity in contemporary buildings in the area. The bank was the first to be incorporated in Calaveras County, and the building was the first in the county designed specifically to house a bank; until the 1920s, it was also the only bank operating in the county. In 1930, the Calaveras County Bank merged with the Bank of Italy and moved to a new building. The old bank building housed a meat market from 1937 to 1980 and later held a branch of the Central Sierra Bank. It was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1985.
See Carson Hill
Carson Hill is a ghost town located about 4 mi south-southeast of Angels Camp. It was one of the most productive mining camps in the state, with nearly $26 million in gold and quartz found in the area, including a 195 pound troy (160 lb) nugget that was the largest ever found in the state when it was unearthed in 1854. Carson Hill is registered as California Historical Landmark #274. The town was served by the Sierra Railway's branchline to Angels Camp until 1935.
See Mark Twain's Cabin
A partial replica of the cabin that famed author Mark Twain used to live in, with original chimney and fireplace.
See Sam Choy Brick Store
Built in 1860, the Sam Choy Brick Store is the only building remaining from a large Chinese settlement that contained over twenty properties during the California gold rush. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. After it served as a general store, its owner sold it to Angels Camp for use as a jail, and it is still owned by the city of Angels Camp. No parking is available on Bird Way, so if you wish to see the store park on Main Street and walk.
See Utica Mansion
The Utica Mansion is a historic house that was built in 1882 as a two-story stone building designed in the Federal style. Robert Leeper, then owner of the Utica Mine, built the house next to the Utica Mill. Leeper sold the mine to C. D. Lane in 1884; he sold the house to Lane four years later. Lane and two other investors began to buy up mining claims in Angels Camp, and their enterprise soon became profitable. With his investment earnings, Lane began to expand the Utica Mansion. Lane added a two-story addition to the west and north sides of the house and a veranda on the other two sides. He also improved the interior furnishings by adding new wallpaper and fireplaces with English tiles, repainting the woodwork, adding gold moldings to hanging pictures, and installing Axminster carpets. Lane lived in the house until 1895, when he left to pursue an investment in Alaskan mining. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
See Utica Park
Public park in Angels Camp visible from Main Street, host to many events including the summer Farmers' Market. Sits atop the former Utica mineshaft, and a set of large rusting gears, flywheels, winches, and cables are on a hilltop overlooking the park.
Do
Do County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee
Calaveras County's most popular annual festivity. Held at "Frog Town", the county fairground, this event draws thousands of visitors every May. The inspiration for the fair is taken from Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" in which two men gamble over whose frog can jump farthest. Sticking to the spirit of the story, visitors are able to compete in their own contest. The fair also features carnival rides, musical performances, food, a destruction derby, livestock auction, as well as a variety of exhibits.
Do Natural Bridge Day Use Area
The Natural Bridges trail is a 2 mi round-trip hike that leads through limestone caverns that have been carved by Coyote Creek. They are on land administered by the Bureau of Reclamation. The first cave is only 0.75 mi down the hill, and 400 ft of elevation loss. It is 230 ft long from entrance to entrance. The second cave is another 0.5 mi further downstream.. It is 180 ft long between its two entrances. Water depth in the Upper Cave ranges from about ankle deep at the entrance to about 8 feet halfway through. The lower cave can be traversed with just getting your feet wet. Perfectly safe to swim through with only a few fish and crawdads, but one should bring a flashlight to improve visibility in nooks and crannies. Extremely popular site, best to go on a weekday, and early. Nice wildflowers along the trail in the Spring months, and lots of additional runoff from the springs that feed the bridge at the entrance and inside the bridge add to its beauty. Dogs and bikes are not allowed on the trail due to the geological sensitivity of the formation.
Eat
Eat Angels Food Market & Deli
Full-service, top-quality meats, fresh seafood, deli, baked breads. #1 grade produce with variety of organics. Complete wine and liquor department. Family-owned and -operated since 1935.
Eat CAMPS Restaurant & Steakhouse
Steak and fresh seafood in a rustic atmosphere with views of the golf course. Greenhorn Creek brunch, lunch and dinner selections are a favorite among locals and visitors.
Eat Crusco's
Located in a beautiful old stone building, Crusco's is an Italian influenced fine dining establishment featuring regional specialties, fine wines, homemade focaccia bread, and desserts. One of the best restaurants in the Mother Lode.
Eat Far East Cafe
Enjoy freshly prepared Chinese Food. Has a menu loaded with your favorite Chinese dishes.
Eat Mike's Pizza
Old fashioned pizza parlor with a family atmosphere serving pizza, pasta, ribs, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, salad bar, and sodas, beer and wine. Open daily from 11AM; dine-in, take-out or delivery.
Eat Rodz Grille
Family dining at its best. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Featuring an all-you-can-eat salad bar, children's and senior menus. Food to go is also available.
Sleep
Stay Frogtown RV Park
Located at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Featuring full hookups, water, power and sewer. The fairgrounds has facilities for any event large or small, outdoor or indoor.
Go next
- - The small town of Murphys is a Gold Rush era town that today features over a dozen wine tasting rooms and a surprising number of excellent restaurants on its historic Main Street. The town also hosts an annual Irish festival in March that draws thousands of visitors. There are several wineries nearby, and visitors may also want to make the one mile journey north of Murphys to take a paid tour through Mercer Caverns, a short cave filled with a large number of speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites.
Nearby
Murphys
City / town · 14 listings · 6 mi away
Columbia
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Jamestown
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Sonora
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Arnold
City / town · 4 listings · 16 mi away
Twain Harte
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Mi-Wuk Village
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Groveland
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