Hikes and winery adventures along the Placer County Wine Trail

The Sierra Foothills AVA is home to the Placer County Wine Trail, a stretch of countryside near Auburn that brims with hiking paths and tasting rooms, a combination that offers plenty of enticing options for anyone who enjoys mixing a little outdoor adventure with their winery hopping. With 19 wineries included on the trail map and several outdoor experiences nearby, creating your own wine/hike adventure is easy to do.

Hidden Falls and a trio of wineries

Popular with locals and visitors alike, Auburn’s Hidden Falls Regional Park offers 30 miles of trails to explore on foot, bike or horseback. There are easy trails with so-worth-it views, such as the .3-mile Canyon View Trail,  moderate but still short jaunts like the .7-mile Seven Pools Loop, and more challenging hikes, including the 1-mile Poppy Trail and 1.4-mile River Otter Loop. Choose a trail that crosses the Canyon View Bridge for some of the best views in the park. Visit in the spring, and you’ll find wildflowers blooming across the hillsides.

Post-hike, you’ll find a trifecta of worthy winery stops nearby, including Vina Castellano Estate Vineyards and Winery, Fawnridge Winery and Lone Buffalo Vineyards.

Taste through Vina Castellano‘s Spanish and Rhone varietals in the winery’s stone barrel cave, where you can sample a flight of four wines of your choice. Walk ins are welcome, but large groups may want to make reservations.

From there, you can head to Stewart and Stephanie Perry’s Fawnridge Winery for everything from sauvignon blanc to old vine zin. Finish up at Lone Buffalo, which is as charmingly rustic and cowboy-esque as the name suggests. A tasting here includes 2.5-ounce tastes of three wines.

Water views, wine and a museum

Auburn’s Lake Clementine is in the Auburn State Recreation Area, where a 3.8-mile out-and-back trail offers plenty of shade, as well as panoramic views along the North Fork of the American River and under the towering Foresthill Bridge. Don’t miss the cascading waterfalls formed by the Lake Clementine Dam.

Afterward, head for Bonitata Boutique Wine, which is tucked inside the historic winery building at Auburn’s Bernhard Museum. One of the oldest buildings in Placer County, the site once operated as a hotel. Browse the historical artifacts and exhibits, then enjoy a little wine.

And Le Casque Wines, in nearby Loomis, offers food, shopping and, of course, vino — with a focus on Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. A cute storefront sits on one side of the estate garden, the tasting room is at the other end, and outdoor seating (with patio heaters) takes advantage of the pretty views all around. The on-site Flower Farm Cafe offers lunch and brunch fare. And during the summer months, there’s live music on Friday nights.

Grab a bite — or a cup of Joe

Before you head home, swing by Auburn’s The Pour Choice to refuel — a grilled cheese sandwich made with raclette and herb butter, perhaps, or a cheese and charcuterie board. This eatery in Old Town Auburn offers craft coffee, local beer and wine on tap, as well as light bites and cozy spots to gather indoors and out.

If You Go

Hidden Falls Regional Park: Park reservations are required on weekends. Parking reservations ($4-$8) are required on high use days, such as President’s Day and the first week of April. Open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 7587 Mears Place in Auburn; www.placer.ca.gov/parks.

Viña Castellano: Tastings are $12. The winery opens at noon Thursday-Sunday at 4590 Bell Road in Auburn; https://vinacastellano.com.

Fawnridge Winery: Tastings are $5. The winery opens at noon Friday-Sunday at 10024 Fawnridge Road in Auburn; www.fawnridgewine.com.

Lone Buffalo Vineyards: Tastings are $10. Opens at noon Friday-Sunday at 7505 Wise Road in Auburn, https://lonebuffalovineyards.com.

Auburn State Recreation Area: Open from sunrise to sunset. Parking is $10 (bring cash). 501 El Dorado St. in Auburn; www.parks.ca.gov

Bonitata Boutique Wine & Bernhard Museum: Tastings are $7. Opens at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday at 291 Auburn Folsom Road in Auburn; www.winesbymark.com.

Casque Wines: Tastings are $15. The winery’s Tasting Room at the Flower Farm opens at 11 a.m. Thursday-Sunday at 9280 Horseshoe Bar Road in Loomis; www.casquewines.com.

The Pour Choice: Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily — until 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday — at 177 Sacramento St. in Auburn; https://thepourchoice.com.

Find more Placer County Wine Trail hot spots and download a map at https://placerwine.com.