Empire Mine State Historic Park
Also known as Empire Mine SHP
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Nov 1 – Feb 28)
- Entrance fee
- $5 per adultAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(530) 273-8522
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Nevada County, in Grass Valley, Empire Mine State Historic Park covers about 827 acres.
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Nov 1 – Feb 28 |
| Daily | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Mar 1 – Oct 31 | |
| Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
Historic Grounds are open daily. Winter hours (Nov. 1 - Feb 28): 10AM - 4PM Summer hours (Mar 1 - Oct 31): 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM The grounds are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & New Years Day. Park trails and the Penn Gate parking lot are open from sunrise to sunset.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adult Entry Fee | $5 |
| Children (5 & Under) Entry Fee | Free |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Adult Entry Fee: $5.00 • Children (5 & Under) Entry Fee: Free
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: historic buildings or in mine shafts.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed on roads and trails, within the Empire Mine State Historic Park Visitor Center, as well as the grounds within the historic zone of the park. Except for service animals, dogs not allowed inside historic buildings or in mine shafts.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsHikingHorseback riding
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Empire Mine State Historic Park is the site of one of the oldest, largest, and richest gold mines in California. In existence for more than 100 years, the mine produced 5.6 million ounces of gold before it closed in 1956. The park contains many of the mine’s buildings, the owner’s home and restored gardens, a visitor center, and some picnic tables and trails. The park is off highway 49 at 10791 E. Empire Street in Grass Valley. Phone (530) 273-8522 for more information.
Exhibits/Programs
Visitor center/museum: Housed in a historic structure, the visitor center and exhibits are generally accessible for many visitors. Parking is generally accessible. Designated accessible spaces are available. Parking on south side of Empire Street provides closest and safest site access for persons with mobility impairments, but there are also designated accessible spaces across the road. Restrooms adjacent to the south parking lot are accessible.
Read more from the park
Mine shops and exhibits area: The routes to and through the mine yard include some paved walkways that allow some of the first floor buildings to be usable. However much of route of travel has sloping terrain and large, shifting gravel. Restrooms are generally accessible.
Empire Cottage: Persons using wheelchairs may make advance arrangements for transportation or for access to alternative entries or lifts. The cottage is seen by guided tour only and is generally accessible except for one tight hallway. The formal gardens may be seen from above near the ramp to the Cottage. Contact the park for more information.
Other Information
A manual all-terrain wheelchair is available for use on the grounds of the historic area. Contact park staff in the visitor center or call (530) 273-8522 to inquire about availability.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 10791 East Empire Street
Grass Valley, CA 95959 - Nearest town
- Grass Valley
- Coordinates
- 39.2074, -121.0462
- Phone
- (530) 273-8522
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Drive 24 miles north of Auburn on Highway 49 to Empire Street exit in Grass Valley. The park is located in Grass Valley at 10791 East Empire Street.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology