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Red Hills Road (Tuolumne County)

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Reds Hill Road is a short four-mile rural corridor located in the namesake hills of Tuolumne County.  This particular highway was plotted during the California Gold Rush as part of a stage road between La Grange and Chinese Camp.  The Red Hills are mostly known as backdrop which has frequently been used in western movies and came under Bureau of Land Management protection in 1985.  Red Hills Road serves as a cutoff between Chinese Camp and La Grange Road (County Route J59).  The highway has numerous low water bridges which often overflow during the winter months.  




Part 1; the history of Red Hills Road

The Red Hills of Tuolumne County are located in the region around Chinese Camp in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  The area is comprised of serpentine soils which is unique for the western Sierra Nevada.  The Red Hills have several rare species of flora and fauna which are not found elsewhere.  In popular culture the Red Hills have been used as a backdrop for numerous Hollywood Westerns.  In particular the Red Hills were used as a set for 1885 Hill Valley in Back to the Future Part III.

What is now Red Hills Road was developed as a stage corridor which connected the California Gold Rush communities of La Grange and Chinese Camp.  The La Grange-Chinese Camp Stage Road can be seen prominently on the 1882 Bancroft's map of California.  


Red Hills Road can be seen on the 1893 United States Geological Survey map of Sonora.  The corridor is shown to begin at La Grange Road near Crimea House and terminate at Chinese Camp.  The prominent Taylor Hill lying at 1,694 feet above sea level is easily observed. 


Red Hills Road can be seen in greater detail on the 1947 United States Geological Survey map.  The corridor is shown beginning at La Grange Road near Crimea House and terminating at California State Routes 49 and 120 in Chinese Camp.  A large mining deposit called Sixbit Tailings is shown to be located south of Taylor Hill (now shown with elevation of 1,680 feet above sea level).  The Red Hills were dredged during the 1920s in an unsuccessful search for gold deposits.  The most successful mining operations in the area found deposits of magnesium. 




In 1985 the Bureau of Land Management created the Red Hills Area of Critical Concern and Recreation Area.  The protected area comprises 7,100 acres of protected lands which is used for hiking, hunting, horseback riding, birding and mountain biking.



Part 2; a drive on Red Hills Road

This westward view is down a mostly abandoned Main Street towards Red Hills Road in Chinese Camp. Said community is one of many mining towns which popped up circa 1849 in Tuolumne County amid the California Gold Rush. The name "Chinese Camp" comes from the numerous Chinese miners which were employed at the local placer mines.
Chinese Camp reached a peak population of about 5,000 during the 1850s. The community obtained Postal Service in 1854 which has been maintained to modern times. The 2020 census shows only 90 remaining people left residing in the community.


Main Street intersects Red Hills Road.


Westbound Red Hills Road departs Chinese Camp intersects Sims Road approaching the Reds Hills Area of Critical Concern.










Westbound Red Hills Road traffic is advised of a 25-ton weight limit.


Red Hills Road crosses a low water bridge and intersects the northern part of the Serpentine Loop Road.




Red Hills Road enters the Red Hills Area of Critical Concern.


Red Hills Road intersects the southern extent of the Serpentine Loop Road and crosses two low water bridges.







Red Hills Road makes a westward ascent and terminates at La Grange Road (County Route J59). Crimea House is no longer present at the western terminus.










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