Take a road Trip to Murphys to experience Gold Rush charm and history. Here you can discover family-owned wineries and unique shops, romantic or family-friendly restaurants, and a beautiful park right out of a movie – all within a half-mile walk!
Murphys Irish Day – Third Saturday in March
A hugely popular St. Paddy’s Day celebration in honor of Murphys’ Irish beginnings. This party goes on whether it’s a warm 70 degrees or a truly Irish rainy day! And, the party is FREE – just come walk downtown to enjoy vendors, singing & dancing in the middle of Main Street to live Irish music, and green beer at The Pourhouse and Milliaire Winery. Take advantage of the free shuttle from Ironstone Vineyards to downtown Murphys for hassle-free parking. And if you’re coming up Highway 4 from the Angels Camp area, take the Six-Mile Road entrance. Drive this windy, yet scenic road to see beautiful vineyards, blossoming daffodils, and adorable cows. Plus, you’ll avoid some of the traffic into Murphys. Remember to drive carefully on this road – it’s small and narrow and perfect for a slow, relaxed drive. For more information, contact info@visitmurphys.com.
The Wine – Vineyards and Tasting Rooms
Downtown Murphys is home to over 25 tasting rooms all within walking distance of Murphys hotels. Each one offers a little something special like Lavender Ridge’s cheese and wine pairings, Pop the Bubbly‘s local and international champagnes and sparkling wines, or Val du Vino‘s full production winery/vineyard/tasting room – the only one in downtown Murphys tucked in at the end of Main Street Murphys. Check out the list of 2025 SF Chronicle Wine Competition award winners from Calaveras County. Click here to find the full list of tasting rooms and vineyards in Murphys and throughout Calaveras County.
Tour vineyards, attractions, and adventures in comfort with drivers familiar with these windy, mountain roads:
- Courtwood Wine Tours let’s you enjoy a comfortable, relaxing ride with a knowledgeable and friendly guide!
- Murphys Taxi Company Call 209.795.7777 on weekends Text 209.404.6229 on weekdays only info@murphystaxi.com
- Motherlode Adventure Charter Services – They have custom tours or let them just show you around
Spring Wine Weekend
An event where you can enjoy two days of spring weekend fun in Calaveras Wine Country. 1-day and 2-day tickets include a commemorative wineglass, a wristband for special tasting flights at over 20 participating tasting rooms, a weekend guide with maps, live music, vineyard explorations, tasting experiences, special events, and a whole lot of fun! Save a little money and time by purchasing your advance tickets from calaveraswines.org now.
Mercer Cavern
Mercer Caverns is a short drive (or walk if you’re feeling adventurous) up Sheep Ranch Road – about 1.5 miles north of the center of downtown Murphys. Named after Walter J. Mercer who discovered the caves around 1885, this cave system is a walking distance of about a quarter of a mile, but distance is not covered all at once. There are several stops along the tour route where the guide will talk about the history and geology of the caverns and answer questions. The tour descends into the caverns to a low point of about 161 feet below the surface and equivalent of a 16 story building. The tour is moderately strenuous, so wear non-slip walking shoes.
Grape Stomp & Gold Rush Street Fair – First Saturday in October
Celebrating its 32nd annual Calaveras Grape Stomp this year, this is the oldest grape stomp contest in California! Look to the first Saturday in October for people to come to Murphys to get down and dirty for true grape stomping competition and a barrel of fun. Excitement and camaraderie fill the air as teams are encouraged to come in costume and show off their creativity as well as their grape stomping prowess. Friendly competition is the vibe as everyone stomps their hearts out for bragging rights and a cool little trophy under the beautiful shade trees in Murphys Park in the center of town. At the same time, the Gold Rush Street Faire happens on Main Street with unique vendors and special events throughout town. The celebration itself is free, but heck, you want to compete, right!? Watch for team registrations to open around July and get your team signed up early at calaveraswines.org!
Murphys Park
Here is that adorable Murphys Community Park that’s located in the middle of downtown, down the street from the Murphys Historic Hotel. A lot happens here, and it’s the town square where families and couples and friends stroll through the park, play on the playground, or play in or sit next to the idyllic Angels Creek running through the middle of the park. It’s a great place to bring a picnic lunch or dinner and enjoy a nice day outside. Visit the Veteran’s Memorial across from the park, the Murphys Library up the stairs from the park, or attend a live performance at the Murphys Creek Theater. .
All Kinds of Places to Spend the Night
Murphys delivers with plenty of places to settle in for a few days. Everything from a comfortable room to store your stuff and get a good night’s rest so you can adventure out for the day to romantic, luxurious getaways to vacation rentals for groups of any size exists right here. Stay in Murphys a few days if you can. We’d love to have you!
