VOLCANO, Calif. — Editor's Note: As of July 15, 2019, Daffodil Hill is closed indefinitely.
Almost every spring there is a bloom of daffodils that people can visit in Amador County. This year Daffodil Hill announced the hill should be open March 30.
Martin Ryan, who owns Mclaughlin Daffodil Hill with his brother, said that weather permitting the hill will be open until mid-April.
Since the early 1940s, people have visited the McLaughlin Daffodil Hill to escape from their busy lives.
"It's a very peaceful relaxing place to be," Ryan said. "People are respectful and they are quiet when they are here."
For Ryan and his family, this is a tradition that started with his great uncle opening up the hill to the public.
There is no charge for people to come to visit the hill, but there is a bulb fund that people can donate to when they come. It costs thousands of dollars to buy the bulbs Ryan said.
When is it open
The hill is open typically between mid-March to mid-April Ryan said. The season depends on the weather; if it has been too harsh for the daffodils to bloom properly or the paths are too slick for people to walk on.
Ryan said that even though it is not raining, sometimes the hill can get too wet for them to open for the safety of those who visit. The best way to know for sure if the hill is open is to check their Facebook page or call 209-296-7048.
When it is open, the hours of operation are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Ryan suggests coming during the week because weekends tend to be super busy.
Check out a forecast for March 30 and March 31 for the Daffodil Hill area:
Parking
The address for Daffodil Hill is 18310 Rams Horn Grade Road, Volcano, Calif. 95689.
Ryan said that the parking lot is a field across the street from the main entrance for Daffodil Hill.
In the image below, the gate on the left-hand side is the parking and the gate on the right-hand side of Shake Ridge Road is the main entrance of Daffodil Hill:
Ryan requests that people don't stop at the main gate to drop people off because it can really jam up traffic.
Handicap Accessible
Ryan said that there are some handicap parking and that they tend to fill up fast. He also said that the paths are packed dirt and should be fine for people to maneuver their manual or electric wheelchair.
Food Suggestions
Ryan said that the Soroptimists might be out selling food near Daffodil Hill and, if visitors bring stuff for a picnic, they have some tables where people can eat.
If people want to go eat nearby, Ryan suggests checking out eateries in Volcano, Sutter Creek and Jackson. Here is a list of places visitors could check out:
- Volcano Country Store - 16146 Main St. Volcano, Calif. 95689
- Rosebud Cafe - 26 Main St. Jackson, Calif. 95642
- Mel's Diner - 31 CA-88, Jackson, Calif. 95642
- Cavana's Pub and Grill - 36 Main St., Sutter Creek Calif. 95685
- St. George Hotel - 16104 Main St., Volcano, Calif. 95689
- Union Inn - 21375 Consolation St., Volcano, Calif. 95689
- Hotel Sutter - 53 Main St., Sutter Creek, Calif. 95685
Other tips
Make sure to have gas before getting to Daffodil Hill; Ryan said that the nearest gas station is around 6 miles away.
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