From Lincoln to Placerville, Highway 193 is a scenic alternative

For those who like twisting canyon roads that cross rivers, cruise through oak woodlands and cut past plush pastures, Highway 193 is the way to go. Sometimes going solo, other times sharing the paths of Highway 49 and Interstate 80, this two-lane link wends from the Mother Lode, through the Gold Country, to the valley floor. And it provides a variety of rugged mountain scenery and valley views along the way.Linking El Dorado and Placer counties, this state route begins a couple of miles north of Placerville, splitting off Highway 49, which routes from the gold fields of Mariposa, through Jackson, Placerville, Auburn, Downieville and Loyalton to its terminus in Vinton, just west of the Hallelujah Junction near the California-Nevada border. In 1919, Highway 49 was dedicated as ?The Golden Chain?.Northbound Highway 193 breaks off to the east two miles below Chili Bar, a popular whitewater put-in point for rafters willing to take on Class III rapids ? with names like Triple Threat and Troublemaker ? on the South Fork of the American River. This highway generally parallels the Golden Chain, on the other side of the mountain from Coloma and the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. It then sweeps through the mountain communities of Kelsey, Georgetown and Greenwood before dropping down past the entrance to the expansive Auburn Lake Trails residential development.At the crossroads village of Cool, Highway 193 intersects 49 and shares the pavement leading across the confluence of the Middle and North forks of the American, the watery boundary between Placer and El Dorado counties. The combined highways curl up the side of the steep canyon wall, then cut through Auburn to meet westbound Interstate 80.About one-quarter mile east of Newcastle, Highway 193 exits I-80 at Taylor Road, then arches up over the Newcastle Tunnel, which was opened in 1932 to provide more direct access into town. Taking two years to complete, the 531-foot long, 20-foot tall subway was chiseled from solid rock; an impressive engineering achievement at the time.Leaving downtown Newcastle behind, the highway starts to sway through a series of vales, with jumbles of granite outcrops piled up in spots alongside the pavement. Like most of Highway 193, this section cuts through unincorporated territory with homes on plugs of acreage and fruit orchards common sights.As the ribbon of highway unrolls toward Lincoln, the loop ties to the path to Gold Hill, a prosperous mining camp that faded nearly as fast as it flared. The old Werner?s fruit stand is a familiar landmark along this stretch of road, although it looks like a strong wind could send it tumbling ? or already did.Signs for fresh produce and assorted livestock hang on fences and trees, reminding travelers that this is agricultural land and has been since Gold Rush fever subsided. Several ranches still thrive alongside Highway 193, such as Twin Peaks Orchard ? which has been producing since 1912 ? and Brenner?s, a younger farm that harvests 100 tons of fruits, nuts and berries each year.About mid-way between Auburn and Lincoln, Fowler Road leads off to the north. At one time, Fowler?s Nursery was the fifth largest in California, producing more than 600,000 trees annually that stocked orchards throughout the central valley and north state. It still is an active wholesaler.Past Fowler Road, the foothills flatten into the sole of the valley. Sierra College Boulevard heads off to the south, riding the ridge of the last hill separating Rocklin from Lincoln. The sprawling Twelve Bridges master planned community straddles this crest, with Del Webb?s Sun City Lincoln Hills on its western slope.Highway 193 continues on toward Lincoln, passing by the Ferrari Ranch Road intersection; the new route into the Sun City community. One ninety-three terminates at its intersection with Highway 65, the throbbing artery between Roseville and Marysville, and the path to south Placer?s bevy of big box stores and the Westfield Shoppingtown Galleria mall.Whitewater rapids, mountain towns and producing farms make Highway 193 an alternate route between two counties that may become a favorite thoroughfare.