Placerville Ghost Tour: Haunted Streets with Ghost Detectors

A bellhop who was stabbed 150 years ago still interacts with guests at the Cary House Hotel.

Echoes of the Past is a guided ghost tour through Placerville's haunted Gold Rush–era streets, where you walk to legendary sites and use complimentary ghost detectors to search for paranormal activity. The tour covers Hangtown's brutal history, the fires that sparked hauntings, and the spirits tied to specific buildings, led by a live English-speaking guide. Children are welcome from age 6, and the route is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore haunted Placerville sites

• Learn about Hangtown history
• Discover pioneer fire alerts
• Hear ghost stories at Cary House

The experience

Placerville earned the name Hangtown for its brutal frontier justice system, and the tour starts there: learning how the town got its reputation and which buildings nearby still hold the spirits of that era. You'll walk Gold Rush–era streets to three main stops, each with its own haunted history tied to real events: fires that drove people to their deaths, a bellhop stabbed in a hotel lobby, and the way those spirits apparently never left. The ghost detectors you carry are complimentary, giving you a way to search for activity as you move through each site rather than just listening.

The tour runs about an hour and covers how early Placerville residents alerted the town to fires, and how some of those disasters led to the hauntings that persist today. A live guide in English walks the group through each stop and tells the stories: the documented deaths, the unexplained events guests and staff have reported, and the details that connect the two. Free parking is available, and if you need it, public transportation options are nearby. The streets and all areas are wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.
• complimentary ghost detectors for each participant.
• access to haunted Gold Rush–era sites including the Cary House Hotel.
• and free parking.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and FridayDeparts at 18:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Moonlight Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups work best for this tour, as the guide leads you through tight Gold Rush–era streets and shares stories at each stop. If you're visiting Placerville with family or friends and want a guided evening activity that doesn't require separate equipment rental or advance research into the town's history, the detectors and the guide's narrative do that work for you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 15 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Hangtown and why does Placerville have that history?

Hangtown is Placerville's original name, earned because of the brutal frontier justice system that operated there during the Gold Rush. The tour's first stop covers how the town got that reputation and which buildings nearby are haunted by spirits from that era.

What exactly are the ghost detectors and how do I use them?

Ghost detectors are provided free of charge during the tour. You carry them as you walk to each haunted site, using them to search for paranormal activity at the locations the guide describes.

How long does the tour take and what's included?

The tour runs about an hour and includes the live guide, access to three haunted sites on Placerville's Gold Rush streets, complimentary ghost detectors, and the stories behind the hauntings at each stop.

Is the tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on the tour route are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible as well. Free parking is available nearby.