The town of Pioneer is located in Amador County, California at an elevation of 2986 feet (910 m). It’s about 5 miles (8.0 km) east-northeast of Pine Grove, along State Route 88. The population was 1,094 at the 2010 census. Its name is derived from the fact that there was a station in this area which was believed to have been a Pony Express stop, although this is a popular fallacy.
There are lots of things to do in and around Pioneer CA. For example, the nearby Black Chasm Cavern is a must-visit. It’s one of the best caves in the state and boasts some absolutely gorgeous stalactite, stalagmite and helictite formations. The Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is another great thing to do. It has a really interesting indoor museum and a large outdoor area that showcases how Native American tribes would have lived in the area with different buildings and even a slab of limestone that was used for grinding acorns into flour.
There are also some great hiking trails in the area. One of the best is the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail which is famous for its stunning views and diverse flora and fauna. You can also take a trip to Apple Hill for a taste of all the local apples, pumpkins and other produce if you visit in August through October.
