About Us

The community of Foresthill California was founded in 1850 during the California Gold Rush when prospectors swarmed over the Sierra Nevada mountain divide between the North and Middle Forks of the American River.

After the gold played out many Foresthill settlers turned to logging the tall trees that cover the Divide and a dozen lumber mills were established in and around Foresthill. The harvesting of timber, just like the gold, eventually became too costly to pursue and the mills were closed, causing many of the residents to seek employment “off the hill” in nearby Auburn and even Sacramento.

Foresthill, however, was not “down-and-out”. With the wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities of the Tahoe National Forest, beautiful lakes and snow covered mountains, and the improvement of Foresthill Road during the 1990’s by the Federal Government, people seem to have rediscovered the Foresthill Divide. Land values are on the rise, beautiful new homes are springing up throughout the woods, and the new Foresthill High School makes K thru 12 education a unique mountain-top experience.

The Chamber of Commerce promotes the Foresthill Divide as a place with “A Proud Heritage & A Bright Future”.