We are moving fast changing our software and content by the hour - so nothing is perfect yet. Please confirm with venues before heading out!
McLaughlin’s Daffodil Hill is a privately owned ranch on Shake Ridge Road near the historic town of Volcano. Daffodils were first planted on the property in the mid-1800s by landowner Pete Denzer, who wanted a reminder of his native Holland. Arthur and Lizzie McLaughlin purchased the ranch in 1877, and Lizzie devoted herself to dividing and replanting bulbs each year. Over generations the family expanded the plantings to roughly 300 varieties and 400,000 blooms across six acres, opening the gates each spring when 25 percent of the flowers were in bloom.
For decades, Daffodil Hill was a free, family-friendly Gold Country tradition. But as social media amplified its popularity, hundreds of thousands of cars overwhelmed the narrow rural roads around Volcano each season. In July 2019 the McLaughlin family announced the hill would close to the public indefinitely, citing safety concerns, infrastructure strain, and liability. The property remains in the family but is no longer open to visitors.
Walk the ranch grounds to see hundreds of thousands of daffodils in bloom across six acres, typically mid-March through early April.
The McLaughlin ranch was also home to peacocks, chickens, and other farm animals that visitors enjoyed alongside the flowers.