Living the El Dorado Hills lifestyle

Background: It's been 150 years since people first began to relocate to the foothills of Northern California's Sierra Nevada. Combined with the stunning natural surroundings of all that the area encompasses, El Dorado County stands out as an excellent place to live and has even been compared as the USA version of "Switzerland"! No wonder, with elevations ranging from 200 ft. to over 10,800 ft., El Dorado County (which boasts a million acres of national forest land) lies in the most diversified recreational area in the state.

El Dorado Hills was originally known as Clarkston's Town during the Gold Rush and was renamed Clarksville in 1855. More than a century later, Allan Lindsey, the acknowledged "founder" of El Dorado Hills, renamed the area El Dorado Hills after purchasing 20 parcels of ranch land totaling 11,000 acres. He designed a master plan for what he hoped would be a community of 75,000 people. The name "El Dorado Hills" was chosen by real estate developers because they believed it captured the spirit of the Gold Rush and the miners who crossed the foothills on their way to Lake Tahoe and the Gold Country.

El Dorado Hills was named "Top 100 Places to Live" by Money Magazine.

Money Magazine recognized what all of us that live here already know about El Dorado Hills; it's a great place to live! When CNN Money focused their top 100 list on smaller communities, El Dorado Hills made the list at #77. The criteria used was; best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community. A quote from the article; "El Dorado Hills knows the golden rule in real estate: Location, Location, Location." El Dorado Hills was noted for its superior foothill location between the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe and the recreational opportunities that are in close proximity to El Dorado Hills.

El Dorado Hills Town Center

El Dorado Hills has a range of businesses and attractions that appeal to residents and visitors alike. The area has some of the region's best restaurants, as well as shopping centers likeTown Center El Dorado Hills with boutiques, movie theaters, restaurants and entertainment venues. Town Center is the El Dorado Hills version of a traditional downtown where people from the region gather to shop, dine, or catch a movie at the iMax Theater. Town Center is the host for summer concerts, 3rd of July Fireworks, and other special events year round including Christmas, Easter, Halloween and more.

El Dorado Hills schools are top ranked in California and benefit from parent involvement!

In today's economy, our public schools are continually challenged to do more with less. Parents are involved in the El Dorado Hills school system and It's is truly amazing to see the overwhelming number of families that support school meetings, academic events and recreational sports!

"Connie Barnes has put her two daughters through the local El Dorado Hills public school system and knows firsthand how parent involvement benefits our students, schools and the entire community!"

Ratings from the California Academic Performance Index (API), place El Dorado Hills Schools in the top 10 percent of schools in the state of California.

El Dorado Hills students benefit greatly from low student-teacher ratios and the well-qualified staff and faculty members who are experts in their fields.

Serrano, El Dorado Hills is more than just a community; it's a neighborhood you can take pride in!

Surrounded by the wonderful oak tree studded Sierra Foothills, Serrano is a stunning upscale community offering a variety of luxury real estate homes and gated privacy.

Award winning schools, neighborhood parks, on-site public library and an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and events, are a few of the fantastic amenities Serrano has to offer.

Excellent recreational opportunities abound within the community. Miles of beautiful nature trails, 1,000 acres of open space, a championship Trent Jones 18-hole golf course, with a private award-winning country club that includes restaurants, swimming, and fitness.

Serrano residents enjoy the luxury of living in an exciting and safe environment that has so much to offer! Real estate listings consist of single-family detached homes, Serrano custom estate properties, land, and a variety of Serrano homes for sale in El Dorado Hills California.

Serrano, El Dorado Hills is environmentally friendly

Serrano has about 1,000 acres of land dedicated to open space. This land will always remain a peaceful place that "respects the balance between nature and man". There are miles and miles of trails throughout the area! If you are lucky you'll see some of the area's wildlife: deer, rabbits, wild turkeys, turtles, and even rattlesnakes sometimes. In addition, the Serrano Homeowner's Association has even planted thousands of new oak trees to further beautify the Serrano landscape.

Serrano of El Dorado Hills requires all homes to use recycled water in their front and backyard in order to be environmentally friendly. The recycled water is delivered through purple colored pipes that are clearly labeled and are separate from the drinking water, a system that, according to the Serrano Homeowner's Association, puts Serrano in the forefront of environmentally friendly technology and development. This water system is important to keep the community looking green year-round.

Grades K-12 attend quality schools of the Buckeye and Rescue Union school district. High school students attend schools in the El Dorado Union High School district. Serrano is home to approximately 13,000 residents.

El Dorado County recreation has something for everyone!

Recreational opportunities in El Dorado Hills come in all forms.

Nearby Folsom Lake has a 120-mile shoreline and offers boating and sailing, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, hiking and camping. The lake is created by a dam across the American River, which is also accessible for hiking, camping and rafting. The Folsom Lake Marina is one of the largest inland marinas in the state and just happens to be located in our own backyard!

Fabulous South Lake Tahoe is less than a two hour drive up Highway 50 and was ranked best lake in America by USA Today.

Apple Hill is a favorite destination, especially in the fall with more than 50 ranches including Christmas tree growers, wineries, a microbrewery, Spa and vineyards. Visitors will find their day filled with old-fashioned fun. Plan a picnic on the lush land that surrounds these exciting ranches.

Map tour of El Dorado County / Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts

In less than 2 hours from
El Dorado Hills, you have a choice of some of the best Alpine and Nordic Skiing anywhere in the world!

Map Tour of scenic El Dorado County wineries

El Dorado County is considered a perfect wine growing region featuring mountain vineyards that produce a wide variety of award winning wines that rival the best that California has to offer.
Visitors to El Dorado Hills may enjoy wine tasting and exploring the delightful wineries that have become famous in El Dorado County.

White water rafting adventures in El Dorado County

The South Fork of the American River is the most popular river for casual rafters in California with class 3 (substantial) rapids that provide over 20 miles of exciting rafting adventure for the whole family. Click on the button below for more information on booking a trip and learn more about American River white water rafting in El Dorado County and Northern California.