Secret Ravine facts for kids
Secret Ravine is a stream that flows all year long in Placer County, California. It's a branch of Miners Ravine, which then flows into Dry Creek. This stream runs through the cities of Rocklin, Loomis, and Roseville, as well as some areas of Placer County that aren't part of a city. You can even find it flowing through the campus of Sierra College.
For its whole length, Secret Ravine stays close to the Interstate 80 freeway. This area is becoming more and more developed with homes and businesses. Long ago, during the California Gold Rush, people looked for gold here. You can still see piles of leftover rocks from those mining days. Later, people also dug for granite in this area.
History of Secret Ravine
The California Gold Rush brought many people to Secret Ravine looking for gold. They used a method called "placer mining," which means they would dig for gold in the stream's gravel and sand. After they finished, they left behind large piles of rocks called "tailings." Later, people started quarrying for granite, a hard stone, in the area.
The Rocklin Cemetery, which started in 1864, is very close to the ravine. It began when someone found a body and buried it right there. There was also an old Native American cemetery further up the stream.
In 1869, some Chinese railroad workers who had finished their jobs moved to Secret Ravine. They mined for gold and also grew vegetables to sell to local people. However, in September 1876, they were forced to leave the area. This place is still known as China Gardens today.
The Secret Ravine Post Office was open from 1854 to 1868. In 1860, the U.S. Census listed it as the address for Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. He was a famous mountain man and the son of Sacagawea, who was a guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Facts About the Ravine
Here are some interesting facts about Secret Ravine:
- Drainage area: About 19.7 square miles (51 square kilometers). This is the total area of land where water flows into the ravine.
- Stream length: About 10.5 miles (16.9 kilometers) long.
- Elevation at source: The stream starts at about 1,285 feet (392 meters) above sea level.
- Elevation at confluence: Where it joins Miners Ravine, it's about 165 feet (50 meters) above sea level.
Parks and Places
- Loomis Basin Community Park: This park is located off King Road, just east of Loomis. It's split into two parts, North and South, with Secret Ravine flowing between them. The park is a wooded area with many large boulders.
Many places in the area are named after Secret Ravine:
- Secret Ravine Parkway, in Roseville
- Secret Ravine Road, in an area east of Loomis that is not part of a city
- Secret Ravine School, in Newcastle, California
- Secret Ravine Vineyard and Winery, [1] in Loomis
- Secret Ravine Way, in Rocklin
NOTE: There is another stream also called Secret Ravine in Placer County. It flows into the North Fork of the American River near Colfax. This other stream was sometimes called Robbers Ravine.
