Outdoor adventures and agriculture in Somerset’s hills
Set in the rural landscape of El Dorado County, Somerset is a popular choice for anyone seeking a slower pace of living. “It’s a wonderful area with rolling hills, wineries and a great climate for year-round growing,” says Angie Carocci, Realtor with eXp Realty California Inc., who was born and raised in El Dorado County. Large lot sizes and national forest land provide residents with opportunities for outdoor recreation — whether it's dirt biking through the woods, panning for gold or hiking. Despite its relatively secluded, natural surroundings, however, residents still have access to city amenities in nearby Placerville, and Sacramento is only about 60 miles away.
Exploring the Eldorado National Forest and other area parks
Residents often have acres of private land to explore, and the expansive Eldorado National Forest makes up the eastern section of the community. It’s open to everything from hunting and camping to riding off-highway vehicles. Somerset’s many creeks and rivers are popular for fly fishing and gold panning. The county-run Pioneer Park is another attraction, with a disc golf course, sports fields and an equestrian arena. The park periodically hosts community events and disc golf competitions.
Varied housing, including manufactured homes and established vineyards
Paved roads lead through the hilly terrain, passing farms, forests and private driveways. Several smaller communities make up Somerset, such as Fair Play, known for its vineyards, and Omo Ranch, which borders the Eldorado National Forest. Housing options include ranch-style homes, log cabins and some custom designs, and multiacre lots are fairly common.
Manufactured homes or houses on less than an acre of land range from about $240,000 to $400,000, but the majority of sales range from $340,000 to $830,000. Custom-built residences with established hobby farms or vineyards may sell between $850,000 and $1.3 million. Residents maintain their own septic systems and wells. While some properties are off the grid, most are connected to public utilities. The area faces a high risk of wildfires, and lenders often require fire insurance.
Farm-to-table dining and local wineries, plus shopping in Placerville
The region’s mild winters support a variety of agriculture. “People do a lot of backyard farming, and there’s a huge farm-to-table movement,” Carocci says. Some farms offer Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, subscriptions. Subscribers typically receive a box of produce each week, along with recipe suggestions. Wineries and vineyards dot the area as well, and a few host seasonal barbecues and wine tastings. At the corner of Grizzly Flats and Mount Aukum roads, locals can pick up snacks from the Somerset Store or sit down for a meal at Gold Vine Bistro, which serves American cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients.
Pleasant Valley, less than 5 miles north, has a hardware store and a small supermarket. For most shopping and dining, however, residents drive into Placerville. Carocci says that Main Street has several excellent eateries, and she recommends The Independent Restaurant and Bar. “The Market on Main is great too — it’s a husband-and-wife-owned restaurant that is really well known for their soups,” she says. In addition to restaurants, Placerville also has boutiques, big-box stores and large grocery chains, including Raley’s and Safeway.
Most students attend Pioneer Union schools and Union Mine High School
The majority of the community is zoned for the Pioneer Union School District, which gets an overall C from Niche. The Pioneer School serves prekindergarten through fifth graders and also holds a C rating. Mountain Creek Middle School earns a B. Families who live in and around Omo Ranch may be zoned for the unrated Indian Diggings School District, which consists of a one-room elementary and middle school with fewer than 20 students.
From ninth through 12th grades, students can attend the A-minus-rated Union Mine High School in El Dorado. It offers the Agriculture in the Classroom program, as well as Future Farmers of America.
Paved country roads connect residents to nearby Placerville
Residents rely on cars and back roads for travel. “They’re windy, country roads, but they’re well maintained,” Carocci says. Placerville is located between 10 and 25 miles from properties in Somerset and is home to Marshall Hospital, a Level III trauma center. Sacramento is about 60 miles from Omo Ranch, and Sacramento International Airport is roughly 10 miles farther.
