Hopper

It’s fun to go wine tasting with friends on the weekend. But then you have that age-old problem — who is going to be the designated driver? Of course you could always make a promise to limit your consumption, but sometimes that just doesn’t work. Well, if you happen to be visiting Murphys or Angels Camp on a Saturday, there is another solution — take the Hopper. This short shuttle route connects the two cities and even makes a stop at Ironstone Vineyards. And the good news is, they will also go a little off route with advance notice. So pack your bag, gather your friends, and get ready to enjoy a wine tasting weekend on the Calaveras Hopper.

The Basics

The Calaveras Hopper only runs on Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM. But that’s OK, as that’s when the tasting rooms do the bulk of their business. There’s about an hour wait between buses, and the schedules are posted at all hopper stops as well as at calaverasconnect.org/routes/saturday-hopper/. This route is also seasonal — it only operates from March to November.

The fare is a very reasonable $3 (seniors are half price). Drivers do not carry change so the exact fare is required if you pay cash. You can also pay with the Token Transit app, which is available from the App Store, Google Play, or by texting “token” to 41411.

Access is excellent on the Calaveras Hopper, with lift access and wheelchair spaces available. The drivers are also pretty friendly, and are happy to offer assistance if needed.

The route begins in Angels Camp and travels on Highway 4 to Murphys. It makes six stops along the way:

• Travelodge Copello (Angels Camp)
• WorldMark (Angels Camp)
• Save Mart (Angels Camp)
• Angels Camp Visitor Center (Angels Camp)
• Murphys Creek Theater (Murphys)
• Ironstone Vineyards (Murphys)

Murphys Creek Theater is just around the corner from several tasting rooms, and Ironstone Vineyards is a destination in itself. And if you want to get picked up at another spot with ¾ mile of the route, then call (209) 754-4450 at least two hours in advance. Additionally, drivers will usually stop at any safe location along the route. So enjoy a little Saturday wine tasting in Calaveras County, and leave the driving to the Hopper.