Pies & Pickaxes Audio Tour of Julian
Stroll down Julian's historic Main Street on this self-guided audio tour
What to Expect
Just over an hour from San Diego, Julian offers a charming mountain escape, with a rich gold rush history, delicious apple pies, and stunning scenery. Take a stroll down Julian's historic Main Street on this self-guided audio tour as the echoes of mining pioneers mingle with the sweet smell of apple pies. You'll get a bird's-eye view of town from atop the cemetery hill as you hear stories about the lives of some of Julian's early residents. You'll also discover how this once bustling mining town transitioned to the charming mountain escape that it is today.
Ready to go? Book below or download our app and purchase directly from your phone.
📍 Location: Julian, CA
🚗 Type: Walking tour
⏱ Duration: Approx. 1 hour (flexible)
✅ Includes: GPS-triggered audio, helpful tips, discounts
📶 Works Offline: Download ahead of time - no cell service required
🎧 Multiple Languages: English, Spanish, French, German
Get Ready for Your Julian Self-Guided Tour
Escape to the mountains on this self-guided audio walking tour of historic Julian, just over an hour from San Diego.
Sitting at 4,226 feet above sea level, Julian blends Gold Rush roots, small-town charm, and famous apple pies into a memorable alpine getaway.
As you stroll along Julian’s historic Main Street, GPS-triggered narration brings the town’s past to life with stories of miners, settlers, and colorful local characters.
Climb Cemetery Hill for sweeping views over town, learn how apple orchards replaced gold mining, and discover how Julian reinvented itself into one of Southern California’s most beloved mountain destinations—all at your own pace.
What You’ll See on Your Julian Walking Tour
Bailey House
Step outside the home of Drue Bailey, the founder of Julian, and hear stories from the town’s earliest days. One mischievous prank reveals that Julian’s beginnings weren’t all hard work and hardship.
Julian Cemetery
Climb the hillside cemetery for sweeping views over Julian and the surrounding mountains. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of pioneers whose lives shaped the town’s rugged early years.
Julian Pie Company
Learn how apples helped save Julian after the Gold Rush faded, transforming it into the destination it is today. You’ll have time to stop for a slice of legendary apple pie or a warm cider donut.
Julian Market & Deli
Pause in front of one of Julian’s original mercantile buildings and imagine daily life in a remote mountain town. Discover how early shopkeepers supplied miners, ranchers, and families alike.
Miner’s Diner
See one of the oldest buildings on Main Street and hear why its brick construction was a big deal for the backcountry. Its sturdy walls tell a story of ambition and permanence in a once-temporary mining camp.
Jack’s Grocery
Hear the story of Frank De Luca, an Italian immigrant who built a new life in Julian. His small grocery store became a cornerstone of the town’s growing community.
Wilcox Building
Spot an unassuming wheelbarrow with an extraordinary story behind it. Learn how it helped survey more than 2,000 miles of county roads at the turn of the 20th century.
Julian Gold Rush Hotel
Stand outside Southern California’s oldest continuously operating hotel and step back into Julian’s boomtown era. The story of its founders adds an inspiring chapter to the town’s history.
Julian Jail
See the concrete jail built after repeated jailbreaks made the original lockup infamous. Its solid design reflects Julian’s determination to bring order to a rough frontier town.
Witch Creek School
Visit a carefully restored one-room schoolhouse that once educated Julian’s children. Relocated and preserved, it offers a glimpse into early mountain life and learning.
Julian Pioneer Museum
Explore exhibits filled with artifacts from Julian’s Gold Rush past and the pioneer era. Each display helps paint a vivid picture of daily life in this once-bustling mining town.
Meeting Point
Your Julian walking tour begins at 2315 Main St, Julian.
Use your favorite navigation app to make your way to the front of the Bailey House, at 2315 Main St, Julian, CA, 92036. Once there, open the Drives & Detours app to begin.
FAQs About Our Julian Walking Tour
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Admission to the Julian Pioneer Museum is a donation of $5 per person, with children 12 and under free.
Visit the Julian Pioneer Museum website for more information.
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Tours are fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
If it’s within 24 hours or you had an issue during your tour, email support@drivesanddetours.com. We review all requests individually and will always do our best to make things right.
Our goal is to ensure every traveler has a great experience exploring with Drives & Detours.
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You will walk for just over half a mile on the Julian walking tour. The walk is a little over half a mile, or about 1 kilometer. There are some hills and steps along the route, and certain sections have no sidewalk. Parking can be a challenge in Julian on busy weekends. There's an overflow lot located on 4th Street between B and C Streets.
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Yes, downloading the Drives & Detours app will give you full access to the tour you have purchased, as well as many other self-guided tours.
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Download the tour before you go. Some areas have poor signal, which can make downloading the tour difficult. Once the tour is downloaded, it will work without any cell signal
The tour audio plays automatically as you approach each stop
Want to see more? Tap “View Stop” to see photos and bonus content
To return to the map, tap the small down arrow between the “previous” and “next” buttons
Follow the blue line and audio directions to stay on route
Use audio controls to pause, rewind, or skip—just like a podcast
Safety first: Keep your eyes on the road or sidewalk, follow traffic laws, and stay aware of your surroundings
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No—download your Julian tour before you go, and you won't need a cell signal. Drives & Detours’ tours work without any cell signal once they are downloaded to your device.
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Once you have purchased your Julian walking tour from Drives & Detours, you can use it whenever you want. You can always take the tour another day if the weather is bad on the day you plan to take it.
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Unfortunately, Dives & Detours cannot guarantee that the Julian self-guided tour is accessible. People with wheelchairs, strollers, or mobility impairments are very welcome, but we recommend checking the Visit Julian website for detailed information.
Pro Tips for Your Drives & Detours Julian Self-Guided Tour
Download before you go.
Enable location services—GPS triggers the audio.
Use earbuds, headphones, or your car speakers.
Pause and resume anytime. If you take a break, just reopen the app and head back toward your last stop.
Lost your way? Tap any pin on the map, then tap the right-turn-arrow icon to open your default maps app for turn-by-turn directions to that spot.
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