What to See at Confusion Hill in Piercy, North California
Our family recently wrapped up a month long vacation on Route 66 and were headed home on California Highway 101 when we came across Confusion Hill south of Piercy. I remember seeing Confusion Hill as a kid back in the early 1960s and was delighted to discover this roadside tourist trap looked exactly the same after nearly 50 years. And what a tourist trap! Confusion Hill is filled with colorful signs, visual gags, funny homemade attractions, fun statues and some disorienting anti-gravity activities that will leave your family feeling a bit tipsy. Is it worth seeing? Absolutely!
One thing that we discovered on our Route 66 vacation is that roadside attractions such as these are few and far between. To be able to experience a bonefide attraction that’s been in operation since 1949 and basically unchanged is a real treat. Here are a few of the fun things your family will see at Confusion Hill. Some of the attractions on the hill are free, others require an entry fee.
Giant redwood shoe house
Built in the 1940s for use in a parade, this redwood shoe house with its multiple windows is a favorite with the kiddies.
World’s largest chain saw carving
Out in the parking lot is where your family can view the worlds largest chainsaw carving which stands a whopping 40 feet tall. The carving is in the shape of a totem pole with colorful brown bears stacked one on top of the other.
Giant wooden panda
A curiosity more than anything, this fun loving panda is a great photo op for the kiddies.
Gravity House
The star attraction of Confusion Hill is the gravity house filled with optical contradictions where visitors stand at crazy angles in what seems to be an ordinary house. The self guided walk leading up to and away from the gravity house showcases other optical illusions such as water that runs uphill and areas where you are shorter at one end than the other.
Picnic area and rock trough
Part picnic area and part playground, it’s in this area where your family can also spend time stacking chunks of basalt rock that also seem to defy gravity. Sounds lame, I know, but there’s something about this that so defies logic that you can’t help but try to build the tallest tower possible out of these irregular pieces of rock.
Mountain train ride
This 30 minute trip takes you on a train ride through old growth redwood forests to the top of the hill and back. The cars are roofless which means that you can appreciate the views no matter where you sit.
Along with these attractions, Confusion Hill has a modest gift shop and a food concession. While the hill is free to tour, there is an admission fee for the Gravity House ($5 for adults, $4 for children ages 4-12) and for the Mountain Train Ride ($8.50 for adults; $6.50 for children ages 4-12).
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