Gold River is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sacramento County, California. The population was 7,812 at the 2010 census, down from 8,023 at the 2000 census. Gold River is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community of Gold River consists of a residential planned development and some smaller subdivisions served by Gold River Discovery Center (a K through 8 school), as well as some retail, commercial and light industrial areas.