secret ravine (also auburn station) is a former settlement in placer county, california. secret ravine is located southwest of newcastle. correction: gardiner writes in 1854 that the secret ravine post office is "near the hawes ranch." elisha hawes lived in township 9, the 1860 census shows him continuing to receive mail at the secret ravine post office. placer county records show that elisha hawes and his family sold the ranch in 1867, and that it was located on secret ravine near the intersection of what is now i-80 and rocklin road, in the area commonly called china gardens.