NEVADA COUNTY HIKING
Bear River Bridge
Bear River, Nevada County
The Bear River forms the southern most border of Nevada County.
At the crossing of Bear River and Hwy 174 is a historic bridge, and there is also a great trail
for hiking there. It is a relatively easy, approximately two mile hike downstream.
There are several smaller trails branching off to the river for swimming, fishing,
or just relaxing. There is plenty of free parking.
Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Nevada County
To Start
Take Hwy. 20 west from Grass Valley towards Marysville.
Turn Right on Pleasant Valley Road and go about 8 miles until you reach the covered bridge.
Parking
Several parking lots are located where Pleasant Valley Road crosses the Yuba River.
Roadside parking is also available.
Hiking Distance
You can hike approximately 1.5 miles downstream (west) or upstream (east).
Downstream meanders along the Yuba River as it flows into the Englebright Reservoir.
Upstream goes along the river, and has some great swimming holes.
Features
Bridgeport is located on the far west side of Nevada County.
The beautiful Yuba River is perfect for winter rafting,
and in the summer there are several great places to swim.
Hiking is great all year long.
The historic covered bridge has been around since 1862,
and the old toll station road can still be seen today.
A lot of items have been preserved, and the entire place is rich with history.
Edward Crossing
Go north on Hwy 20, passed Nevada City. Turn left at Hwy 49.
Not too far up, take a left on North Bloomfield Rd and go about 8 miles
until you reach the river crossing. You can take a tail on either side of the river.
This hike is Easy to Moderate difficulty. Very scenic!
EMPIRE MINE HIKING TRAILS
This 784 acre State Park is close to downtown Grass Valley. The trails are relatively level
and wind through the pine-forested land that was once one of the largest working hardrock mines
in Nevada County. To get there, exit on Hwy 49 at Empire Street. Travel east for about one
mile, and you will arrive at the mine. Park in the main parking lot. There are 3 major trails to hike:
HARDROCK TRAIL - This 2 mile loop passes through the historic mining site.
Mountain bikes and horse back riding are are not permitted on this trail.
OSBORNE HILL TRAIL - This 5 mile loop winds through old mine sites with foundations.
The hike takes you through tall pines and along a year-round creek.
Horseback riding and mountain bikes are permitted on this trail.
UNION HILL TRAIL - This 5 mile loop lets you see old mine sites and the historic pipeline
that brought water to the mines. The whole hike is in a thick pine forest.
Horseback riding and mountain bikes are permitted on this trail.
INDEPENDENCE TRAIL
To Start
Take Hwy. 49 and go 5.5 miles north of Nevada City.
Parking
You can park in turnouts near the trailhead which is located about a half a mile south
of the Yuba River. Warning – Be careful with the traffic on Hwy 49.
Hiking Distance
You can go 2.5 miles downstream (west) or upstream (east).
The west trail offers a 4.3 mile loop along a swimming trail to Jones Bar Road
and then goes back up to Excelsior Canal and back to the start.
Features
There is Wheelchair Accessibility for 1.5 miles in each direction of the trailhead.
This trail follows the path of the Excelsior Canal which was built during the Gold Rush.
You’ll enjoy lots of wildflowers in the Spring.
NEVADA CITY TRAILS
DETAILED MAPS FOR THESE TRAILS CAN BE OBTAINED
FROM THE FOREST SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
AT 631 COYOTE ST, NEVADA CITY, CA, 95959
Augustine Agony Trail
START – Cement Hill Rd to Augustine Rd
Banner Mountain Bike Trail
START – Sacramento St & Freeway
Buckeye Loop Bike Trail
START – Cascade Shores General Store
Champion Mine Trail
START - Miner’s Foundry & Factory St
Deer Creek Trail
START – Nevada City Hwy & Providence Mine Rd
Round Mountain Trail
START – North Bloomfield Road & Rock Creek Road
Planning to Nevada
- Decide when you want to go on your trip and how long you’ll stay in Nevada. According to Nevada Tourism, the summers are dry and hot, with temperatures reaching the 90s, and the winters bring average temps of around 30 with lots of sunny days. If you’re interested in skiing, snowboarding or other winter sports, plan to stay at least a few days in Reno or Lake Tahoe in the winter months. If hiking and water sports are more your style, the same areas are great during the summer. Las Vegas shows and tours are always climate-controlled, making the city perfect for any time of the year.
What To Do
- Pick some activities that you want to do on your Nevada vacation. History buffs will want to visit Carson City’s Chinese Workers Museum of America; Las Vegas’ Atomic Testing Museum; and King Tut’s Tomb and Museum, an exact replica of the Egyptian tomb of the famous pharaoh, also in Las Vegas. Art lovers can take in great works at the Las Vegas Art Museum and the city’s large Chinatown, with galleries and museums featuring Asian art. If you’re looking for gaming, live music and over-the-top entertainment extravaganzas, Las Vegas is the place to be; remember, though, that you have to be 18 or older to enter a casino. For families, there are plenty of kid-friendly shows in Las Vegas, including the pirate show at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum and the Adventuredome Theme Park inside Circus Circus, but there’s also the Ultimate Rush Speed andThrill Park, and the Great Basin Adventure in Reno. Hikers and golfers will find beautiful places for hiking and playing all over the state. Nevada’s board of tourism especially recommends hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail, which circles Lake Tahoe; the Mount Rose Wilderness Area; Great Basin National Park, near Baker; and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, near Las Vegas. Golfers are encouraged to check out the courses at Edgewood at Lake Tahoe; Rosewood Lakes in Reno; Empire Ranch in Carson City; Painted Desert Golf Club in Las Vegas; and Boulder City’s Cascata Golf Club, dubbed by “Sports Illustrated” as “golf’s hidden treasure.”
Create a Budget
- Draw up a budget. If you’re going to Las Vegas and want to do some gaming at the casinos, set a limit for yourself and pick a time to stop playing. Seeing more than one city in Nevada will require a car, so factor in a rental and gas costs. There are great places to shop all over the state, so if you like souvenirs or are looking to add a unique piece of art from a Nevada gallery to your collection, establish a budget for that. Finally, take a look online for seasonal hotel deals, and budget your hotel
and airfare according to the best deal.
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