Outdoor lovers will think they’re in paradise when they discover the variety of walking, hiking and mountain biking, and wealth of recreation activities available in and around Grass Valley and Nevada City.

Detailed hiking and mountain biking tour maps, with distances and levels of difficulty are available free at local Chamber of Commerce visitor centers and the Nevada City Ranger District office located at 631 Coyote Street, Nevada City.

Here are some of the area’s popular recreation spots:


Golf Courses

• Alta Sierra Golf & Country Club - Seven Miles south of Grass Valley. Semi-private 18-hole championship course with public play afternoons. Call (530) 273-2010 for details on public play and green fees.

• Nevada County Country Club - Off East Main Street, Grass Valley. Semi-private 9-hole course open to public weekday afternoons, all day weekends. Call (530) 273-6436 for public play times and greens fees.

• Quail Valley Golf Course - Off Old Auburn Road, Grass Valley. Public, open daily. Driving range. (530) 274-1340.


Tennis Courts

• Club Sierra - 130 W. Berryhill Drive, Grass Valley. 477-8800

• Ridge Racquet Club - 1041 Ridge Road, Grass Valley. 273-8514

• Memorial Park - Race Street at Colfax Avenue, Grass Valley. 273-0941

• Pioneer Park - Nimrod Street, Nevada City. 265-2521

• Western Gateway Regional Park - Penn Valley Drive, Penn Valley.
432-1990


Neighborhood Parks

• Pioneer Park - Located in Nevada City on Nimrod Street, Pioneer Park has a public swimming pool (seasonal hours), playground, tennis courts, baseball fields, a band shell, horseshoe pits, picnic and barbecue areas, sand volleyball court, playground and meeting lodge. Check with the park (530) 265-2521 for more information.

• Memorial Park - Grass Valley’s park has a lighted softball park, playground, museum, horseshoes and shuffleboard, public swimming pool, tennis and picnic areas. Call (530) 477-4390 for more information.

• Condon Park - In Grass Valley, this large wooded park offers hiking, disc golf, an arboretum, basketball courts, horseshoes, bocce ball court, baseball fields, and picnic and barbecue areas. You may rent the L.O.V.E. Building located on the park site for private parties and meetings. Contact (530) 274-4390.

• Western Gateway Regional Park - This Penn Valley park has several baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts, trails, amphitheater, playground, exercise course, horse arena, picnic and barbecue area, and disc golf. Cottage available for parties. Call 432-1990.

• Tobiassen Park - Next to the Rood Center beyond library, off Hwy. 49, Nevada City. Ballfield, pond, trails, picnic tables.

• Glenn Jones Picnic Area - Adjacent to North Star Mining Museum, at the corner of McCourtney and Allison Ranch Road. A beautiful, secluded area along side Wolf Creek with lawn and picnic tables. Quiet, shaded and peaceful. A great place to have lunch.


State Parks

• Empire Mine State Historic Park - The site of one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California. The park contains many of the mines building, the Bourn Cottage and gardens, as well as the entrance to 367 miles of abandoned and flooded mine shafts. Located on Grass Valley on East Empire Street, it consists of 805 acres of shaded forest — including eight miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Guided tours and audio-visual presentations are offered throughout the day at various times.
Contact the park for a schedule of living history programs, special events and hours.

10791 Empire Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 273-8522


• Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park - Site of California’s largest “hydraulic” mine where the foothills were carved away by mighty streams of water — a gold mining technique that washed away entire mountains to find the precious metal. Legal battles between mine owners and downstream farmers eventually ended this method. The park also contains a 7,847 bedrock tunnel that served as a drain. The visitor center has exhibits on life in the old mining town of North Bloomfield. The park offers a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails, and a small mountain lake for swimming and fishing. Call for information and operating hours.

23579 North Bloomfield Rd., Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-2740


• South Yuba River State Park - A 20-mile portion of the south fork of the Yuba River that extends from Malakoff Diggins State Park to Bridgeport, which includes the longest single-span covered bridge in the world, four miles of steep, rugged canyon, and the Independence Trail, a wheelchair accessible trail. Visitors can enjoy swimming, hiking, wildflowers and historic sties. Docent-led history, nature and gold-panning tours are offered at selected times throughout the year. The park, north of Nevada City, is located off Highway 49 and is accessible at Edwards Crossing, Purdon Crossing, Highway 49 and Bridgeport.

175660 Pleasant Valley Road, Penn Valley, CA 95946
(530) 432-2546 or (530) 273-3884


Lakes & Reservoirs

• Rollins Lake - Located between Grass Valley and Colfax, Rollins sits at an elevation of 2,100 feet. It has a surface area of 900 acres with 26 miles of shoreline. A great lake for camping, boating, fishing, sailing and water-skiing.

• Scotts Flat Lake - East of Nevada City off Highway 20, Scotts Flat sits at 3,100 feet. The lake has 850 acres of surface with 7 1/2 miles of pine studded shoreline. A nice boating lake with two launch ramps and marina. See the camping section for more details

• Englebright Lake - Located near Smartville, on Highway 20, 15 miles west of Grass Valley. There are 24 miles of shoreline on the 9- mile long lake. Englebright offers nearly 100 developed boat-in campsites, one group picnic area, one group camping area, two launch ramps, marina, store and cafe.

• Bullards Bar Reservoir - Located north of Nevada City in Plumas National Forest, this reservoir is surrounded by rugged countryside. Bullards Bar offers 4,700 surface acres and over 56 miles of shoreline at an elevation of 2,000 feet. There are 39 boat access, shaded campgrounds and a full service marina with fishing and houseboat rentals and moorings. (530) 692-3200

• Lake Spaulding - A beautiful alpine lake at an elevation of 5,014 feet. It sits in a glacier carved bowl surrounded by giants rocks and a thick pine forest. It offers 25 campsites, 5 picnic sites, picnic area, fishing, swimming, boating, and boat ramp. Contact the PG&E Regional Land Development office at (530) 527-0354


Campgrounds

Rollins Lake Resorts - Fantastic fishing and water sports. 26 miles of wooded shoreline. Four family owned campgrounds (listed below) featuring launch ramps, gas docks, general stores, two restaurants, four launch ramps and gas dock, and 250+ campsites.

• Greenhorn - 10 minutes off of I-80. Features 84 sites and the largest swimming beach complete with store and arcade, showers, flush toilets, laundry, BBQ’s, fire pits and tables in all campsites.

1500 Greenhorn Access Rd., Grass Valley, CA 95945
Reservations: (530) 272-6100 Store: (530) 272-4038

• Long Ravine - Restaurant offers a view of the beach and excellent breakfasts and lunches. Other facilities include store and floating gas pumps. 58 sites surrounded by pines and oaks, showers, flush toilets slips and picnic tables and BBQ’s at all sites. P.O. Box 60, Colfax, CA 95713

(530) 346-6166 Email: longravine@jps.net

• Orchard Springs - Featuring the Loft Bar and Grill. Located by the dam and caters to fishermen. Slips , hot showers, flush toilets, store, group BBQ area and tables. Nestled in pines and cedars. 60 sites, 18 with full hookups. Tenters welcome.

P.O. Box 270, Colfax, CA 95713
(530) 346-2212 Email: orchard@gv.net

• Peninsula - Shaded, spacious lake view, lakeside and wooded sites with clean flush toilets and hot showers. Fishing, water sports, swim beach. 78 sites in a friendly, family atmosphere.

215976 You Bet Road
P.O. Box 344, Chicago Park, CA 95712
(530) 477-9413 Email: info@penresort.com


Campgrounds

• Washington, California - Located at the base of Washington Ridge next to the South Fork of the Yuba River and between Nevada City and the intersection of State Route 20 and Interstate 80. Leaving Nevada City, drive east on Hwy. 20 for approximately 13 miles and turn on Washington Road, which winds its way down into the canyon for about six miles. There are no gas stations in Washington so leave Grass Valley with a full tank of gas.

• Gene’s Pine-Aire Campground - (530) 265-2832

• River Rest Resort Campground - (530) 265-4306


• Grass Valley/Nevada City - Camping in the heart of the Gold Country.

• Nevada County Fairgrounds - 15 sites with full hook-ups and 100 sites with water and power. Showers and two convenient dump stations. Facilities are available for either individual or group camping. Camping may be unavailable due to previously scheduled activities at the fairgrounds. No tent camping.
P.O. Box 2687, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 273-6217 Fax: (530) 273-1146

• Malakoff Diggins State Park/Chute Hill Campground - 30 sites for tents or RV’s plus 2 rustic cabins. Picnic table and fire pit at each site. Piped water, flush toilets and wood for sale.

23579 North Bloomfield Road
Nevada City, Ca 95959
(530) 265-2740


• Scotts Flat Lake - Camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, skiing, boat rentals, bait and tackle, gas dock, dry storage, mooring, store, hot showers, playground.

23333 Scotts Flat Road
Nevada City, Ca 95959
Reservations: (530) 265-5302 - Marina: (530) 265-0413


• U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds - All family campgrounds have sites available on a first come, first serve basis. In some of the more popular fee sites, reservations can be made by calling
ReserveUSA - 1-877-444-6777
or visiting their website at www.reserveusa.com


There are many other camping opportunities in the Tahoe National Forest. For more information, call the Nevada City Ranger District at (530) 265-4531 or the Truckee Ranger District at (530) 587-3558.


Campgrounds - Highway 20 Corridor

Campgrounds located east of Grass Valley and Nevada City:

• White Cloud - Fee charged, 46 sites, no trailer size limit, flush and vault toilets. Elevation: 4,200’

• Skillman Group Site - Fee charged, 16 campsites, twelve with room for trailers. Tie rails, corrals, and water troughs. Limited parking. Elevation: 4,400’. For scheduling info call (209) 295-4512

• Bowman Road Area - located north of Highway 20, five miles west of Interstate 80. Campgrounds are located on rough dirt roads off of this road.

• Lindsey Lake - 7 unimproved sites. Pack in/Pack out. Elevation: 5,565’.

• Carr Lake - 5 unimproved sites. Pack in/Pack out.
Elevation: 5,565’.

• Jackson Creek - 14 campsites, vault toilets, and limited parking. Elevation: 5,600’.

• Canyon Creek - 20 campsites. Access can be difficult for passenger vehicles, recreation vehicles and trailers. Elevation: 6,000’.

• Grouse Ridge - 9 walk-in tent campsites. Pack in/Pack out.
Elevation: 7,520’.

• Faucherie Group Campground - Call ReserveUSA for reservations (number on page 61). 25 person group campsite. Limited space for small trailers.
Campgrounds & Day Use Facilities

• Englebright Lake - located near Smartville, on Highway 20, 15 miles west of Grass Valley. Englebright offers nearly 100 developed boat-in campsites, one group picnicking area, one group camping area, two launch ramps, marina, store and cafe. 3 miles off Hwy. 20 on Mooney Flat Rd. There is a $6 fee to camp and launching is free to paid campers. Call the Park Office to reserve the group area.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 6, Smartville, CA 95977-0006
(530) 639-2342



Day Use Facilities
Just a short drive from Grass Valley or Nevada City:

• Rock Creek Nature Study Area - Turn north on Conservation Camp road, five miles east of Nevada City and follow signs. Three picnic sites, vault toilet, ample parking, stream water (boil before drinking). Elevation: 2,900’.

• White Cloud Day Use - Fourteen miles east of Nevada City. 17 picnic
sites with fire rings, flush toilets, ample parking, piped water. Elevation: 4,200’.

• Keleher Picnic Site - One mile east of the town of Washington on unpaved road. 9 picnic sites, vault toilet, piped water. Elevation: 2,700’.

• Golden Quartz Picnic Site - Three miles east of the town of Washington on unpaved road. 7 picnic sites, vault toilet. Elevation: 2,900’.

• Fuller Lake Day Use Area - Three miles north of Highway 20 on Bowman Road. 9 picnic sites, vault toilets, limited parking.
Hiking Trails


Empire Mine State Park

• Hardrock Trail
Trailhead: Empire Mine Visitor Center
Where to Park: Main Parking Lot
Directions: Exit Hwy. 49 at Empire Street, drive east one mile to park
Distance of Hike: 2 mile loop. Degree of Difficulty: 2
Seasons: All year
Historical Significance: Passes many historic mining sites
Visitors entering through the visitor center must pay admission. Free entry is allowed by parking at the Pennsylvania Gate equestrian staging area. This trail is the only one in the park for hikers only; no mountain bikers or equestrians are allowed. Dogs must be leashed. Open daily sunrise to sunset. Trail maps are available at park visitor center.


• Osborne Hill Trail
Trailhead: Empire Mine Visitor Center or Pennsylvania Gate
Where to Park: Main Parking Lot
Directions: Exit Highway 49 at Empire Street, drive east one mile to park.
Distance of Hike: Approx 5 miles. Degree of Difficulty: Up to 6
Seasons: All year
Historical Significance: Area is dotted with old mine sites and foundations
Beautiful forest setting, small creek crossing. Trail maps are available at the park visitors center.


• Union Hill Trail
Trailhead: Highway 174 at Empire Street.
Where to Park: Main Parking Lot.
Directions: Exit Hwy. 49 at Empire Street, drive east one mile to park
Distance of Hike: Approx. 5 miles of trail on Union Hill.
Degree of Difficulty: Up to 4
Seasons: All year
Area is filled with old mine sites and includes the pipeline that brought water to the mines. Detailed trail maps are available at the park visitors center.



Hiking Trails - South Yuba State Park

• South Yuba River Independence Trail
Trailhead: Highway 49, 6 miles northwest of Nevada City
Distance of Hike: 2.5 miles each way Degree of Difficulty: Both 2.5 miles sections are rated 1. West Loop:5
Wheelchair Access: 1/5 miles in each direction of trailhead .
Trail follows alignment of the Excelsior Canal, built during the Gold Rush, with Gold Rush era flumes. Flume and canal systems built to carry water now carry people.Wildflower walks in spring .

• Bridgeport Buttermilk Trail
Trailhead: Off Pleasant Valley Road, upstream of Bridgeport, north side of river.
Directions: From Grass Valley, west on Highway 20 to Penn Valley, right (north) on Pleasant Valley Rd. 8 miles to Bridgeport.
Distance of Hike: 1.25 miles each way.
Degree of Difficulty: Fairly flat except for one 50-yard upslope
A favorite wildflower hike in March-May. Offers nice views of the river canyon, access to many swimming holes. Literature available at the ranger station.


• South Yuba River Trail
Trailhead: Eight miles northeast of Nevada City, off N. Bloomfield Rd.
Directions: Highway 49 to North Bloomfield Road. Drive eight miles, past the river, follow signs to the campground and trailhead.
Distance of hike: 7.5 miles one way, Degree of Difficulty: 7
Trail passes through Gold Rush remains. Trail can also be accessed from Purdon Crossing. Hiking, horseback riding, picnic sites, primitive and maintained camping. Swimming, fishing, nature study.


Tahoe National Forest

• Rock Creek Nature Trail
Trailhead: Off access road, seven miles east of Nevada City .
Where to Park: At trailhead.
Directions: Highway 20 east from Nevada City to Washington Ridge Conservation Camp Road (2 miles beyond the Five Mile House). Turn left, follow signs to access road, trailhead.
Distance of hike: 0.8 mile loop. Degree of Difficulty: 1
Wheelchair Access: First 500 feet of trail.
This interpretive trail has been used for many years in school nature study programs. Native plants and trees are identified. Brochures are available at the trailhead.


• Missouri Bar Trail
Trailhead: Located off Forest Road No. 729-3
Directions: From Nevada City, Highway 49 north to Tyler-Foote Crossing Road, then right (east) to Malakoff Diggins and Relief Hill Road. Follow signs.
Distance of hike: 1.6 miles one-way. Degree of Difficulty: 6
Trail was probably used by miners in North Bloomfield’s mining heyday. Planned trail extension will provide connection to the South Yuba River Trail. Watch for poison oak.


• Canyon Creek Trail
Trailheads: The north trailhead is off Bowman Lake Road at Windy Point, south trailhead is at the Arctic Mine, 6.3 miles from Washington.
Directions: From Nevada City, Highway 20 east to Bowman Lake Road, approx. 22 miles, then 11.9 miles north to the unmarked trailhead, or east on Hwy 20 to Washington Road, approx. 13.3 miles, then 5.2 miles to Washington, then 6.3 miles to trailhead.
Distance of hike: 8 miles one-way. Degree of Difficulty: 1
Creekside hike through rugged primitive terrain.


• Grouse Lakes Area
Trailhead: Grouse Ridge Lookout
Directions: From Nevada City, Highway 20 east to Bowman Lake Road. Turn left, proceed north six miles. Turn right on Grouse Ridge Road. The campground is 5.3 miles up a bumpy dirt road.
Distance of hike: From 2 to 8 miles. Degree of Difficulty: 3-10
Some trails date to the mining days. High alpine environment, expansive views, many lakes, fishing, swimming, wildflowers. Tahoe National Forest

• Glacier Lake Trail
Trailhead: Grouse Ridge Lookout campground. Hike on the Grouse Ridge Trail north to Glacier Lake Trail
Directions: From Nevada City, Highway 20 east to Bowman Lake Road. Turn, proceed north six miles. Turn right on Grouse Ridge Road. The campground is 5.3 miles up a bumpy dirt road.
Distance of hike: 4 miles one-way. Degree of Difficulty: 5
High Sierra meadows, forests, glacial moraine. Glacier Lake is nestled in a small red fir forest in the shadows of the Black Buttes.


Malakoff Diggins State Park

• Humbug Creek Trail
Trailhead: North Bloomfield Road in the state park.
Distance of hike: 3 miles each way. Degree of Difficulty: 6. Includes a 1,000 foot return climb out of the river canyon.
Malakoff was once the largest hydraulic mine in the world and its almost 8,000-foot North Bloomfield drain tunnel emptied into Humbug Creek, carrying mine tailings into the South Yuba River. Trail connects with the South Yuba Trail at the river. Waterfalls, swimming in the Yuba. Historic relics include ditches, mine shafts, rock walls. No pets, no mountain bikes.

• Rim Trail
Trailhead: North Bloomfield Road or Malakoff Campground. Parking.
Directions: From Nevada City, Highway 49 north to Tyler-Foote Crossing Road, then right (east) to Malakoff Diggins.
Distance of hike: 3 miles. Degree of Difficulty: 6
Views of the Malakoff hydraulic diggings. Pine and cedar forests. Pets must be leashed.

• Diggins Loop Trail
Trailhead: Diggins overlook, North Bloomfield Road. Parking available.
Distance of hike: 3 mile loop. Degree of Difficulty: 3
Trail loops through what was once the largest hydraulic mining operation in the world.

• Blair Trail
Trailhead: North Bloomfield Road near North Bloomfield.
Distance of hike: half mile loop. Degree of Difficulty: 2
Seasons: Year-round. Some snow in winter.
The Blair Lake dates to the mining era. Spur goes to campground, 3/4 miles. Pine and cedar forests. No dogs, bicycles or horses.


• North Bloomfield Trail
Trailhead: North Bloomfield Road, village of North Bloomfield
Distance of hike: 3/4 mile. Degree of Difficulty: 6
Seasons: Year-round. Some snow in winter.
Pine and cedar forests.



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Tahoe National Forest
The Tahoe National Forest encompasses 177,000 acres of Nevada County, stretching from Nevada City east to the state line. The forest provides some of the best outdoor recreation in the nation and includes more than 600 miles of hiking, biking, equestrian, and OHV trails. It also has more than 100 camping and picnic grounds, and many resorts, private camps, and ski areas. Hundreds of lakes and miles of streams are not only the source of drinking water for the county but also provide extensive fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

The forest also provides timber, grazing and mining claims as national forests were created to provide the resources we all use in addition to recreational opportunities.

For more information, contact the Nevada City Ranger District at (530) 265-4531 or www.r5.fs.fed.us/tahoe

Also note, the Rock Creek Nature Trail is not suitable for horseback riding. In fact, horses are prohibited from using the trail.