12. SOUTH YUBA TRAIL

Trailhead: Round Mountain Trailhead, locatedoff Hudson/Trailhead roads.Distance: 20 milesTotal estimated climb: 2000 ft.Time of ride: 2-3 hoursSeason: Spring to FallDegree of difficulty: Intermediate+4-6 Physical, 4-6 Technical

A fun and challenging single-track ride withviews of the South Yuba River. At one time, thetrail was posted as a clockwise riding circuit, butthese days most riders seem to prefer acounter-clockwise direction. From RoundMountain, turn left at the South Yuba Trail, leftat Lake Vera-Purdon Road, left again at RectorRoad, left at Rock Creek Road and return onHudson Road. Watch for poison oak along thetrail.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

A Dozen Favorite Rides in Grass Valley

and Nevada City

Joint Chambers of Commerce ofNevada County

Local Bike Shops & OutfittersNevada County's cycling and outdoor specialists offer quality products and

friendly, professional sales and service.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop457 Sacramento StreetNevada City, CA 95959

(530) 265-2187

TR2 Bicycle Center1275 East Main Street

Grass Valley, CA 95945(530) 272-8920

Mountain Recreation(Outdoor Outfitter, No Bikes)

491 East Main StreetGrass Valley, CA 95945

(530) 477-8006

Xtreme Outfitters Cycle & Skates1200 East Main Street

Grass Valley, CA 95945(530) 477-2377

This brochure is published as a service ofThe Joint Chambers of Commerce of

Nevada CountyINFORMATION:

Grass Valley/Nevada County Chamber (530) 273-4667 • (800) 655-4667www.grassvalleychamber.com

Nevada City Chamber (530) 265-2692 • (800) 655-NJOY

www.nevadacitychamber.com

Written by Dave CarterJuly, 1993 • Fifth Edition, August, 2005

NEVADA COUNTY

BLUE SKIES, GREEN TREES& GREAT MOUNTAIN BIKING

Nevada CountyCalifornia

Mountain Biking

• Ride safely (always wear a helmet)• Don't trespass on private property• Tell someone where you're riding• Carry water, pump and repair kit

Ride Safely • Have FunPlease Don’t Trespass

1. EMPIRE MINE STATE PARK

Trailhead: West gate, at hilltop, off Empire St.Distance: 1.5 to 10 milesTotal estimated climb: variesTime of ride: variesSeason: Year aroundDegree of difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate3-6 Physical, 2-5 Technical

A variety of wooded trails with easy to chal-lenging terrain traverse California’s richest goldmine, on both sides of Highway 174. Trailmaps are available at the park visitor center butdon’t ride in the visitor center area. There is anadmission charge at this gate. Please observethe “No Bikes” signs in some areas.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

3. BANNER - JONES LOOP

Trailhead: Brunswick BasinDistance: 20 milesTotal estimated climb: N/ATime of ride: 2-3 hoursSeason: All year, possible snow in winterDegree of difficulty: Intermediate+6 Physical, 3 Technical

This is a favorite mountain bike ride for roadriders. From Brunswick Road, take Old TunnelRoad (behind Ralph’s) to Banner Lava CapRoad. Turn right, ride up Banner and out toRed Dog Road. Turn right toward GreenhornCreek then right again at Tumbling Creek Road(old wooden sign). Continue down MeadowWay to Jones Ridge, turn right at Greenhornand right again at Brunswick. Return to start.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

2. UPPER SOUTH YUBA TRAIL

Trailhead: South Yuba CampDistance: 19 miles, full loopTotal estimated climb: 3000 feetTime of ride: 2-4 hoursSeason: Year-roundDegree of difficulty: Intermediate+4-8 Physical, 4-6 Technical

A fun dirt road (20%) and singletrack (80%)ride along the South Yuba River that can usuallybe done year around. Beautiful river andcanyon views. From Nevada City, take NorthBloomfield Road to the South Yuba RiverCamp. Ride North Bloomfield Road, Rim Trail,Relief Hill and Missouri Bar roads. Stay right onSouth Yuba Trail, cross Humbug Trail andreturn to campground. Trail spurs along theriver lead to great swimming holes.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

FFor mountain bike riders, NevadaCounty is an outdoor paradise andyear-round playground. The color-ful towns of Grass Valley and

Nevada City offer fine shops, dining andnight life. How about a mountain bikeweekend? Try one of our noted bed andbreakfast inns or historic Gold Rush hotels.

Bicycling is a great outdoor activity but italso can be dangerous. Be vigilant forvehicles and other riders. Keep an eye outfor obstacles. On the trail, yield to hikersand equestrians. Be friendly and set agood example for our sport.

The routes in this guide follow publicroads. Please do not trespass or park yourvehicle on private property.

Ride Safely & Have Fun!

Mountain BikeNevada County

See Numbered Rides forTrail Descriptions

4. BULLARDS BAR TRAIL

Trailhead: Dark Day Campground/Boat Ramp,located off Marysville Road.Distance: 13-20 milesTotal estimated climb: 1000+ feetTime of ride: 2 1/2 to 4 hoursSeason: Year aroundDegree of difficulty: Intermediate+4-6 Physical, 4-6 Technical

Fun, challenging counter-clockwise ride of20% dirt road and 80% singletrack. Locatednear Camptonville, 40 minutes north of NevadaCity. Take Schoolhouse Trail to 8-Ball Trail toMarysville Road and the Rebel Ridge Store,then Old Camptonville Road to Bullards BarTrail. Return to Dark Day Camp via singletrack.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

6. AUGUSTINE AGONY

Trailhead: Nevada CityDistance: 12 milesTotal estimated climb: 1800 feetTime of ride: 3 hoursSeason: Year aroundDegree of difficulty: Advanced7-10 Physical, 4-6 Technical

Ride up Cement Hill Road, turn right atAugustine Road and then keep left all the waydown to the South Yuba River. After a swim,attempt to climb back out.

Zachi Anderson, Mountain Bike Guide

7. BANNER MOUNTAIN TRAIL

Trailhead: Nevada CityDistance: 10 milesTotal estimated climb: 800 feetTime of ride: 1 to 1.5 hoursSeason: Spring to FallDegree of difficulty: Intermediate. 4 Physical, 3 Technical

Start at Sacramento Street and the freeway.Ride Railroad Avenue past the Northern QueenInn to Gold Flat Road. Turn left, then right onGracie Road. Turn left at Banner MountainTrail, pass the gun club and ride to the top ofBanner Mountain. Return on pavement viaBanner Lava Cap and Gracie roads or turn leftat the top of Banner and return via Banner andRed Dog roads.

Dave Carter, co-author, Mountain Biking

5. CHAMPION MINE ROADTrailhead: Nevada CityDistance: 7-10 milesTotal estimated climb: 300 ft.Time of ride: 40 min. to 1 1/2 hoursSeason: Year aroundDegree of difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate 3 Physical, 2 Technical

Easy ride on gravel and dirt roads in theDeer Creek canyon. Ride out Factory Street(past Miners’ Foundry) to the pavement of OldDownieville Highway. Pass a few houses andtake the first dirt road left. Stay high (right) at

the steel gate. Ride to Newtown Road andreturn. Or turn right at Newtown, ride up toHighway 49 and right again on Old DownievilleHighway. Return to town. A tougher alterna-tive: From Newtown Road, cross Highway 49and return to town via Country, Indian Flat andCement Hill roads.

Dave Carter, co-author, Mountain Biking

Evolving Trail MapTHIS BROCHURE is a continuing effort to document trails

in the Grass Valley-Nevada City area. Your commentsand ideas for future maps are welcome.

Please contact the Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shopor the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, 132 Main

Street, Nevada City, CA 95959. Email comments may be addressed to

info@nevadacitychamber.com.

11. HOLE IN THE GROUND LOOP

Trailhead: Lower Lola Montez Lake TrailheadDistance: approx. 20 milesTotal estimated climb: 2500 feetTime of ride: 2-6 hoursSeason: Summer to FallDegree of difficulty: Intermediate+4-7 Physical, 5-7 Technical

This is a favorite High Sierra mountain bike rideand good intro to technical rock riding. (Maintainedby numerous local businesses and bike clubs.) Parknear the fire station at Lower Lola Montez Lake Trailto start. Follow old U.S. 40 (Donner Pass Rd.)toward Donner Pass. Turn left at the “Snow LabResearch Center” to the Boreal parking lot. Gounder I-80, stay right just past the gate. Follow thisroad for one mile. Trail starts on the left. Up anddown, the trail crosses private property near the end.Please be respectful.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

10. CASCI RANCH LOOP

Trailhead: Five Mile House. Riders invited topark at Harmony Ridge Market.Distance: 12+ milesTotal estimated climb: 1500 feetTime of ride: 2-3 hoursSeason: Can be snowbound in winter

9. UPPER PIONEER TRAILTrailhead: White Cloud CampgroundDistance: 10 milesTotal estimated climb: N/ATime of ride: 1 to 6 hours, varies w/ lengthSeason: Can be snowbound in winterDegree of difficulty: 4-6 Physical, 4-7 Tech.

This trail parallels Highway 20 on the south

8. LOWER PIONEER TRAIL

Trailhead: Park at Harmony Ridge Market(mountain bikers invited) or at the horse stagingarea off Highway 20, one mile east, across fromLone Grave.Distance: 10 milesTotal estimated climb: 500+ ft.Time of ride: 1 to 2 hoursSeason: Can be snowbound in winterDegree of difficulty: 4 Physical, 3 Technical

Ride eastward on the Pioneer Trail, whichruns parallel to Highway 20, on the north side.The trail offers wooded singletrack riding with amoderate climb in the eastbound direction. It ismarked with small diamond plaques on trees.Ride to White Cloud Campground and return, orcontinue eastward to Upper Pioneer Trail for alonger ride.)

NOTE: The Lower and Upper Pioneer Trailshave been developed and are maintained by alocal equestrian group, the Gold Country TrailsCouncil. Please extend every courtesy to folkson horseback.

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

and north sides and drifts farther from the high-way than the lower section. Ride to SkillmanCampground and back, or for a longer ride,past Chalk Bluff Road and back. The trail isfairly rugged and mildly technical single-track,offering more challenging riding than the lowersection.

(This trail can be linked with the LowerPioneer Trail to the west for a longer ride andconnects to the east through the LakeSpaulding and Grouse Ridge trail systems cancan be ridden continuously through JacksonMeadows to connect into Reno/Verdi.)

Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop

Degree of difficulty: Intermediate.4-6 Physical, 3-4 Technical

Start near the Five Mile House. Follow thePioneer Trail on the north side of the highwayfour miles east to Casci Ranch Road. Turnright. Steep and rutted dirt road descent toScotts Flat Reservoir. Return to the Five MileHouse via Scotts Flat Road.

Zachi Anderson, Mountain Bike Guide

Harmony RidgeMarket

To BearValley