Nevada County Gold Magazine | Page 37

037_NC Recreation_037_NC Recreation 2105 5/23/15 8:22 PM Page 37 NEVADA CITY TRAILS, SOUTH YUBA RIVER STATE PARK R E C R E A T I O N Trails HIRSCHMAN TRAIL: Easy trail is 2.4 miles (one way), pond 0.4 mile from trailhead. One mile from downtown Nevada City. Take Hwy. 49 toward Downieville past County Government Center, turn right on Cement Hill Road, take first left (looks like private drive) to parking. CASCADE CANAL TRAIL: 4.5 miles, easy. Good for joggers, bicyclists. Main trailhead accessible from two parking areas at or near the intersection of Gracie Road and Banner Lava Cap Road. Cascade Canal Trail the South Fork of the Yuba River. Picnic tables and benches. Trailheads for east and west sections accessible from parking area just before bridge across river on Hwy. 49 about 6 miles from Nevada City heading toward Downieville. East trail (left at display case) is 2.2 miles; popular west trail (right at display case) is 2.5 miles. HANK MEALS DEER CREEK TRIBUTE TRAIL: Easy to moderate. Popular segment from Nevada City to the “Chinese Bridge” on Deer Creek is 2.2 miles and includes section with unique homes. Start at Bridge Street beside the Nevada Theatre on Broad Street, pass Miners Foundry Cultural Center, turn right on Factory Street which becomes Wyoming Street and then becomes Downieville Hwy. which continues to Champion Road. There is some parking here. Bridge is 1.7 miles from this point. Follow the marked trail to a road along Deer Creek. See pages 74 & 75 for story on new connecting trail. SOUTH YUBA TRAILS: Going upstream from the South Yuba Campground, you can experience the more remote and beautiful parts of the river without too much effort. Hike the canyon on the South Yuba Trail, then descend to Illinois Bar on the river–3 miles round trip. Or walk 2.5 miles east on the South Yuba Trail to scenic area called Long Point–5 miles round trip. From Nevada City, at the traffic light on Hwy. 49, turn onto North Bloomfield Road going right at T and then 7 miles to Edwards Crossing. Cross bridge and climb a dirt road 1.5 miles. At the fork take North Bloomfield Road (right) and continue to clearly marked South Yuba Trail and parking. Park/Tennis South Yuba River State Park PIONEER PARK: Picnic areas and barbeques, playground, swimming pool. Also tennis courts. Nimrod Street; (530) 265-2496. INDEPENDENCE TRAIL: Popular, wheelchair accessible 4.5 mile trail through canyon of Note: Detailed trail information and maps (except for South Yuba Trails) on Bear Yuba Land Trust Web site: bylt.org and see Page 78. For More Recreation See Pages 74–84. Must Do! KIAL JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY Bridge The parking area on Hwy. 49 at the South Yuba River provides views of the river from a bridge no longer in use. WWW.NEVADACOUNTYGOLD.COM 37