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Highway 20

Travel Highway 20 between Nevada City and Interstate 80 for hiking, biking and camping opportunities. Along the way, spot traces of the 1850 cutoff of the Emigrant Trail as it winds along Washington Ridge. 

General Information

Highway 20 between Bear Valley and Nevada City largely follows the trace of the 1850 cutoff of the Emigrant Trail.  Although it later became a toll road, and later a public turnpike, it was still referred to as the Old Emigrant Road.  You can see signs of this road on either side of Highway 20 as it winds along Washington Ridge.  Pioneer Trail sections follow the trace of the old Emigrant road.  There are many historic sites along the way:

Lone Grave is the burial site of two-year old Julius Apperson who died in 1858.  The Apperson’s were some of the first settlers along the Old Emigrant Road.  In 1859, the family left the area, leaving the grave unmarked.  A Nevada City resident erected a permanent marker and fence in 1863.  Since then, volunteers have cared for the grave as a memorial to the many pioneers who lie buried in solitary, unmarked graves.

Central House is an old white house on Missouri Bar Road near Highway 20.  Now a private residence, it was once a stagecoach stop.

White Cloud was named for the clouds of dust kicked up by wagon teams during the dry season.  In 1890 Deer Creek Sawmill was constructed here.  In 1895 it was one of the largest mills on the west coast.                                                             

Skillman Flat is the site of a lumber mill that burned down in 1858.  The trail here follows the Ridge Ditch, constructed in 1857-58.  It is one of many ditches built by the South Yuba Canal Company to carry water to Nevada County gold mines.

Omega Overlook.  From the overlook one can see the Alpha and Omega Diggins, one of the largest hydraulic mine operations in the Sierra.  Yuba River water was diverted to the Omega Ditch and into wood flumes hung from granite cliffs above the Yuba River.

Fifty yards beyond the historic marker you’ll find the trace of the Old Emigrant Road.  The Pioneer Trail follows it to the Diamond Creek Road, one and one half miles east.

Bear Valley was a welcome site to emigrants in the 1850s.  After crossing Donner Pass and the steep granite slopes, this flat, grass covered valley must have looked like heaven. 

Lang Crossing has been used as a river crossing since the 1850s.  The 1867 General Land Office plat shows the Culbertson's House immediately southeast of the crossing. 

Spaulding Powerhouse #3 was completed in 1929.    Lake Spaulding’s dams were under construction from 1907 to 1912.  Powerhouse #1 was completed in 1917 and Powerhouse #2 in 1920.

Recreation Sites

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Burlington OHV System

Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV)
During the winter months, the Burlington OHV system may be closed after periods of heavy rain when soil moisture levels would likely result in trail damage if riding were to occur. For the most up to…

Chalk Bluff Staging Area

Hiking Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) Picnicking
For Open/Closed status, please call (530) 478-6253Part of the Burlington OHV Trail System which has 50 miles of winding, narrow trails. Omega (Trail 5), Deer Creek (Trail 25) and Excelsior (Trail 28)…

Gold Country Trailhead

Hiking
The Gold Country Trailhead can be accessed from Conservation Rd near the interesection of Conservation Road and California State Route 20. It is an equestrian staging area for access to the Pioneer…

Golden Quartz Picnic Site

Picnicking
Located on the South Fork of the Yuba River, five miles upstream from the town of Washington on a rough road. 

Skillman Campground

Site Open
Horse Riding and Camping
Skillman Campground is open to all users including equestrian, mountain bikers and OHV. It is located along Hwy 20. Some camp sites have corrals, hitching posts, and horse troughs. Immediately…

White Cloud Campground

Site Open
Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) Biking Hiking
White Cloud Campground is located right off of Hwy 20 in a nice wooded area.  Scotts Flat Reservoir is 6 miles from the campground. Adjacent to the campground is Pioneer Trail used by hikers,…

Last updated March 12th, 2025