Day Hiking

Day Hiking Areas

• Bowman Road

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor.  The main travel corridors are:  Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.  

  Bowman Road
  The Bowman Road begins at Hwy 20 and travels north through a highly granitic and scenic area to Bowman Reservoir.  It provides access to many popular reservoirs used by fishermen and boating enthusiasts, a variety of rustic campgrounds and many non-motoirzed trails within the Grouse Lakes Vehicle Closure area.   

  From January 1 through March 31 of each year, the road is closed to wheeled traffic per Tahoe NF Motor Vehicle Use Maps. 

  The unpaved portion of this road is very rocky and rough; 4x4 clearance is strongly recommended. 

  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor.   

• Baltimore Lake
• Blue Lake Trail
• Bowman Campground
• Canyon Creek Campground
• Carr Lake Campground
• Crooked Lakes Trail
• Five Lakes Basin Trail
• Glacier Lake Trail
• Grouse Ridge Campground
• Grouse Ridge Trail
• Jackson Creek Campground
• Lindsey Lake Campground
• Lindsey Lake Trail
• Lindsey Lake Trailhead
• Loney Meadows Trail
• Round Lake Trail
• Spaulding Lake Trail
• Foresthill Divide Road

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor.  The main travel corridors are:  Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.

  The Gate at China Wall is open

  Foresthill Divide Road
  The Foresthill Divide Road extends from the town of Foresthill east to Robinson Flat Campground and then veers to the north and intersects old Highway 40 near Soda Springs.  Much of the north eastern part of this corridor is not paved.  Campgrounds, picnic sites, reservoirs, OHV trails, and access trails into the North Fork American Wild and Scenic River are available along the Foresthill Divide Road. 

  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor.   

• American River Trail
• Beacroft Trail
• Deadwood to Michigan Bluff Trail
• Euchre Bar Trail and Trailhead
• Forks House Trailhead
• Green Valley Trail
• Italian Bar Trail
• Joshua M. Hardt Memorial Trail at Sugar Pine
• Little Bald Mountain Trail
• Mumford Bar Trail
• Mumford Bar Trailhead
• Robinson Flat Campground
• Sailor Flat Trail
• Green Valley Trailhead
• Sugar Pine Boat Ramp
• Tevis Cup Trail
• Gold Lake Road

  Gold Lake Road

  The Gold Lake Road travels from Hwy 49 beneath the towering Sierra Buttes and heads north to Graeagle.  An abundance of campgrounds, picnic sites, and small lakes dot this picturesque area.  A variety of winter and summer trails can be accessed off the Gold Lakes Road, one of which is a hike to the top of the Sierra Buttes Lookout.   

  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor.   

• Haskell Peak Trail
• Salmon Lake Trailhead
• Sand Pond Interpretive Trail
• Sierra Buttes Trail
• Sierra Buttes Trailhead
• Spencer Lakes Trail
• Tamarack Connection Trail
• Tamarack Lake Trailhead
• Highway 20

  HISTORY:   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.

  For More Information: Tahoe National Forest

  Yuba River Ranger District - South

  631 Coyote Street

  Nevada City, CA 95959

  530-265-4531 (voice)

  530-478-6118 (TDD)

   www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/

• Chalkbluff Trailhead (530) 478-6253 Ext. 243
• Doolittle Trail
• Gold Country Trailhead
• Pioneer Trail
• Rock Creek Nature Trail
• White Cloud Campground
• Highway 49

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor.  The main travel corridors are:  Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.   

  Highway 49
  Highway 49 travels through the Gold Country passing the Tahoe National Forest Headquarters in Nevada City.  It travels north through Yuba County and then turns east and follows the North Yuba River through Sierra County.   Many trail heads, campgrounds, river access points, resorts, and quaint gold rush towns are found along the length of Highway 49. 

  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor 

• Brandy City Pond Trail
• Chapman Creek Trail
• Devils Postpile Trail
• Downieville Mt Bike & Hiker Trailhead
• Haskell Peak Trail1
• Haypress Creek Trail
• Loves Falls
• Rocky Rest Trailhead
• Wild Plum Loop Trail
• Wild Plum Pct Access Trail
• Wild Plum Pct Trailhead
• Yuba Pass Campground
• Highway 89, North

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor.  The main travel corridors are:  Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.   

  Highway 89
  Highway 89 starts its journey through the Tahoe National Forest near Tahoe Cityon Lake Tahoe and travels north through Truckee and Sierraville onto the Plumas National Forest.  A host of campgrounds, winter and summer trail heads, ski resorts, reservoirs, a motorcycle area, and picnic sites are available. Highway 89 South starts at the Lake and follows the Truckee River to Truckee passing many ski resorts and access trails into the Granite Chief Wilderness.  Highway 89 north starts in Truckee and proceeds north.   

  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor.   

• Badenaugh Canyon Trail
• COET Prosser Trailhead
• COET Stampede Trailhead
• Cottonwood Creek Campground
• East Meadow Campground
• French Lake Trailhead
• Kyburz Flat Interpretive Site
• Little Lasier Pacific Crest Trail Access
• Loyalton/Boca Railroad Trail
• Mt. Lola Trail
• Pass Creek Campground
• Upper Little Truckee Campground
• Webber Falls
• Highway 89, South

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor.  The main travel corridors are:  Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.   

  Highway 89
  Highway 89 starts its journey through the Tahoe National Forest near Tahoe City on Lake Tahoe and travels north through Truckee and Sierraville Ranger Districts into the Plumas National Forest.  A host of campgrounds, winter and summer trail heads, ski resorts, reservoirs, a motorcycle area, and picnic sites are available. Highway 89 South follows the Truckee River and accesses trails into the Granite Chief Wilderness.  Also included in this corridor section are trails located in the Barker Pass and Rubicon areas which are accessed from Lake Tahoe. 

  Activities such as camping, mountain biking, off road vehicle riding and hiking are listed below for this corridor.   

• Barker Pass Pacific Crest Trailhead
• Deer Creek Trail
• Ellis Peak Motorcycle Trail
• Granite Chief Trail
• Interstate 80

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor.  The main travel corridors are:  Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.   

  Interstate 80 
  Interstate 80 bisects the forest and is one of the primary corridors to access recreation sites.  I-80 enters the Forest east of Auburn and leaves the Forest east of Truckee.  Many campgrounds, trail heads, or other recreation sites are located along the Interstate.
  
  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor.   

• Boca Historic Townsite InterpretiveTrail
• Cherry Point Trail
• Cherry Point Trailhead
• Cold Stream Trailhead
• Donner Summit Pac Crest Trailhead
• Euchre Bar North Trailhead
• Fordyce Foot Trail
• Glacier Lakes Basin Trail
• Glacier Meadow Trailhead
• Government Springs Mumford Bar North Trailhead
• Hampshire Rocks Campground
• Indian Springs Campground
• Indian Springs Trailhead
• Loch Leven Trail
• Loch Leven Trailhead
• Mossy Pond East Trail
• Mossy Pond West Trail
• Mt. Judah Loop Trail
• North Fork Campground
• Palisades Creek Trail
• Pierce Creek Wetland Trailhead
• Salmon Lake Trail
• Salmon Lakes Trailhead
• Sterling Lake Campground
• Summit Lake Trail
• Upper Lola Montez Trail
• Marysville Road

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor.  The main travel corridors are:  Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.   

  Marysville Road
  The Marysville Road leaves Hwy 49 and travels west providing access to Bullards Bar Reservoir with its many campgrounds, picnic sites, boat ramps, and trails.  

  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor.   

• Rebel Ridge Trailhead
• Mosquito Ridge Road

  The recreation information for the Tahoe National Forest is primarily provided by travel corridor. The main travel corridors are: Interstate 80, Highway 49, Highway 20, Highway 89 (North and South), Foresthill Divide Road, Mosquito Ridge Road, Bowman Road, Marysville Road, and Gold Lakes Road.

  Mosquito Ridge Road
  Mosquito Ridge Road heads east from the town of Foresthill to French Meadows Reservoir. It is a twisty, curvy mountain road and provides access to the Middle Fork American River as well as the Big Trees, the most northerly grove of Giant Sequoias, and the recreation facilities at French Meadows Reservoir. It also provides access to the Granite Chief Wilderness.

  Activities such as camping and hiking are listed below for this corridor
   

• Big Trees Nature Trail
• Forest View Trail
• Greyhorse Trail
• Grouse Falls Overlook Trail
• McGuire Trail (segment of Western States Trail)
• Mosquito Ridge Trail
• North Fork of the Middle Fork American River Trail
• Shanks Cove Trailhead
• Talbot Equestrian Trailhead