Well known and loved by locals around Alta Sierra, this trail loops through a small nature preserve on a hill with a park-like forest, small meadows, and some nice views.
Interest: 101-200'
***Please reference individual trails for detailed information.Â

Completed in the summer of 2014, the trail is located in far Western Nevada County on CDFW’s Black Swan Preserve, near the town of Smartsville. This trail weaves through blue oak and gray pine woodlands and leads to Black Swan Pond, once the site of a hydraulic gold diggins.

This community supported trail links Nevada City with Deer Creek and memorializes the early contributions of native Nisenan and Chinese people to the history of this place.

Just a few minutes from town, enjoy the peace and quiet along the forested old Rough and Ready ditch and remnants of the Providence Mine. The trail pays tribute to the original Nisenan and connects to the Tribute Trail network by a new suspension bridge across Deer Creek.

Trail Managers: Mixed, see individual sections Length: 7.9 miles in the system. Mileage varies with various route(s) Altitude Change: 150′ Maximum Trail Surface: Natural Earth Rules: No motor vehicles; stay on trails; no smoking on rural trails; no camping. Never park in a way that would block emergency vehicles. Trail Facts: The town of Nevada City is…

The popular Hardrock Trail Area is the historic heart of Empire Mine State Historic Park giving visitors access to 856 forested acres within downtown Grass Valley.

Only a mile from the heart of downtown Nevada City, this trail is wheelchair accessible up to Hirschman’s Pond. West of the pond, the trail narrows and meanders through oak woodlands, pines, and grasslands.

This trail leads to popular swimming holes along the South Yuba River and Hoyt Crossing with gorgeous wildflower shows in spring.

The Litton Trail meanders through a small forest alongside an irrigation canal and ties together Sierra College, Nevada Union High School and a retirement community with downtown Grass Valley shopping.

An easy 0.8 mile ramble between a popular city park and the historic heart of Empire Mine State Park.

Located off Rattlesnake Road in Grass Valley, this lovely, quiet forested walk with an irrigation canal and mining history was a joint project of the Rattlesnake Neighborhood Association and Bear Yuba Land Trust.

The Union Hill Trail Area is part of the 800-acre Empire Mine State Historic Park, offering a number of less populated opportunities for hiking, jogging, bicycling and horseback riding.

Wildflower Ridge Trail is located within the 128 acre Wildflower Ridge Preserve west of Grass Valley, with open meadows and a forested hillside that drops down toward Deer Creek on the north. In spring, look for outstanding wildflowers on ridge meadows.

Trail Manager: City of Grass Valley | Contact Public Works (530) 274-4350 Length: 1.2 miles Altitude Change: 180 feet Trail Surface: Paved, Natural Earth Rules: Dogs on leash. No motorized vehicles. Stay on trails. Trailheads: North Star Mining Museum: Look for the Wolf Creek Trail sign at the corner of Freeman Lane and Allison Ranch Road. (N39.208862 W121.069750) Freeman Lane –…

This one-mile exterior loop trail at BYLT’s Burton Homestead was completed in the spring of 2016. It traverses a variety of landscapes such as meadow, chaparral, mixed conifer forest and wetland habitat. The Burton Homestead is also home to Sierra Harvest’s, Food Love Project organic garden, 4 Elements Earth Education who runs the Fox Walker program, and Pata Panaka the Tsi- Akim Maidu Cultural Center.