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Trail Manager: Bear Yuba Land Trust Preserve Trail | Contact info@bylt.org / (530) 272-5994
Length: 1 mile loop
Altitude Change: 160′
Trail Surface: Natural Earth
Rules: Foot and bike only. Dogs on leash. No motorized vehicles. Stay on trails.
Trailhead: The main trailhead and parking lot is located at the intersection of Dog Bar Road and Alta Sierra Drive. From Highway 49 in Grass Valley, take the McKnight Way exit. From East McKnight Way go 2 miles south on La Barr Meadows Road, stay left on Dog Bar Road and go another 1.8 miles to the intersection of Alta Sierra Drive. (N39.14994 W121.03604)
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PARKING LOT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION. Anticipated reopening in early October 2023.
Trail Facts: Well known and loved by locals around Alta Sierra, this trail loops through Adam Ryan Preserve, on a hill with a park-like forest, small meadows, and stunning views. This trail is a joint project of the Alta Sierra Property Owners Association and the Bear Yuba Land Trust. The conservation and trail easements that made this preserve possible were a gift of Alta Brewer, daughter of early area rancher George Brewer. The trail is named after her husband, and the preserve after her son.
Side Trip: While you’re in the area, you might enjoy a visit to nearby Mathis Pond, on a 1.75 acre preserve owned by Bear Yuba Land Trust. Here you will find a large, spring-fed pond that acts as a home and way station for waterfowl. Improvements include an informational kiosk and graveled trail. This was the first property acquired by the land trust for permanent preservation, shortly after its formation in 1992. It is named for the donors, Ray and Helen Mathis. To reach Mathis Pond, go about ¼ mile south on Dog Bar Road from Alta Sierra Drive. There is parking along the road shoulder just north of Carrie Drive.