
Trail Manager: City of Nevada City | Contact Parks and Recreation Department (530) 265-2496
Length: 2 miles
Altitude Change: 0′-10′
Trail Surface: Paved Road, Natural Earth
Rules: No motor vehicles; stay on trails; no smoking on rural trails; no camping
Trailhead: Pioneer Park- The official beginning of the Tribute Trail is next to Pioneer Park in Nevada City. To reach this trailhead, go to the foot of Broad St in Nevada City, continue uphill on Boulder Street less than 0.2 mile, turn right on Park Avenue, then right on Nimrod St. The trailhead is about 80 yards up Nimrod St on your right, opposite the Pioneer Park tennis courts. (N39.26092 W121.01287)
Trail Facts: The Historic Downtown section of the Deer Creek Tribute Trail System begins at Pioneer Park, on the Little Deer Creek Trail. This trail follows the creek to the bottom of Broad Street, where it continues on the city sidewalk. The trail connects to the Nisenan Bridge section via the Jordan Street and Miners Foundry trailheads. While exploring the Historic Downtown section, visit the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce in Robinson Plaza and pick up a copy of the “Chinese Quarter Walking Guide.” Using the guide, walk up Commercial Street, especially noting the concentration of historic Chinese Quarter buildings around the intersection of York Street, then pay a visit to the beautifully landscaped little Chinese Memorial just 30 yards up Commercial Street past York Street on your right at the entrance to the municipal parking lot. There are public restrooms at Robinson Plaza and at the municipal parking lot by the Chinese Memorial. There are no restrooms, water fountains or trash cans in rural portions of the Tribute Trail.
Side Trip: The Nevada City Rotary Club’s Miner’s Trail offers an excellent side trip in the heart of Nevada City. As you walk back up Broad Street toward downtown, go left onto a gravel path alongside the freeway offramp immediately after you have crossed over Deer Creek. The signed trailhead is about 30 yards down this path on your left. (N39.26181 W121.01686) The trail parallels Deer Creek for about 150 yards with two small stone benches along the way where you can sit and view the creek. (Curious walkers may wish to continue on the rough and sometimes littered dirt path under the freeway. It comes out on quaint little Cabin Street where you can walk out to Pine Street, turn right and return to downtown, or go left and walk across Deer Creek on the historic South Pine Bridge.)
Look for these markers along the trail.