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Nevada County’s Thanksgiving trails
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Thanksgiving turkey meat isn’t solely responsible for adding lb’s to your belly fat that last week of November. The pies, buttered mashed potatoes and snacks you ate during the football game did you no favors.
Most people eat their turkey at 2pm on Thanksgiving Day, according to an online poll I read recently. If you’re in Nevada County during the great feast of thanks, you’re in luck. You’ve got time to throw everybody into the minivan and head for a nearby trail.
I’m listing here some bests and a few best-kept-secrets. Of course, some of these are really well known, usually with easy access, and as a result are a touch more crowded.
If you’re one of those unusual feasters who eats later, consider getting out earlier in the day. Perhaps this year’s finances will prevent you from taking advantage of the “Black Friday” shopping blitz starting the morning after. Since you’d be driving 40 minutes in any direction to find a mall anyway, get out there and walk off the gravy on Friday.
Empire Mine State Park
This is probably the most well-known trail in Nevada county. There are two main parking areas. They are both on Empire street, off Highway 174. The first is the State Park Visitor Center. The mine itself is an amazing place with a museum and spectacular buildings and grounds. If you want the tour of the facilities, you’ll have to pay what I think is a steep $5. (This makes me sound old, but I remember when it was $2). The trails are easy walking.
Hiking on the trails is free, so don’t think you’ve got to pay just to park there. The second location is to the west of the visitor center on Empire Street, called the Penn Gate. There’s plenty of parking and if you are an equestrian, you can even park your horse trailer in the gravel area and unload your ride-able pets right there. Most mountain bikers in the mine are knowledgeable about horses and almost always pull aside and wait for you to pass.
For more information: http://www.empiremine.org/
Secret: Empire Mine Gold Hill trailhead.
OK, just found this one last week. It’s also part of the Empire Mine, but you get to it on the other side of Highway 174. Heading from Grass Valley to Colfax, you’d turn left on Silver Street and make a right on Gold Hill. Parking is limited, at the end of Gold Hill. This trail has way less traffic and is in spectacular condition. It’s slightly more difficult than the visitor center trail only because there are some hills. Trails are clearly marked and groomed. With 4 miles on that side of the park, a jog or brisk walk would pretty much take care of all the calories you just took in.
For more information: http://www.empiremine.org/
Bridgeport State Park
This one’s another fairly popular location. It’s where you’ll find the longest covered bridge in America, (251’ long). Yeah, Vermont, eat your heart out. This set of trails parallels the South Yuba River.
The bridge was once the only way to move gold to San Francisco. So in a way, that long, covered bridge was a most important economic structure for the miners who left everything to seek their fortunes. Trails run in both directions, but I recommend heading upstream and on the north side of the river. It’s moderately difficult, especially if you want to wander down to the water from some of the higher sections of the trail. From Highway 20, head down Pleasant Valley Rd until you see the big wooden bridge.
For more information: http://www.ncgold.com/Museums_Parks/syrp/
Independence Trail
You’ve gotta love a trail that welcomes wheelchair-bound hikers. This one is great because, though it’s fairly flat, you still end up along an edge of incredible views down into the South Yuba River and its tributaries. It was once a flume used to move logs during the mining days. It’s a very easy walk, and heads back about a mile and a half to a long, former flume that spans a canyon. At the far end of the flume, you’ll find a wheelchair switchback that drops to the stream level.
Along the way, there are other shorter flumes, benches and even a handicap access pit toilet, should the need arise. Take Highway 49 toward Downieville, about 5 miles out of Nevada City. Parking is clearly marked on the right. (If you get to the 49er bridge, you’ve gone about a ¼ mile too far.)
For more information: http://www.ncgold.com/Recreation/IndepTrl.html
Gracie Ditch
Just because it’s called a “ditch”, don’t think it’s not amazing. The Nevada Irrigation District has many miles of trails groomed alongside these flume-like paths. They are usually very accessible and easy walking. The Gracie Ditch is my favorite. You’ll want to be a little respectful since the ditch runs along behind people’s homes, but a little respect never did anyone any harm.
This walk is also accessible for those with wheelchairs. You’ll find street parking at the top of Gracie and Banner.
From Nevada City, head East on Boulder St. Turn right at Park Ave, and right again on Nimrod. Veer left on Gracie and park at the corner of Gracie and Banner Lava Cap.
The trail goes both ways across Gracie.
Here’s a link to Google Maps
Secret: Edwards / Purdon’s Crossing
This is an amazing stretch along the South Yuba between Edward’s Crossing and Purdon’s Crossing. The easiest way to get there is to start at Edward’s Crossing (North Bloomfield Rd. all the way to the bridge to Malakoff Diggins). This is a moderately difficult trail, it’s narrow and has areas of rocks and steep. But you’ll for sure work off that second helping of Thanksgiving gluttony out there. You might want to save this hike for Black Friday since it’s a little more involved than the others.
For more information: www.sierraoutdoorrecreation.com
A video journal of my last hike on the Bridgeport trail with two of my kids.
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