Lakes & Rivers
Nevada City is just minutes from beautiful lakes and rivers. Locals enjoy the nearby South Yuba River, just north of town via Highway 49 or North Bloomfield Road. Scotts Flat Lake is located east of town via Highway 20 or via Boulder Street and Red Dog and Quaker Hill roads.
South Yuba River
Hiking, swimming, sunning, kayaking, gold panning, picnicking, wildflower viewing and other activities abound along the wild and scenic South Yuba River. The stretch of river from Tahoe National Forest east of Nevada City to Bridgeport near Penn Valley makes up the South Yuba River State Park, the state’s first river corridor state park.
Trails wind along the canyon walls and are sometimes rough and uneven, so good hiking shoes are recommended. Hikers explore the trails and find deep blue pools for swiming and huge, flat rocks and secluded beaches for relaxing in nature’s splendor.
Trailhead parking and access points are Edwards Crossing off North Bloomfield Road seven miles from Nevada City, Purdon Road, the Highway 49 bridge five miles from town, Jones Bar Road and Bridgeport. Bridgeport is the site of the nation’s longest single span covered bridge and offers fairly easy access, some of the river’s safest family swimming and points of historical interest.
Independence Trail
Located off Highway 49 four miles north of Nevada City, this is a wheelchair access trail that follows the alignment of the old Excelsior Flume, a Gold Rush era structure that winds across canyon walls above the South Yuba River. Thick forests, river views, wildflowers. Good for wheelchairs, strollers, leisurely, easy walks. Two 2.5-mile sections of trail, 4.3-mile loop.
Other River Recreation
The Middle and North Yuba rivers, off Highway 49 about 30-60 minutes north of Nevada City, offer recreational day use and camping opportunities. Laing’s Crossing at the head of Bear Valley 20 miles east of Nevada City offers a higher mountain river experience. The Bear River below Rollins Lake, between Grass Valley and Colfax, is another popular getaway, popular with floaters and tubers.
Scotts Flat Lake
A picturesque mountain lake at the 3100-foot elevation surrounded by deep green forested mountainsides. Scotts Flat covers 850 acres with a 7.5 mile-shoreline. Two campgrounds with 180 sites are located on the north shore of the reservoir. Store, marina, bait and tackle shop, gas, wheelchair access fishing pier, beaches. Camping facilities are reached via Highway 20 east from Nevada City and Scotts Flat Road.
The Cascade Shores day use area is located on the south side of the reservoir and is accessible from Nevada City via Boulder Street and Red Dog and Quaker Hill roads. Beach area, picnicking, boat launch.
Contact Scotts Flat Lake, 23333 Scotts Flat Road, Nevada City, CA 95959. Info: (530) 265-8861. Reservations (530) 265-5302.
Rollins Lake
Located at the 2100-foot elevation between Grass Valley and Colfax, Rollins boasts a 900-acre surface area and 26-mile shoreline. Rollins has four individual campgrounds with 250 campsites, many offering lakeside camping, restaurant, stores, boat rental, gas, picnicking, fishing, water skiing. All campgrounds are reached from Highway 174. Visit the camping page for more iformation.
Englebright Lake
Located off Highway 20 and Mooney Flat Road about 20 miles west of Nevada City, Englebright offers boat-in-only camping. Swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing. 100 camp sites, water, showers.
Bullards Bar Reservoir
Located off of Highway 49 about 20 miles north of Nevada City, Bullards Bar (elev. 2000 ft.) offers a large 4700-acre surface with a 56-mile shoreline. Vehicle and boat access camping, marina, houseboat rental, fishing, water skiing, water sports. www.bullardsbar.com
Tributary Whitewater Tours
20480 Woodbury Drive
Grass Valley, CA 95949
Phone: (530) 346-6812
Phone: (800) 672-3846
Website: www.whitewatertours.com
E-mail: rafting@whitewatertours.com
Guided white water rafting in the Gold Country & Lake Tahoe on the American River, Truckee River, Yuba River and many more. From mild to wild (kids form 4 yrs to Class 5 expert only). Half-day to 4 days. April-October.
SYRCL
South Yuba River Citizens League
216 Main Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: 530/265-5961
Fax 530/265-6232
www.yubariver.org
www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org