This short, easy to moderate, mostly level hike to Spring Creek is a beautiful place to picnic and view thousands of lady bugs on the trunks of trees at the trail’s end.
From Highway 20 at Nevada City travel north on Highway 49 and turn right onto North Bloomfield Road; turn right at the T-intersection of North Bloomfield and Lake Vera Purdon Road; drive 7 miles to the trailhead at Edwards Crossing Bridge. All parking is on the south side of the bridge near the restrooms.
The trailhead is not sign posted. Cross the bridge and descend several steps on the left at the north end of the bridge.
The trail is mostly level with a few washed out areas at access spurs down to the South Yuba. These sloped areas can be easily traversed with some caution. At .3 miles the trail meets Spring Creek. A large, prominent Manzanita tree grows near the confluence of the creek and river. Several flat areas and a small beach provide excellent picnic locations and views of a fifteen-foot waterfall a few yards above the river. Thousands of Lady Bugs can frequently be seen on the trunks of trees near Spring Creek.