A couple of notes about the area, first!
Before heading out on an excursion, make sure you have at least downloaded the text directions as cell service can be patchy. Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with what poison oak looks like! It is quite prevalent in the area. It can be green or red in appearance and has three leaves that often look glossy.
While there are many great activities to do around Grass Valley and Nevada City, we will be spending a lot of time hanging around the camp, so we encourage you to bring any fun outdoor activities you may have, such as, frisbees (light-up ones too), corn hole, bocce or pétanque, balls be danglin, hacky sack.....you get the idea. There's also great hiking, mountain biking, river swimming, and rock climbing, so bring your gear.
We will be located near Grass Valley, but we will be spending time exploring historic Nevada City, which is a ten minute drive. Nevada City is a historic gold-mining town and is a great town for walking and shopping.
Around Nevada City, we will be taking trips to the Yuba River and may be accessing it from one of three locations, see links below:
1) Highway 49
If you are meeting us here, park near the bridge over the river. Walk over the old bridge and look for our group on either side of the river directly below. If you don't see us, walk northeast on the trail that is north of the river until you find our group.
2) Purdon
Note: This is a bumpy, gravel road! Cars with high clearance will do better! Carpool!
If you are meeting us at this location, stay right before crossing the river and park in the lot. Walk down the path heading east out of the parking lot and keep an eye out on the left. We should be by the river about a five to ten minute walk down the path.
3) Edward's Crossing
If you are meeting us here, park where ever you can find a spot near the bridge. We will either be just west of the bridge (down river), or a ten minute hike up river - find the trail on the north side of the bridge and hike east (upstream) until you find us.
4) The Town of Washington
Note: This is a bumpy, gravel road! Cars with high clearance will do better! Carpool!
If you are meeting us, follow the link to the town of Washington, you should be heading north on highway 20. About 30 minutes from Nevada City. Bring your ID! There's a great old saloon in the town. When you get to town, keep going down the Maybert Rd (which parallels the river on the north side) and drive upstream five or ten minutes until you see our cars.
HIKING:
I recommend driving north on highway 20 until you reach highway 80, head east on highway 80 into the mountains and keep an eye out for Tahoe National Forest.
There's a great hike from Purdon to Edward's Crossing river access points. We could split into two groups and hike the five miles and switch cars! Watch out for poison oak.
The Independence Trail offers a more mellow, out-and-back hike. The parking lot is just before the highway 49 river access point (see above).
Stay tuned for more ideas!
MOUNTAIN BIKING:
At some point in the days leading up to the wedding, Shane will be organizing anyone who has a bike to do the famous Downieville Downhill, a 15 mile downhill ride.
Also, stay tuned for more mountain biking suggestions.
SHOPPING:
Head to downtown Nevada City and walk around, there are tons of local artists that sell jewelry, art, clothing, hippy stuff, and leather goods in town.
Downtown Grass Valley may be worth a stop as well.
HISTORIC ACTIVITIES:
If you are a history buff, there are many great buildings to check out in Nevada City and Grass Valley, the best suggestion we have, however, is to check out Empire Mine. You can take a tour of the mine and the estate and even go down a mining shaft!
More to come!
