Comments: The South Yuba Trail is one of my favorite
trails. I ride different sections almost every week. This trail passes through
primitive areas along a wild section of the beautiful South Yuba River. There
are places to stop and swim during the summer in clear warm remote pools. This
is also a very difficult ride because of the grade of the trail, which has a
lot of steep ups and downs. It can get rather hot in the summer too so bring
a water filter or plenty of water and sunglasses for the eye gnats. Most of
the trail threads through a thick oak and pine forest so you do get some shade
even though it has a southern exposure. Its open year around and because it
doesn't see the motor and horse traffic it has a very nice surface. There are
a number of routes you can take and I will start with the easiest.
How to get there: There are a few access points for the S.
Yuba Trail. Starting in the town of Washington there is the Poormans Creek access,
downstream is the Missouri Creek Trail and Missouri Drop, farther downstream
is Humbug Trail {which is off limits to mountain bikers, and the South Yuba
Campgrounds at the western end of this section of the S. Yuba Trail.
Primitive Camp Out And Back: This trail route is approximately
800 ft accent in 8 miles. This is the easiest of the rides I describe, but it
is a intermediate to advanced skills trail. It's a narrow single track with
some steep edges at points. To get there drive from Nevada City and take North
Bloomfield Rd, crossing the river to the parking lot of the South Yuba Campgrounds
{which is up from Edwards Xing Bridge}. You start the ride here. The singletrack
trail starts on the east end of the parking lot and parallels the road down
towards the campgrounds where you keep to the left dropping down. You pop out
on a double track that descends for just a short way, where you will want to
take the singletrack left. This trail is well signed and easy to follow. Lots
of short ups and downs be for you come to Humbug creek picnic tables at the
4 mile mark. At this point you can descend and cross the Humbug Creek and continue
upstream to Washington if you want. This Humbug area is a bike carry zone because
of the sand and the trail was washed out so its a short carry across the rocks.
A short way past this is Primitive Camp tent camping area. The river kinda flooded
it out a few years ago and it hasn't been cleaned up much. I usually stop here
or at Humbug and have a swim before heading back when I do this out and back.
Missouri Bar Loop {or Primitive Camp Loop}:Strong intermediate
to advanced rider. About 16.5 miles and 2600 ft of climb, a good workout and
give yourself 3 hours or more. Just like the Primitive Loop you can start at
the South Yuba Campgrounds. You can also leave a car at the Missouri Bar Trailhead
if you don't want to do the uphill road ride part. Those folks starting at the
parking lot at the S. Yuba Campgrounds need to ride up N. Bloomfield Rd. past
the Lake City Rd. intersection {picture}keeping
to the right and continuing to N. Bloomfield park town. {A short distance passed
Lake City on the downhill on the left is Rim Trail if you are feeling strong
then this is a fun addition. Rim Trail climbs over the top of the diggins area
then intersects with the Blair Trail, off limits to bikes but it is a fun drop
into town... then continues through the campground to N. Bloomfield Rd. Take
a right to drop into town. And a left on Relief Rd.}
Once in town take a right on Relief Hill Rd. towards Washington and continue
across Humbug Creek {There is a trail on the right
pass the creek swings over to the holmes cabin and then back to Relief Rd. It
was a nice side trip but the park folks made this illigal last year, not sure
why cause I never have seen anyone on the trail. You will see a old
boiler on the right on Relief Rd. where the trail comes back in.} It's about
a half mile to the Missouri Bar Trail from N. Bloomfield on Relief Rd. It will
be the first right and there is a sign. You take this dirt road back .1 mile
to the trail head and the small parking area. The single track starts here.
{If you rode to here you have done 1500 ft of climbing at this point.}
The Missouri Bar Trail drops down a fast single track 1200 ft. in 1.6 miles
to "T" into the S. Yuba Trail. Once you get to the S.Yuba Trail you
will want to head right or downstream. The S. Yuba Trail winds along the canyon.
and there are a few lefts off the main trail that drop down to beautiful river
pools{picture}. Great
summer swimming. The trail has a lot of ups and downs with a few switch backs
and 1100 ft of climb before you get back to the parking lot. Lots of fun and
very beautiful but a difficult ride because of the steep climbs. Its another
4 miles or so the primitive camp and after that there is a short bike hike across
the washed out trail along the river before you cross the Humbug Creek.Its another
hike up to the picnic tables overlooking the river. After resting take the trail
on the left {not the Humbug Trail on the right} and continue on the S. yuba
Trail. Its about 4 miles back to the parking lot at this point. There are some
lefts dropping to the river but keep to the main trail. Near the end of the
ride you will make a right on a double track and climb a short distance where
the trails takes a left again on singletrack. Its well marked. There is another
right near the road and you parallels above this road back to the parking lot.
The Washington Poormans Creek Access: Well this section us
the most dramatic section and the most difficult too. This is a advanced ride
area because of the steep grades and cliff edges {picture}.
Some people do this ride as a out and back to Missouri Bar. I guessing this
is about 14 miles and 2400 ft of climb... or more. Other folks use the Missouri
Bar Trail to connect to Relief Rd. and loop back. That's probably close to 3800
ft of climb and 16 miles. And if you left a car at the trail parking lot at
the S. Yuba campground and rode from Poormans Creek its about 2400 ft of climb
and a 16 mile ride. And it will take longer than you think... And if you don't
have a car here and ride back up N. Bloomfield to Relief Rd. and back that way
then it a brutal 30 mile ride with 4000 ft of climb. All the routes are fun
just think about allowing enough time because they do take a little more time
than most trails. I've met folks that have been forced to camp overnite cause
they ran short of time and daylite.
Missouri Bar Trail: This trail connects the S. Yuba Trail with
Relief Rd. It's about 1.6 miles with a 1200 ft. climb. We nickname this trail
Misery Bar Trail because of the steady upward grade and eye gnats. A great downhill!
Another Missouri Drop: Well I have been doing a version of
this ride long before the S.Yuba Trail was put in. I like to call this the Missouri
Drop, and it's for advanced riders only... and not for folks that get lost easily.
I'll give a brief description and you can figure it out from that and the map.
I like to start at the Washington Overlook on HWY 20. Jump on the Pioneer Trail
towards Nevada City.{if you are lost already do another ride!}Drop
down to where it crosses the road at White Cloud. Continue down the Pioneer
Trail for 1/2 mile or so till you come to a gated road on the left. This is
where the Pioneer Trail crosses the corner of the gate that is pointed up HWY
20. { If you pass this gate in about a mile or so you will see Missouri
Bar Rd. on the right. This is a legal access but they don't think so and it
is hard to get past the houses and dogs going this way.}
Anyway you will want to drop down this gated dirt logging road. There are uncountable
water bars to jump and the road is rather steep. You keep to the left at the
intersection and you might see a small pond on the left before you do the forever
drop. Eventually after 1300 ft of descent you reach where the logging road bottoms
out at a clearing. Continuing on this primitive logging road, there is a steep
500 ft climb here. Pass the first right and continue to climb and take the second
right. This continues to climb as it swings around the hill. Near the crest
you get views of the Yuba River and you will see a very steep road dropping
in on the left. This is Missouri Bar Rd. Just a short distance past where Missouri
Bar rd. cuts in you will see tremendous views downstream and you need to look
for a doubletrack dropping down to the right. This is Missouri Drop {or Missiouri
Bar Rd.}and it is a great off camber double track that drops 600 ft or so, steeply
switchbacking to the Missouri Bar Crossing. Of course you have to walk across
the river here to access the South Yuba Trail {Its 2 ft deep or so at this old
historic river crossing}. From here you can head to Washington Town on the S.
Yuba Trail. Then its a 1600 ft climb out of the canyon on Washington Rd. to
the overlook where we started...
Or, if you left a shuttle car at the Edwards Xing Bridge or Purdon or just want
to ride back to Nevada City then when you cross the river head west or downstream.
If you do the loop I described and ride to Edwards Crossing then its probably
30 miles and 3000 ft of climb. You can't cross the river after heavy winter
rains or spring snow melt, so check the river before hand in the winter and
spring..
Other Routes: If you really want to beat yourself up with a
epic ride try Eagle Bird Drop, or Alfa
Rd. and drop down to Washington, then ride the S. Yuba Trail to Purdon Xing.
Some folks have started dropping down from the rebuilt Artic Mine Trail and
Doolittle Trail coming off Bowman Rd. I don't have that map up yet... Enjoy
your ride. The Fish