Getting onto the Pioneer Trail from Nevada City: There are quite
a few spots to start your ride the favorites being the Omega Rest Stop and the
5 Mile House on Hwy. 20. Other spots include Last Chance Rd., Skillman Campground,
and White Cloud Campground Of course you can start in Nevada City too.
Starting From the Omega Rest Stop is the most popular spot to access
the Upper Pioneer Trail. This is the preferred downhill route.
The Omega Rest Stop is 19 miles from Nevada City, east on Hwy. 20. There is
a great view of the Omega Diggings and the South Yuba Canyon at the rest stop.
You will find the Pioneer trail across Highway 20 and back in the forest about
100ft off the highway. There is a access trail from the highway you just need
to look for it.
There's also a short Reststop Trail that drops down on the
north side of Hwy 20 from the Omega Reststop. Look for the start in the west
end of the reststop. After a mile you come to the Old Omega Rd. If you are riding
the Pioneer Trail you will need to cross to the south side of Hwy 20 here to
access it.
The Upper Pioneer Trail is an intermediate to advanced trail and runs parallel
to the south side of Hwy 20 to White Cloud Campgrounds where it crosses the
highway to the Lower Pioneer Trail.{Upper Pioneer Trail picture.}The
Lower Pioneer Trail is a little wider and runs next to the north side of Hwy.
20 passing the Harmony Store {5 Mile House} and ending a little past Willow
Valley Road. Most people stop at the 5 Mile House unless they are riding all
the way to Nevada City. The Lower Pioneer Trail is a favorite for beginners
because of the mellow grade and fun for the advanced because of the humps and
bumps and fast pace. The upper and lower trails are about 7 miles each so it's
a 14-mile downhill from the Omega Rest Stop to the 5 Mile house. {Picture}
Other start possibilities: Another favorite spot to start is the 5 Mile
House. Especially in the winter when the upper trail is usually closed due to
snow. Parking is available next to the Harmony Store. It's a 14-mile ride to
White Cloud Campground {where the trail crosses the road} and back to the 5
Mile House. This is a great trail to learn to mountain bike. It is a good place
for beginners to build their skills and endurance and you can buy trail munchies
and use the phone, toilet, and tables at the Harmony Store too. Across the highway
is the historic 5 Mile House if you are looking for fine dining.
I like starting from the Last Chance Rd. a mile and a half above
the rest stop. You have to look for the Last Chance dirt road a mile or so from
the rest stop on the left heading east. Take this unsigned dirt road up the
hill a 100 yards or so to where a dirt road comes in on the left. This dirt
road is the Pioneer trail. Park here and you will notice a single-track about
100 ft. down the Pioneer Trail {the dirt road} and on the left. This is the
Last Chance single-track. If you follow this through the woods you cross Hwy.
20 then this trail connects with the Pioneer Trail {where the Pioneer Trail
crosses the highway}. This is a short section of single-track and adds another
mile to the trail. This section of Pioneer trail at this point is more of a
dirt road too, so the Last Chance single-track is the preferred route.
If you are doing a downhill to Nevada City the Pioneer trail crosses
the Hwy 20 at the Harmony Store then ends in less than a mile after passing
Willow Valley Road. You can ride Willow Valley Road into Nevada City or jump
on the Snow Mountain Flume Trail. The Snow Mtn. Flume, or ditch, is a easy ride
to town. Its a nice ride as a short section for beginners. I often see folks
parking on the pullover where the ditch crosses Hwy 20 to access it.
As you drop down Willow Valley Rd. keep a eye out for the ditch on the right,
north, hopping onto the water canal. {If you are going to fast you will pass
right by it…it's less than a mile down Willow Valley Road}. This will eventually
take you back to Hwy. 20 where you will need to cross the highway to continue
on the flume trail. When you come to the water treatment plant drop down the
road and around the gate and down the hill to Hwy.20. Cross the highway here
and take Nevada Street into Nevada City.
The Miners trail, another way into town is popular, but unfortunately
is on private property... It starts west of Harmony Ridge Rd. about 200 ft down
Hwy 20 look for the big oak tree on the right side of Hwy 20, trail starts here.
The trail runs above, and parallels Hwy 20. Miners Trail after a few miles dumps
out on Hwy 20 a couple hundred feet above where the Snow Mountain Flume Trail
crosses the road. So when you come to Hwy 20 drop down 20 and the first right
is the Snow Mtn Flume. Jump on the Snow Mtn Flume, and ride the water ditch
to the water treatment plant. Then drop down the road, around the fence and
you end up across Hwy 20 from Nevada St. Take Nevada Street into Nevada City.
The Lone Grave Trail starts at the 5 Mile house and continues
up the south side of Hwy. 20 to the Lone Grave where you can cross the highway
and jump on the Pioneer Trail to continue your ride. This is a new trail and
easy to find if you look.{Picture of the Lone
Grave} You can access Scotts Drop Trail to Scotts Flat Lake off this trail
too, see my Scotts Drop map.
If you plan on riding from Nevada City take Nevada Street to Willow
Valley Road to the Pioneer Trail.
Another route I like is to continue up Nevada Street and cross the highway and
take a right onto the frontage road. Take the first left heading up the hill.
This will bring you to the water treatment plant, after you get around the fence.
From here you can hop on the Snow Mountain Flume Trail to Willow Valley Road
and on to the Pioneer Trail.
Pioneer trail does continue past Last Chance Rd., crossing Steephollow
Creek and continuing on a dirt road. It eventually spills onto Hwy. 20 crossing
it and continues down the old highway grade to the Bear Valley and Zeibright
Mine Road. I don't have that new section that ends above Spaulding Lake mapped
yet. The new Pioneer Trail section from Bowman Rd. area is a downhill only section...
If you have any comments e-mail me at thefish@mtbsingletrack.com