By Bear Yuba Land Trust
National Trails Day 2013
Local conservation groups, government agencies, hiking clubs, bicyclists, equestrians and outdoor lovers are gearing up for this year’s National Trails Day.
On Saturday, June 1, more than a dozen groups will headquarter in the Robinson Plaza in downtown Nevada City with information booths, maps and details of local trail activities.
Some of the area’s most respected members of our outdoors community will guide a variety of excursions and work parties on local trails throughout the day and weekend.
In the afternoon, participants are invited to come together to share stories and photographs while relaxing with good food and live music at the plaza from 1 to 4 p.m.
Marty Coleman-Hunt, Executive Director of Bear Yuba Land Trust, will welcome participants around 1 p.m., followed by guest speakers: Robert Trent, Executive Director of the Economic Resource Council and Duane Strawser, Nevada City Mayor and owner of Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop.
Fable Coffee will serve hot and cold brew coffee, fresh squeezed lemonade, iced teas, and baked goods all day. A portion of Fable Coffee sales will be donated to the Land Trust. Horn of the Bull Taqueria will serve fresh tacos and Lazy Dog Ice Cream will sell hand-dipped ice cream all afternoon.
Here’s a lineup of the weekend’s activities:
Saturday, June 1
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Spenceville Ramble – Meet for carpooling at the Nevada County Government Rood Center parking lot for this less than five mile walk into the heart of Spenceville Wildlife Area. “We’ll take the old Spenceville Road up to Zinc House and then turn out into the North-east corner of Spenceville returning via Little Dry Creek. There should be some late wildflowers on the protected slopes along the way, and we’ll check for ducks and turtles at the pond on Little Dry Creek,” said Richard Thomas of Friends of Spenceville. Participants will be back in Nevada City by 1 p.m. For more information, call 264-6740.
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Canyon Creek Trail with Hank Meals – Join archeologist and beloved local trails author Hank Meals for a seven mile full-day hike on the south side of the North Yuba River. Along the way, hikers will visit Shenanigan Flat, Cherokee Creek and Cut-Eye Fosters Bar before reaching the mouth of Canyon Creek at Kelly Bar. This is a heavily forested trail within earshot of the river with some great views and little elevation change. Anticipate six hours with driving time. Meet in the Rood Center parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for carpooling. Return time is expected to be at 4 p.m.
9 a.m. – Guided walk on Environs Trail with Bill Haire – This 4-mile guided walk on the new Environs Trail (part of the Tribute Trail project) will depart from the Robinson Plaza at 9 a.m. Bill Haire, trails coordinator for Bear Yuba Land Trust will lead the tour. A new trail map with trail features such as plants, Nisenan and mining history will be available. This walk will take several hours.
9 a.m. – Two bike rides with BONC (Bicyclists of Nevada County)
Family Mountain Bike Ride and Clinic – Meet in the Miners Foundry Parking Lot in Nevada City at 9 a.m. for this one-hour, six-mile ride on Old Downieville Highway. On this scenic ride suitable for families, BONC guides Ellen Lapham and Connie Strawser will go over safety and cycling etiquette, rules of the road and tips for a fun and enjoyable ride. Helmets are required.
Intermediate mountain bike ride on Hirschman’s trail – Meet at 9 a.m. at the trailhead just off Highway 49 on Cement Hill Road (park in the Rood Center parking lot). The historic and scenic trail features the Hirschman’s Pond named after the Hirschman brothers, early pioneer miners and merchants of the area. Features of the trail include a 40-foot long trestle.
West of the pond, the trail narrows and meanders through oak woodlands, pine forests and grasslands. This five-mile round trip ride will end around 10:30 a.m. Helmets are required. At the end of the ride, Alicia Funk will offer Manzanita cider.
9 a.m. – Tree Walk in Downtown Nevada City with Nevada County Walkers – Mary Cahill and Zeno Acton will lead a tree walk in downtown Nevada City. Meet in the Robinson Plaza at 9 a.m. The two-hour condensed tour will cater to people in wheelchairs, parents, grandparents and children.
9:00 a.m. – Explore the Deer Creek Tribute Trail – Meet at 9 am at the Pioneer Park parking lot on Nimrod Street to join The Sierra Fund staff Amber Taxiera and Philip Armstrong on a 6-mile guided walk along the Deer Creek Tribute Trail. Learn about the regions rich heritage and how this ongoing trail project pays tribute to the region’s inhabitants.
11 a.m. and noon – Nisenan tour – Secretary Shelly Covert of the Nevada City Rancheria will lead two historic conversations in the Firehouse No. 1 Museum in Nevada City where a Nisenan exhibit is held.
9 a.m. – Pt. Defiance Trail with South Yuba Parks Association –Start the day with this pleasant three hour docent-led hike. The moderate to strenuous hike starts with a mile of uphill hiking with several switch backs then traverses downhill to Lake Englebright. The last part of the hike requires maneuvering over several boulders before returning to the parking lot. Remember to wear good shoes, bring water, snacks, a hat and a camera.
Meet at the North parking lot at South Yuba River State Park. There is a $5 fee for parking in the State Park parking lot.
10:30 a.m. – Family Nature Hunt at Hirschman’s Pond with Alicia Funk – Native plant expert Alicia Funk, author of Living Wild will lead a family friendly stroll and Natural Treasure Hunt to the pond. Along the way Alicia will identify common native plants and their uses. This trek is wheelchair accessible.
10:30 a.m. – Wheelchair accessible Independence Trail with Ana Acton, FREED – Meet at Independence Trail, West on Highway 49. The trail developed by Naturalist John Olmsted is one of the first wheelchair accessible trails in California. Native trees, shrubs, ferns, and flowers found on the trail are typical of the South Yuba River canyon. The trail follows the abandoned Gold-Rush era Excelsior Ditch water canal. The west link of the trail consists of packed dirt and wood ramps and goes about one mile to Rush Creek.
10 a.m. to noon – Sugar Loaf Mountain with Ray Bryars of Live Healthy Nevada County – Ray Bryars will lead a hike on Sugar Loaf Mountain with history and pictures from the Gold Rush era.
Time to be determined – Tour of Blue Point – Brian Bisnett will lead a four hour tour of the historic Blue Point hydraulic mine, the Yuba Narrows Ranch newly acquired by California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Bear Yuba Land Trust’s Black Swan Ponds.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Art in the Garden with Sierra Streams Institute – Throughout the day, Sierra Streams Institute will hold a free public event in a one-acre native plant garden at the Grass Valley home of Brad Carter and Fred Hodgson. The event will feature food and drink, garden tours and sustainable gardening talks. Art sales will benefit Sierra Streams Institute. For plant lovers, this is a day of educational talks and tours focused on native plants and their habitat as well as sustainable gardening. Many of the California native plants to be discussed can be found along local trails. Learn more: http://www.friendsofdeercreek.org/
Sunday, June 2
9 a.m.– Trail Maintenance Day on Pioneer Trail with Tahoe National Forest – Tahoe National Forest will host a Volunteer Trail Maintenance Day Sunday, June 2 on the Pioneer Trail, Highway 20. Volunteers will meet at the Alpha Omega Rest Stop on Highway 20 at 9 a.m.
Volunteers will remove debris from the trail, shape the trailhead and remove brush from the trail’s edge. Volunteers should wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, gloves, hats and bring water and snacks. Prepare for a day of physical labor. Contact Joe Chaves to sign up: 530-478-6158.
Thanks to all the National Trails Day participants and supporters: Tahoe National Forest, FREED Center for Independent Living, Live Healthy Nevada County, Nevada County Planning Department (Larkyn Feiler), The Sierra Fund, Sierra Streams Institute, South Yuba River Parks Association, Yuba Watershed Institute, BONC, YBONC, Forest Trails Alliance, Friends of Spenceville, South Yuba River Citizens League, Nevada City Rancheria, Gold Country Trails Council, ParkWatch.org, Nevada County Walkers and special friends: Alicia Funk, Hank Meals and Brian Bisnett.
For more information about National Trails Day visit www.bylt.org or contact: Laura Brown, Outreach Coordinator at: laura@bylt.org, 272-5994 x 211.
