Guides
Walk around Empire Mine State Historic Park and explore several smaller abandoned mines and 100 years of mining history
Welcome to Empire Mine State Historic Park, home to Empire Mine, which was once the most profitable gold mine in California during the gold rush. This hike will take you around the Empire Mine site and past several smaller mines which were all eventually absorbed as part of the large mining operation at Empire Mine. Along this hike you will see old...
4.9 mile trail near Marysville, Wheatland, Beal, and Grass Valley, California
The Fairy Falls & Dry Creek Loop Trail is about 4.9 miles long. It is located near Beale Air Force Base and Grass Valley, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-4 hours. The two large waterfalls at the end of the hike make this moderately easy trek well worth the time. The trail traverses through forests and meadows an is...
7.5 mile trail near Colfax, California
Stevens Trail is about 7.5 miles long located near Colfax, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a half day. It is very scenic, rich in history and is on the National Register of Historic places. Built by Truman Allen Stevens it was used as a toll road for miners that needed to get from the mining town of Iowa Hill to the railroad...
Trips
Independence Trail
Jones Bar (historical), California, United States
Hiking | 3.6 miles (5.4 miles away)
Hiking | 3.6 miles (5.4 miles away)
We decided to take a hike where there would be some shade today. This place is beautiful. Most of the trail is shaded by trees. The trail is flat, mostly level. It is 3.59 miles out and back from the wheel-chair access parking (where the restroom is) to the jeep trail and back. Walking slowly and looking at scenery, it took us a little over 1.5 hours to complete the trail. ...
Hardrock Trail and Osborn Hill Loop
Empire Mine State Historic Park, California, United States
Hiking | 4.5 miles (1.2 miles away)
Hiking | 4.5 miles (1.2 miles away)
This morning we went to Empire Mine State Historic Park as part of our journey through the California State Parks. We hiked the Hardrock trail and added in the Osborn Loop Trail as well to make it a bit longer.After the hiles we explored the Bourn Mansion and the old mine yard where we saw several old buildings, rusted machinery, and even went a little ways into Empire Mine.
We had a busy weekend and were afraid we wouldn't get to hike, but we managed to squeeze this one in on Labor Day. This was a fairly easy hike. It had a few climbs, but none were too intense. It was interesting to see the historic mines and left over mining equipment. We encountered several horseback riders and a few mountain bikers. Overall a very pleasant hike. We tried to stick...
Fairy Falls & Dry Creek Loop
Grass Valley, California, United States
Hiking | 4.6 miles (13.4 miles away)
Hiking | 4.6 miles (13.4 miles away)
The two large waterfalls at the end of the hike make this moderately easy trek well worth the time. The trail traverse is forests and meadows. The trail is especially attractive in spring when wildflowers abound. The destination is Upper and Lower Fairy Falls on Dry Creek. The falls are also known by the names Beale Falls or Shingle Falls.The route shown in this trail guide follows the Spenceville Road and then the Upper...
Stevens Trail South - Iowa Hill
Iowa Hill, California, United States
Hiking | 6.8 miles (13.2 miles away)
Hiking | 6.8 miles (13.2 miles away)
This hike was from the Iowa Hill Store, in the old mining town of Iowa Hill, down to the North Fork of the American River. We had hiked the northern Stevens Trail from Colfax to Secret Ravine and really enjoyed it. Then we found out about this "forgotten side" of Stevens Trail that also takes you to Secret Ravine, but from the south and on the opposite side of the river.
Coming from...
Hardrock and Ermin Mill trails at Empire Mill State Historic Park
Hiking |
5.0 miles
(1.2 miles away)
Nice forest counterpart to all the great mining history in the main mill area and at the museum.
This was a great hike. The trail is said to be very popular and
a good one for horseback riders and mountain bikers, but we
only encountered hikers on our December day. In fact, at 9:30 am,
there was only one other car in the lot, but there were several there
in the afternoon when we got back. The book we read that described the
hike said there were no facilities at the trailhead, so we...
Nice walk above Deer Creek, old ditch, through Grass Valley Group property, and back through town on Zion St.
Scott & Terry hike Nevada City
Nevada City, California, United States
Hiking | 3.3 miles (3.8 miles away)
Hiking | 3.3 miles (3.8 miles away)
