R E C R E A T I O N
PEDALING NEVADA
COUNTY AND BEYOND
ANDREW WRIGHT / LIGHTHAWKPHOTO
A mecca for riders, Nevada County is a preeminent cycling destination
and is known for its mountain biking, as well as road biking. Rides
popular with locals are the LeMond Loop and the Pioneer Trails.
Distance: 10 miles, 1–2 hours.
Difficulty: 4 physical, 3 technical.
Season: Can be snowbound in winter.
Total estimated climb: 500+ feet.
TAHOE SIERRA CENTURY RIDE: September
17. Includes 30, 60, 100 mile routes to
match abilities and interest. Information:
tahoesierracentury.com
CHAMPION MINE ROAD
TOUR DE TAHOE: September 11. Ride
around the 72-mile shoreline of Lake Tahoe.
Information: bikethewest.com
Trailhead: Nevada City.
Distance: 7–10 miles, 40 min.–1 ½ hours.
Difficulty: 3 physical, 2 technical
Season: Year around.
Road Biking
LEMOND LOOP
Distance: 14.6 miles. Easy to moderate, one
short steep hill.
Type of Ride: Favorite training ride for Greg
LeMond. Rolling hills with pastoral views.
Start: Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop, 457
Sacramento St., Nevada City.
INDIAN SPRINGS-MCCOURTNEY LOOP
Distance: 46 miles. Moderate to difficult,
some hills.
Type of Ride: Mostly rural, vineyards,
farmland, horse ranches.
Start: Pleasant Valley Rd. & Hwy 20, Park
& Ride.
OLD DONNER PASS ROAD
Distance: 44 miles. Moderate to difficult,
one long climb and descent.
Type of Ride: Mountains, Yuba River,
Donner Lake, historic Truckee.
Start: Cisco Grove Exit, across I-80 to
Hampshire Rocks Rd.
Mountain Biking
LOWER PIONEER TRAIL
Trailhead: Park at Harmony Ridge Market
or at the horse staging area off Hwy. 20,
one mile east, across from Lone Grave.
88
N E VA D A C O U N T Y G O L D
HOLE IN THE GROUND LOOP
Trailhead: Lower Lola Montez Lake
Trailhead.
Distance: About 20 miles, 2–5 hrs.
Difficulty: 4–7 physical, 5–7 technical.
Total Estimated Climb: 2,500 feet.
Season: Summer to fall.
GOLD COUNTRY CYCLING CHALLENGE:
Check website for 2017 date. Mile options
include 100, 75, 55, 35 and 20 miles. Also
18-mile family ride. Information:
RotaryGoldCountryChallenge.com
RESOURCE: Calendar of Rides in the West.
bbcnet.com
Local Organizations
SIERRA EXPRESS BICYCLE CLUB: Promotes
and supports safe riding in western Nevada
County. Has list of rides including directions
and maps, and a calendar of recreational
rides including a section on Lite rides, from
12 to 20 miles.
Information: sierraexpress.org
BICYCLISTS OF NEVADA COUNTY (BONC):
Has a list of mountain biking trails, holds
group rides and builds trails.
Information: bonc.org
Some Area Rides
TOUR DE MANURE: June 18. Sierraville.
Offers 62-mile loop, 42-mile loop and a 30mile out and back. Scenic and historic Sierra
Valley. Information: tourdemanure.org
AGONY RIDE: July 29–30, 1:00 pm–1:00
pm. Twenty-four hours through the Sierra
Valley. Information:
christianencounter.org/agony-ride
Information/
Rides
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICES
Brochures with Maps
EMPIRE MINE STATE PARK
Variety of wooded trails,
easy to challenging.
Maps at Visitor Center,
10791 E. Empire St.,
off Colfax Hwy. (Hwy. 174)
empiremine.org
TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST
Mountain Biking
fs.usda.gov/tahoe
(Home Page for US Forest Service)