Downieville offers different perspectives for a trip: mountain bike races and trails, places connected to Gold Rush history, and opportunities to enjoy the Yuba River. You can focus on a particular route or combine the trails with culture and river scenery. When choosing, it’s worth considering the route format, distance, and the features of each trail.
Mountain Bike Races and Trails
The Downieville Classic features two races in different formats: a 26.5-mile cross-country race and a 15-mile Downieville Downhill race. The festival also includes a bike expo in the town center, the Big Air River Jump, and live music.
The Downieville Downhill is a 15-mile descent. It starts high above Downieville, drops 5,000 feet in elevation, and ends in town. Other trails have different points of interest: the North Yuba Trail runs 16 miles from Downieville to the Rocky Rest Campground and is suitable for mountain biking and hiking. The Second Divide Trail, by contrast, is described as a 9.0-mile out-and-back route; along the way, there are views of Pauley Creek and historic cabins once used by miners.
Trails, the River, and Getting Oriented
There are different options for exploring on foot, too. The self-guided Historic Walking Tour of Downieville & Sierra City includes buildings and historic sites dating from the 1850s. The Downie River Trail can be hiked from Downieville as an out-and-back route and has technical water crossings. The historic-site tour and the trail therefore differ both in subject matter and in the trail conditions described.
The trail network around Downieville is remote, and there is no cell service on the trails. Small beaches along the North Fork of the Yuba River in Downieville can be used for swimming and relaxing. There are also many campgrounds along the Yuba River in the Downieville area.
Gold Rush History and Culture
The Downieville Museum is housed in a stone building whose original iron doors and shutters date from 1852. The building was once a Chinese store. The museum displays artifacts from the town’s Gold Rush era and from the diverse community of miners, merchants, and immigrants that shaped the North Yuba Canyon. The architecture, collection, and local history each offer a different way to explore Downieville’s past.
The Sierra County Sheriff's Gallows is connected to another specific chapter in local history: the gallows were used only once, for the execution of James O’Neill on November 27, 1885. It was the last legal execution in Sierra County. Visitors interested in art can find works by local and regional artists at the Yuba Gallery, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and mixed-media works. The Yuba Theater is a venue for films and events of various kinds.
Local Offerings
Empire Creek Provisions is a gourmet market in Downieville featuring local vendors and artisans. Its offerings include more than 50 varieties of cheese, local honey, deli meats, and takeout food; the specific selection may change. Along with the art gallery, the market adds two more facets of the town—regional vendors and artistic works—to its trails, historic sites, and river areas.
For the broader travel overview: Sierra City.
