Northern California

3 Day Itinerary

I once was on a work trip in San Francisco and instead of heading home on Friday, I extended my trip so I could spend the weekend in the Sierras and Lake Tahoe. I knew this area had great mountain biking, so I found the best outfitter and a downhill trail, which I based the weekend around while tying in a night in South Lake Tahoe. This itinerary is a perfect way to spend an outdoor weekend in the Northern Sierra including mountain biking and hiking.  

Overview

Day 1: Lunch in Sonoma, Arrive in Nevada City

Day 2: Downieville Mountain Biking, Lake Tahoe Hiking

Day 3: Sunrise on Lake Tahoe, Return Home

DAY 1: Arrival in Nevada City

To start of your northern California weekend, head towards Nevada City in the foothills of the Sierras in mid afternoon on a Friday. The old Gold Rush town is just over an hour drive from Sacramento and about three hours from San Francisco. The town is surrounded by thick forests and has a core downtown of old historic buildings from the 1800's.  

If time permits, take a drive through California wine country. Sonoma or Napa are great towns to drive through and find a place for lunch out on a terrace. There are also several wineries to choose from if you have time for a glass over looking the vineyards.

Once you arrive in Nevada City, there are several Bed and Breakfast type accommodations and cabin style motels to choose from, but the rooms book up quick especially in the warm summer months. If you arrive in town with time to spare, a good hike to do is the Independence Trail which takes you down from US-49 to the South Yuba River. There's parking off the highway and the trail is just half a mile down to the river. I went down at sunset and sat on some rocks as the light faded behind the mountains before climbing back up to the car.  

For dinner, there's several updated restaurants in town in the old historic buildings. I ate at One 11 Kitchen and Bar which often features live music and has a good outdoor porch. The place was very lively into the evening and was a great spot to drink some local beers and listen to the band play.  

 
 

DAY 2: Downieville Mountain Biking, Lake Tahoe Hiking

To make the most of the day, be sure to get up early and head to town for coffee before starting your drive to Downieville for some mountain biking. Java Johns is a good spot in town to get your caffeine fix for the morning.  

The drive to Downieville is just at an hour through a winding mountain road. The trees are thick but you go through various vistas with view points over the Sierras. Downieville was also founded as a gold rush town in the 1800's, but has become a hub for outdoor activities like mountain biking, fishing and camping.  

There is a small "downtown" which mainly consists of historic buildings that have been converted to outfitters to satisfy the demand for outdoor activities. For mountain biking, the Downieville Downhill Classic is a must-do. The single track trail begins at the top of Packer Saddle at an elevation of 7,084 feet, and drops over 15 miles of downhill into Downieville which sits at 2,895 feet (a drop of almost 5,000 feet). There is very little climbing on the trail and offers a great flowy track through the beautiful scenery.  

Downieville Outfitters is a bike shop in town, which offers rentals and shuttle rides to the top of the pass. This is the best option if you only have one car, as you will need a ride to the top of the trail. After rentals, the cost of the shuttle is an extra $35. This is definitely one of the best mountain bike trails in the Sierra and even better that its all downhill and such a long distance.  

After you arrive back at the bike shop after your ride, head over to Two Rivers Café for a lunch overlooking the Downie River.  

From Downieville, its an hour and a half drive to North Lake Tahoe. This part of the lake doesn't have the resorts and casinos of South Lake Tahoe, but there are still just as many people. If you need a break after the drive, Jason's Beachside Grill is a great restaurant just above one of the beaches on the lake to grab a bite to eat or have a beer.   

Head south along the west side of the lake toward Emerald Bay for an evening hike to finish your outdoor day. Emerald Bay is a popular area due to its blue-green water and protection from the main part of the lake. There are several trails in the area, but a good one to do is the Eagle Falls Trail. There is a good parking at the trailhead, and the trail heads up from the water along a flowing creek. Stop at Eagle Falls and be sure to keep looking behind you as you hike higher in elevation as the view is amazing looking out over the bay.  

It's about a mile up to Eagle Lake, a small mountain lake surrounded by high granite cliffs that are so famous in the Sierra. The trail you use to get up to the lake also continues higher to the Desolation Wilderness, a national forest area high in the mountains. Find a good rock and maybe take a dip in the lake as the sun fades before you head back to your car.  

South Lake Tahoe also books up in the summer months and even lower quality hotels can be upwards of $400/night. If you cross over into the Nevada side, there are several casino resorts to choose from if you're looking to do some gambling for the night.  

With how long the day was, I chose to find a quiet spot for dinner and Café Fiore was a perfect place for this. The Italian restaurant sits in an old house and has a cozy vibe where you can enjoy some pasta and wine after a long day exploring the mountains.  

 
 
 
 
 

DAY 3: Sunrise on Lake Tahoe

Before heading back to the airport or wherever you call home, wake up early and head out to one of the public beaches in the area to watch sunrise over the lake. Lake Tahoe is one of the prettier and most unique places in the US, and after watching a sunrise here you'll understand why.