Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 8.0 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
6450 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+1100, -1100 round trip |
| Navigation | Road, marked trail and map |
| Time | Full day |
| Season | Late December through early April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Moderate between mileage points 21, 6 and 7, and not permitted elsewhere. [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Haypress Valley, Clio, Calpine |
| Start | On Highway 49, 1.1 miles west of Yuba Pass. |
Description
The Beartrap Meadow Loop is one of numerous tours that can be created from the roads and marked ski trails on the north side of Highway 49 near Yuba Pass. It combines parts of the Three Knobs and the Lunch Creek tours. The resulting tour takes you to the high point of the Three Knobs tour, retains one section that requires careful navigation, but eliminates the steepest section of that tour. The loop also retains miles of roads from the Lunch Creek tour including those paralleling Beartrap Meadow. The resulting difficulty is less than the Three Knobs tour, but greater than the Lunch Creek tour.
The terrain on this tour is predominantly gently sloping roads and caters to skiers who enjoy kicking and gliding mile after mile. But you do leave the security of the roads, climb onto a broad ridge and then navigate without good landmarks for a short distance.
Although there are groomed snowmobile trails in the area, this tour offers good solitude. Of the 8.0 miles, only 1.6 miles of the tour coincide with snowmobile routes and the remaining 6.4 miles are in areas closed to snowmobile use. In particular, you will find yourself quite alone at the high point on a broad ridge.
Unfortunately, at the time of the writing of this tour description many of the blue diamond markers have fallen from trees and the paint has peeled from signs. Regardless, the description given here can be used to successfully follow the route. You can retrace your path if at some point you cannot find the route forward. If available, this is a perfect opportunity to use a GPS to navigate from point to point. Download the waypoints provided.
Lodging is available in Downieville with its historic main street and in Sierra City which is nearer to Yuba Pass. But Yuba Pass is only 35 miles away from Truckee. The drive passes through the little town of Sierraville and not much else as it winds through the undeveloped mountains north of Tahoe.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 10 to 11
Miles: 0.0 - 0.0
Elevation change: Nil
From the trailhead (10) ski north on the snow-covered road for 200 feet until you reach a fork in the road (11). The Three Knobs tour continues north (straight) on the lesser road while the Beartrap Meadow Loop tour makes a sharp turn to the west (left) and continues on the large road.
Waypoint 11 to 9
Miles: 0.0 - 1.6
Elevation change: +450 feet
Turn west (left) and follow the large road generally north for 1.6 miles until you reach a road junction (9). The junction is located at a high point, but the high point is large and very flat so it is not obvious. Also the junction itself is not obvious. Look for the sign in the tree on the west (left) side of the road indicating where the Three Knobs route leaves the main road.
Waypoint 9 to 27
Miles: 1.6 - 2.2
Elevation change: +200 feet
Turn right off the main road onto a lesser road and ski north for 0.6 mile until you reach a road junction (27).
Waypoint 27 to 26
Miles: 2.2 - 2.8
Elevation change: +200 feet
Continue on the road that makes a 180 degree turn to the right, then a sharp turn to the left, and finally continue skiing east on the snow-covered road for a total of 0.6 mile until the large road you are on disappears (26). Between the two turns and for 0.1 mile after the left turn the road may be difficult to discern, but beyond it is well defined.
Waypoint 26 to 25
Miles: 2.8 - 2.9
Elevation change: +50 feet
Climb slightly north of east up what may appear to be a very small road for 0.1 mile until you reach the very broad ridgetop and the southwest side of a small knob (25). This is the beginning of the section of route that takes careful navigation.
Waypoint 25 to 22
Miles: 2.9 - 3.1
Elevation change: -50 feet
Ski around the north side of the nearby knob for a total of 0.2 mile until you intersect a snow-covered road (22). Do not be tempted to ascend the shallow saddle to the east of the knob; you need to ski a little farther east before heading slightly south to intersect the road. Many of the blue diamonds have fallen off trees in this section making the marked route difficult to follow. Waypoints 23 and 24 are provided for additional help in navigating with a GPS.
Waypoint 22 to 21
Miles: 3.1 - 3.4
Elevation change: Nil
Ski east (left) on the snow-covered road for 0.3 mile until you reach a road junction and a groomed snowmobile trail (21). Approximately 200 feet before reaching the road junction the Three Knobs tour turns off the road and heads south. The sign at this point is unreadable because the paint has peeled.
Waypoint 21 to 6
Miles: 3.4 - 3.6
Elevation change: -100 feet
Turn north (left) and follow the snowmobile trail for 0.2 mile until you reach a road junction (6).
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles:
3.6 - 5.0
Elevation change:
+50, -250 feet
Ski west (left) on the road and the combined ski and snowmobile trail for 1.4 miles until you reach a major road junction (7). During most of this distance you will be paralleling Beartrap Meadow and at times it may be difficult to discern the road; look for the blue diamond markers if in doubt. The route will also probably be groomed for snowmobiles.
Waypoint 7 to 8
Miles: 5.0 - 5.8
Elevation change: +100, -100 feet
Make a 180 degree turn to the southeast (left) and ski on a wide road in a generally southerly direction for 0.8 mile until you reach a high point (8). In this section you will first descend to a low point where you cross the Beartrap Meadow outflow. This section marks the beginning of 3.1 miles of road closed to snowmobiles.
Waypoint 8 to 9
Miles: 5.8 - 6.4
Elevation change: +50, -150 feet
Continue generally south on the road, at first descending and then climbing, for 0.6 mile until you reach the high point (9) that you were at previously.
Return to trailhead
Miles: 6.4 - 8.0
Elevation change: -450 feet
Continue generally south on the major road for 1.6 miles until you reach a road junction (11) and then turn south (right) and ski 200 feet until you reach Highway 49 (10).
