Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 5.1 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
5300 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+550, -550 round trip |
| Navigation | Road, marked trail and map |
| Time | Most of a day |
| Season | Late December through March |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Blue Canyon |
| Start | Trail junction 7 on Highway 20, 18.7 miles east of the junction of highways 49 and 20 in Nevada City and 8.4 miles west of the junction of highways 80 and 20 (Yuba Gap). Trail junction 7 is 1.7 miles east of the Omega Rest Stop. |
Description
Many marked trails make up the Steephollow Trail System. The Upper Loop tour allows you to return to your starting point without retracing your route (except for the first 0.6 mile) and visits many of the best trails. Along the way you will be treated to many excellent views; this includes an opportunity to take a side trip to the best vantage point in the entire area.
A slightly longer route, that requires a shuttle vehicle but traverses the entire Steephollow area, is described in the Steephollow Grand Traverse tour.
Most of the marked trails are easy to follow roads. Courtesy of A. Clark.
This area is conveniently located on Highway 20 not far from Nevada City, but off the beaten path. Historically this area is important because it is the location of the Nevada City Road and Washington Ridge Emigrant Trail of 1850.
The only drawback to the Steephollow area is that it is located entirely between 5150 and 5800 feet elevation. This low elevation means that snow-cover can be iffy early and late in the season in anything but a good year. But snow permitting, this is a wonderful place to spend the day skiing. Locals rave about the area when they are hit by a very cold storm. Consider stopping here on your way to or from the Lake Tahoe area.
The Steephollow Trail System is maintained by volunteers from the Nordic Skiers of Nevada County.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Two types of location points are referred to in this tour. "Trail junction" refers to a marked trail junction. These junctions are denoted by numbers in the range of 1 through 25 and the numbers are posted at the junctions. "Mileage point" refers to other points similar to those used throughout this guide. These points are denoted by numbers in the range of 30 through 39.
All trail segments are on roads unless otherwise stated.
Be aware that there are many roads and road junctions in the area that are not described in this log. Refer to the tour description and the map to navigate at these points.
Waypoint 7 to 9
Miles: 0.0 - 0.3
Elevation change: +100 feet
From the trailhead (7) ski southeast and then east on the snow-covered road for a total of 0.3 mile until you reach a trail junction (9). A short distance northwest of trail junction 9, on the road that leads to the Omega Rest Stop (trail junction 1 in Steephollow Trail System tour) a marker on the north side of the road denotes the location of the Nevada City Road and Washington Ridge Emigrant Trail.
Waypoint 9 to 11
Miles: 0.3 - 0.3
Elevation change: Nil
Ski east on the southern-most (right) trail (a snow-covered road) for 50 yards until you reach a trail junction (11).
Waypoint 11 to 13
Miles: 0.3 - 0.6
Elevation change: Nil
Ski east on the northern-most (left) trail (a snow-covered road) for 0.3 mile until you reach a trail junction (13).
As an alternative, you can ski directly from trail junction 9 to trail junction 13 via a lesser trail (not a road). To do this, at trail junction 9 ski east on the northern-most trail. The distance and elevation change are the same by the two routes.
Waypoint 13 to 15
Miles: 0.6 - 1.2
Elevation change: +50 feet
Ski east on the northern-most (left) trail (a snow-covered road) for 0.6 mile until you reach a trail junction (15). Trail junction 15 is not a road junction and is easily missed if you are not looking closely for the marker and trail number on a tree. Here a trail heads southwest and the Upper Loop continues to the east.
In this section at mileage point 32, 0.3 mile east of trail junction 13 and 100 yards east of a small clearing on the north (left) side of the road, you can leave the road and ski 75 yards north (left) to mileage point 33 (you will descend a little) and an outstanding vista to the north. Here you can see Sierra Buttes peaking beyond a ridge and Grouse Ridge is also distinctive.
Waypoint 15 to 17
Miles: 1.2 - 2.1
Elevation change: +250 feet
Ski east and then northeast on the trail (a snow-covered road) for a total of 0.9 mile until you reach a trail junction (17). There is a prominent road junction 0.5 mile east and northeast of trail junction 15 at mileage point 34. Take the fork to the northeast (straight), not the road to the north (left). At trail junction 17 the road ahead begins to descend gradually.
Trail junctions are marked with numbers. Courtesy of A. Clark.
Waypoint 17 to 35
Miles: 2.1 - 2.2
Elevation change: Nil
Ski east on the marked trail (not a road), at first through trees and then through a large clearing, for a total of 0.1 mile until you reach the point where the trail intersects a snow-covered road (35).
Side trip to overlook
Before continuing south on the road and the Upper Loop, make a short excursion to the best vista point in the area. From mileage point 35, ski east on the marked trail (not a road) for 0.3 mile with an elevation change of +50, -50 feet until you reach the obvious overlook point (37).
The trail to the overlook is marked and appears to follow an old logging skid road. Courtesy of A. Clark.
Be aware that the trail veers to the north (left) at mileage point 36. Here there is a blue diamond with an arrow on it, but you may miss it and continue straight if you are not looking carefully.
There is a bench at the overlook and the lake to the east is Lake Spaulding. Signal Peak is the mountain directly beyond the dam that creates the lake. To the north (left) of Signal Peak is steeper Old Man Mountain. Also to the east, but not obvious, are Cisco Butte and Devils Peak.
Springtime view from overlook. You can see Signal Peak and Old Man Mountain. Courtesy of A. Clark.
Winter view from overlook. Signal Peak is at far left, Devils Peak is very small on the horizon at about the 1/4 point from the right, and Cisco Butte is the dark blob to the left of Devils Peak. Courtesy of A. Clark.
Continuing on the main route
Waypoint 35 to 19
Miles: 2.2 - 3.7
Elevation change: -300 feet
Ski south and southwest on the trail (a snow-covered road) for a total of 1.5 miles until you reach a trail junction (19). The fork to the south (left) leads to an alternate starting point. This tour continues on the fork to the west (right).
Waypoint 19 to 23
Miles: 3.7 - 4.3
Elevation change: +50, -150 feet
Turn west (right) and ski on a road for 0.6 mile until you reach a trail junction (23) and Steephollow Creek. A short distance before you reach trail junction 23, you will pass trail junction 21, which is easy to miss.
Waypoint 23 to 13
Miles: 4.3 - 4.5
Elevation change: +100 feet
Ski west on the obvious road for 0.2 mile until you reach a trail junction (13).
Waypoint 13 to 9
Miles: 4.5 - 4.8
Elevation change: Nil
Ski west on the southern-most (left) trail (a snow-covered road) for 0.3 mile until you reach a trail junction (9). A very short distance before you reach junction 9 you will pass trail junction 11 and a road heading southeast to Steephollow Creek.
Waypoint 9 to 7
Miles: 4.8 - 5.1
Elevation change: -100 feet
Ski west (straight) and then north on a snow-covered road for a total of 0.3 mile until you reach the trailhead (7).
