Bear Yuba Land Trust
The Bear Yuba Land Trust in Nevada County, California includes at least four accessible trails in the areas where the non-profit, membership-supported organization has acquired land to conserve “the region’s natural, historical and agricultural legacy.” According to helpful people with the land trust, the trails listed below are “… ADA friendly but may not meet all ADA standards”.
Phone 520-272-5994 Here is the Trust’s Facebook page and their website Trails Portal Trails Location Map
Litton Trail 2 miles one-way. “A well-established trail through an informal urban greenbelt in the vicinity of the Sierra College campus in Grass Valley.”
Independence Trail West Independence Trail East “Independence Trail transformed an historic gold mining ditch into the nation’s first identified handicapped-accessible wilderness trail. It is now one of the most popular trails in the area, contouring along wooded hillsides, passing live streams, and crossing deep gorges on restored wooden flumes that once transported water for hydraulic mining. The trail has two separate sections — West and East — that extend from one main trailhead on Highway 49.” “West trail is wheelchair accessible in dry months from the trailhead to a short way beyond Flume 28 (about 1.1 miles one way).”
“Like the Independence Trail West, the East trail follows the gentle gradient of an old mining ditch and is wheelchair accessible. It offers occasional views of the South Yuba River canyon and passes seasonal side streams and bogs. Tree cover and a generally northerly orientation keep the trail relatively cool and green for its 1400-1500 foot elevation.”
Thank you to Rosemary Mendonca who wrote with this sad news, “…much of this wonderful trail sustained damage in the \”Jones\” wild fire last year and it is closed to the public. They intend to repair and rebuild but it\’s unknown when it will reopen. https://activenorcal.com/historic-independence-trail-destroyed-in-northern-californias-jones-fire/ https://www.bylt.org/independence-trail/“
Penn Valley Bike Trail 1.7 miles one way Not really a natural trail, the description of its environment is “commercial and residential areas with some areas of oak woodland and pines.”
Western Gateway Park Trail A small town park with lots of grassy fields and a creek running though it. The fitness trail of about a mile round trip goes through “Mixed oak woodland and pines, riparian forest, and landscaped areas.”