Overall Route Rating
speedo-meter speedo-arrow
speedo-meter-grey
4.8 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.8
10 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

profile Image
By Guest (0 McR Points) on Feb 28, 2005

Rider Reviews

No Image Found
Guest
October 5, 2010
This is a great ride. Take it to or from Reno.…
Thumbsup
No Image Found
MonstrousMia
2 McR Points
July 19, 2016
One of my favorite rides ever. Go in the morning…
Thumbsup

Written Directions

You can either take this route by starting in Hallelujah Junction or by starting in Emigrant Gap. Since the easiest way for most of you to get to it will be by way of an Interstate, my directions below describe the route from Emigrant Gap since I-80 passes right through that town. The easiest way to find the starting point is by clicking on this online MapQuest link to see where Emigrant Gap is. From Emigrant Gap, take California Route 20 west by traveling northeast on Emigrant Gap Rd, left onto Bear Valley Rd. to the town of Nevada City (California). From there find California Route 49 and take that west & eventually north through the Tahoe National Forest and Downieville, CA. Continue on 49 now heading east through Sierra City, Sierraville, and Loyalton. Stay on 49 (which turns north after Loyalton) until it intersects/dead-ends into California Route 70. Take Route 70 east through Chilcoot and right into the end point of Hallelujah Junction. From here if you wanted to get back to the Interstate, you would have to take US 395 down into Reno, NV where you could join up with I-80 again (this time in Nevada).

Scenery

Your cruising along the north fork of the Yuba River on a windy road often times through the bottom of a canyon that is extremely beautiful. Overall the scenery is excellent with lots of trees and beautiful views all along the way. From Nevada City you head north on another twisty CA-49. You'll follow the Yuba River to Downieville. Another great stop with bikes in every parking lot. From there it is a twisty climb up to Bassetts.

Drive Enjoyment

The road is in good shape, with lots of turns. Some hills and straight-aways to break up the ridegive you a little bit of everything

Tourism Opportunities

There are lots of places to pull over along the river. You'll be traveling through the Tahoe National Forest and if you're into outdoor recreation, there is plenty to offer here. Downieville is a great little town to stophave lunch in. Also, you will come to Nevada city, which has that great old town atmosphere to walk around in and motorcycle riders meet up a lot in this area.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

Top Images

Share Your Comments ( 10 )
  Earn McR Points
No Image Found
Guest
October 5, 2010
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
This is a great ride. Take it to or from Reno. You can pick up Hwy. 49 off Iinterstate 80 in Auburn.Nice restaurants in Downeville and one great little one in Sierraville. This will be one of your favorite rides ever!
Was this road review helpful?
Thumbsup
3 riders found this road review useful
No Image Found
MonstrousMia
July 19, 2016
2 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport
One of my favorite rides ever. Go in the morning in the summer like I did and you'll experience perfect weather and a relatively solitary ride all the way through. You'll be surrounded by nothing but trees along the way to the generous smattering of tourist rest stops and gas stations.

The pavement is stellar; there are very few sketchy patches if at all. The curves are in huge abundance at the midway point. Good pavement a lot of curves with strong visibility really let you cut loose.

All around this is a great route. Lots of gorgeous vistas, plentiful rest stops, and well-paved twisties.

The only bummer is that I went through maybe 4 construction zones where I had to stop for a good accumulated chunk of time. Maybe it was just bad luck that day, but it was the only real damper to what was an overall blissful, perfect ride.
Was this road review helpful?
Thumbsup
1 riders found this road review useful
Sport Bike Richie
May 6, 2019
16 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport
i LOVE this route. So good, has twisties galore.
Some tight stuff, some sweepers. You go through towns, nice scenery, plenty of gas along the way and places to eat. Love it. I go from nevada city up to sierraville, the roads get lots of gravel starting around bassetts. I do this route often
Was this road review helpful?
Thumbsup
0 riders found this road review useful