South Yuba River State Park
The Park is currently OPEN WITH RESTRICTIONS IN SERVICES AND/OR FACILITIES.
Please check the hours of operation.Buttermilk Trail Partial Closure
NOTICE: Buttermilk Bend Trail remains partially closed due to a washout which has made the trail extremely unstable and impassable. The trail is closed 1/2 mile from the trailhead. Construction is underway on a bridge that will span the slide. We apologize for the inconvenience.Wildflower walks will still take place on weekends during the spring season (second weekend of March through Mother's Day).
See below for more details.
Park Facilities
Parking
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Boating
Sign up for Volunteer Training!
Volunteer training begins April 25th/26th! Visit the Volunteer Programs page for detailed information about dates and volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Program Open House: Not sure if you want to volunteer? Volunteers will be offering information and answering your questions about the activities they do, on Saturday, April 5th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at all three parks. Free park admission for event attendees.
Wildflowers at South Yuba River State Park
Join us for docent-led wildflower walks on spring weekends as we take you on a tour to see poppies, lupines, larkspur, fiddlenecks, popcorn flowers and others that are currently blooming. You’ll also be able to spot the large black and blue Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies, fluttering from wildflower to wildflower.
The walks are 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, March 8, 2025 through May 11, 2025 on the Buttermilk Bend Trail. They typically take around 1-2 hours. Visitors can meet docents in the North Parking Lot (where the kiosk is located). Heavy rain and early summer heat can cancel these seasonal walks; call the Visitor Center for further details.Buttermilk Bend Trail Partial Closure
Attention Hikers and Park Guests,
We regret to inform you that a portion of the Buttermilk Bend Trail will be partially closed due to major trail damage caused by last year's washout. Your safety is our top priority, and given the extent of the damage, the trail is not safe for public use at this time. We are in the process of constructing a bridge to span the slide, and hope to have the trail fully open soon. Continued public use will hinder repair efforts due to continued erosion and construction site disturbance.
The trail is closed about a half mile in. If you wish to access the back portion of the trail, you may do so via the fire road along French Corral Creek. This road can be accessed from Pleasant Valley Road on the north side of the river, 1/4 mile up from the north parking lot (foot traffic only).
Wildflower walks will still happen as there are plenty of flowers to see in the first half mile of the trail.
We understand the disappointment this may cause to those who enjoy exploring Buttermilk Bend Trail, but please know that this closure is necessary to ensure the safety of all visitors. We urge everyone to refrain from accessing the closed portion of te trail until further notice.
In the meantime, we encourage you to explore alternative hiking trails in the area. There are many beautiful trails nearby that offer scenic experiences including the Virginia Turnpike Loop (easy), the 2.8-mile Point Defiance Loop at Bridgeport Crossing (moderate), the Hoyt Crossing Trail at Highway 49 crossing, the Independence Trail (east / upriver portion only) and the South Yuba River Recreation Trail connecting Purdon Crossing and Edwards Crossing. Our staff is available (530-432-2546) to provide recommendations and assistance in finding alternative routes for your outdoor adventures.
Construction is underway on a repair that will reopen the trail. Stay tuned for updates.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this closure may cause and appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to address the damage and restore the Buttermilk Bend Trail to its safe and enjoyable condition. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Independence Trail Partial Closure Due to Jones Fire
Independence Trail is partially closed to the public due to safety concerns and resource protection in the aftermath of the 2020 Jones Fire. A District Superintendent Order enacting the closure is currently in effect. The historic Independence Trail, off Highway 49 in western Nevada County, is closed west of the intersection with the newly re-aligned Jones Bar Trail to Rush Creek.
The Independence Trail was constructed on historic flumes designed to carry water to hydraulic mining operations. The flumes act as bridges in many locations and Flume 22, the first flume located approximately a quarter mile from the eastern trail entrance off of Highway 49, is damaged due to soil erosion associated with continuous landslides. Several lower sections of the bottom piers, supporting the structure, are broken or undercut due to soil instability. The bridge is not safe for pedestrian traffic.
State Park crews are actively surveying the damage and working toward the restoration of this trail system. The work is extensive and may involve extended closure.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in staying off the trails for your own safety. If you have any further questions, please call the Sierra District Office at (530) 273-3884.
Bridgeport Covered Bridge Restoration Project
We welcome people to walk through the covered bridge and take a step back in time! The bridge connects hiking trails and the historic area, allowing visitors to relive the mining-era days of travel along the turnpike.This historic landmark reopened to the public on November 4th, 2021 after being closed for 10 years due to safety concerns. Preservation is a community effort, and would not have been possible without decades of community involvement. With the support of State Parks, Sierra Gold Parks Foundation, Nevada County, South Yuba River Citizens’ League, and the Nevada County Regional Chamber of Commerce, private citizens, and elected officials, Save Our Bridge gained the attention and eventual $6.9 million in funding to make this goal a reality. The rehabilitation project spanned mid-2019 through the fall of 2021 by Spectra Company and is an inspiring example how a community can come together to save an historical treasure for future generations.
Click here for the chronicled progress of the project.
Land Acknowledgement
California State Parks acknowledges the Nisenan People were here in this State Park since time immemorial. The Nisenan People are still here today, though they are nearly invisible.
The Sierra District of California State Parks includes their story in our interpretation and education here at the South Yuba River State Park. We understand we are on Nisenan Land and that the original Tribal Families have yet to recover from the near genocide of their people during the California Gold Rush.
California State Parks supports the Nevada City Rancheria Tribe in efforts to stabilize their people as well as the campaign to restore Tribal sovereignty through Federal Recognition.
Watch our interview with Nisenan Tribal Spokesperson, Shelly Covert recording here
Location-Directions:
South Yuba River State Park headquarters located at Bridgeport, 17660 Pleasant Valley Rd can be accessed from Highway 20 west of Grass Valley or from Highway 49 north of Nevada City. Remote portions of the park are accessible from Edwards Crossing, Purdon Crossing, and Highway 49.
The park:
This 20-mile portion of the South Yuba River canyon stretches from Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park to Bridgeport covered bridge. The area includes the longest single-span covered bridge in the world, the steep rugged canyon of the South Yuba River, and the Independence Trail - the first identified wheelchair-accessible wilderness trail in the country.
South Yuba River State Park offers many scenic vistas. Visitors can view swift moving water carving the granitic canyon that is peppered with seasonal native blooms in springtime, and experience refreshing swimming holes that dot the 20 mile length of the Yuba River in late summer. Along the length of the park, visitors can see several architectually different bridges spanning from the Gold Rush era to the mid-20th century.
Visitors can enjoy:
- swimming
- bird watching
- panning for gold
- wildflowers in the spring
- hiking in the historic gold country
- docent-led history, wildflower, birding, geology, and gold-panning tours are also offered at selected times throughout the year
Adventuresome hikers have a choice of trails ranging in difficulty, from the easiest (Independence Trail), to other more strenuous trails throughout the park. Click on the "Hiking" link above right to explore all the hiking trail options.
Caution:
Winter and Spring weather conditions can cause the trail to become muddy and impassable for wheelchairs. Call the park for trail condition information before you go.
Filming Videos and Still Photography in State Parks
California State Parks thanks you for choosing our beautiful parks for your photographic activities and sharing the wonders of our park units with the world. However, in order to maintain the beauty of our parks and its natural and cultural resources, we require that all commercial, still and motion picture photographers obtain a film permit from the California Film Commission.California State Parks requires an approved film permit for:
- All commercial still photography and videography
- Professional photographers offering private services
- Student photo/film projects
- Professional development projects
Drones are not permitted unless a special permit is granted. To learn more, please visit our blog here.
For specific film permit information at Empire Mine State Historic Park, Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park or South Yuba River State Park, please review Sierra Gold Sector Film Permit information.
