This seems to a park focused on picnicking & summer river time, rather than hiking (at least from…read moreprior reviews.) However, don't sleep on South Yuba River State Park for its hiking trails! I stopped by on a drizzly spring Saturday. The rain seemed to keep crowds away (I've heard weekends can be packed!) If you visit the Bridgeport area of the park, there are two lots. One is by the newly restored covered bridge and another less than a quarter mile down the road. Parking was self paid when I visited but they also accepted CA state parks pass. It's an interesting park from a history perspective but also has quite a display of spring wildflowers. I tried out 2 trails. First, I did the Point Defiance loop trail that was a moderate climb with woodlands, river views, hillsides with flowers and some small side paths down to the water. It is just under 3 miles but a fun adventure with a variety of landscapes. Second, was the Buttermilk Bend trail which is an out and back that is a fairly flat trail that follows along the river (but higher up with some amazing views.) The second trail was an out and back and about 2.5 miles total. I was really impressed with the quality of the trails -it's a well maintained park. There are several picnic areas and a visitor center (which I didn't get to check out this time.) I can't speak for summer time and swimming here but it's a great scenic hiking spot for river views and wildflowers.

Took a peaceful trip to the South Yuba River in Penn Valley with my boyfriend and our pup, and it…read morewas everything we needed. Nature at its finest -- cool, clear water, smooth rocks to lounge on, and beauty in every direction. The air felt fresh, the vibe was mellow, and it was just one of those spots that reminds you how healing a little escape into nature can be. Perfect for a dip, a walk, or just soaking in the calm. Already dreaming of going back.

This was a really fun hike! Most of the trail is flat and the it's easy to follow and well worn. I…read morethink it used to be a loop but the West side is currently closed so it's now a there and back kind of path. There are many wood bridges along the path and while I'm sure they're safe (we're alive) some of them shifted under our feet and there were a few holes as well. Just be careful of where you're stepping. In some parts of the trail there is a higher path you can take alongside the main path that makes it easier to let people pass or just get a great view of everything below. Towards the end of the hike there's a big fork that goes up and down, if you head down you'll get to the water. We saw a bunch of other dogs taking this trail and our pup did a great job, even at the bottom where it was more rocky getting to the water. We would definitely do this hike again!

I went to the right side , beautiful pools, water clear and colorful, there are two spots with sand…read moreand you can relax after a nice swim, the pool is big enough to get a good swim.

Love, love, love this place! Years ago, before I moved to the area, I visited and definitely did…read morenot expect to find a **NUDE BEACH**. Over time, I've met some friendly faces and joined in on activities. For instance, one day I was there hiking with a buddy, and we met an awesome couple who were playing chess outside their van. We ended up staying for hours, mingling and playing games! Anyway, I love showing off this place to folks who are visiting. One thing I noticed not so long ago is that if you type the place into your GPS, it may take you somewhere else. Make sure to type in "Hoyt Trail Parking," and it will direct you to the bridge and trail. There's also a nearby trail called "Independence Trail" that's walkable from the parking area.

This was such an easy but beautiful hike. We went down to the beach and I even saw some crawdad…read moretype fish while sitting on a rock listening to the brook. It was gorgeous. I can't wait to come back and swim in the summer.

Pioneer Park is in the foothill town of Nevada City, CA. It's a beautiful 16 acre park with…read moregorgeous mature trees. There's a baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, bocce ball court, horseshoe pits, little league field, playground, green lawn space, picnic area, and bandshell. The walkways are paved and ADA. In addition, the public swimming pool and Lodge are located here. The park hosts summer concerts and special events. The Lodge is a hop skip n jump next door to the pool, playground, and basketball courts. It's an event building available for rent. It has a kitchen, restrooms, tables, chairs, projector, and seating for 120 for dining. There are picnic area throughout the park as well. The areas have tables, BBQs, and some have electrical hookups. These can be reserved via the parks and recreation website. There is a creek that runs through the park that's makes a beautiful trickling sound when the water flow is high. Peaceful vibes. But as in all public spaces, please be cautious and aware of your surroundings.

Save your time & money instead of wasting it attending the water aerobics class. There's nothing…read moreaerobic about standing around in the pool waving your arms around like it's ballet class. Each year the quality of the class gets worse. I'm out for 2025's morning class until they get a real instructor. It's too bad since the pool is lovely. The evening class might be the saving grace by virtue of the young lifeguards who teach at 6pm.

The water is so clear. Beautiful. Gorgeous blue water…read more. Truly amazing place A definitely must visit..

Every summer we look forward to coming here! We've been coming here for over twenty years now and…read moreit's been getting more and more populated. It used to be more secluded but it's nice to see to that more people are finding this spot as it is a,"Gem!" There are so many places here to hike and swim along the Yuba and you kind of work your way and find what works best with what you want out of it. The water is pristine...better than any swimming pool or ocean, IMO. You can open your eyes under water and it's never irritated. We usually bring our goggles but it's not necessary. There's endless places to sunbathe, without feeling invaded. Dogs are allowed on leashes but on this visit we did experience a dog taking a poo in the water, which kind of turned us off. Luckily, the owner noticed and he was able to take care of it, minutes later. The Yuba River is beautiful, you can't ask for better swimming conditions, there are a number of spots available if you travel up or down stream. The water is always emerald green and so clear when you dive under. If you're adventurous, there are some great spots to sunbathe nude... if you desire!

Another nice, easy hike to add to our list around the Roseville area! Biggest tip is to be sure and…read morego online to reserve ahead of time and pay a small fee, if necessary. Reservations are required on weekends, some Fridays, and selected dates. Otherwise, Mon thru Thu are free with no reservations required. Parking available inside is limited so come early to avoid the hassle. I believe they open at 6:30 AM and closing is dependent on sundown. We hiked with our 2 little girls and dogs. Even with the little ones, we were able to make it to the Canyon View Overlook and back. In case your dog needs a bathroom break, bag it up and I recall there was at least one trash can along the path towards the Overlooks. Help keep this hiking gem clean! Scenery was gorgeous, hike was pretty easy without difficulty, and be sure to visit both Overlooks for some beautiful sights. We took the North Legacy Way, in case you're curious. Great for hiking enthusiasts, families, quality time with nature, and perfect for those that want to avoid lots of foot traffic!

Paid for the ticket reservation online. $8 for all day parking pass. They have $4 options but those…read moreare for early morning or later in the afternoon. I much prefer a reservation system like this because it saves on the stress and time of fighting for parking and an overcrowded park. People who rated this low are just mad because they didn't do research or come prepared. Theres plenty of trail options here but we did the main hidden falls loop trail that was on AllTrails. (Poppy Trail, N Legacy Way, then Hidden Falls Access Trail, total loop about 3.2 miles) It was a beautiful hike with tons of mushrooms everywhere right now, and hidden falls is flowing! Theres two observation decks. I kind of don't like how the deck at hidden falls is right above the falls so it blocks the falls, you have to look down over the rail/ledge, so there's no way you can get a good photo with the falls behind you

The hike was actually a really good workout. A lot of hills, creeks, and different plant life. I…read morethought it was a good challenge but not impossible. At the same time I'm not a big hiker. We did come across a friendly group of 70 yo ladies that had completed the trail a few times and gave a lot of information.

It was a great hike, sadly it was raining but we still got to mile 3 before heading back. On the…read morehike I lost my great grandmothers bracelet that I haven't taken off in years. If anyone hiking this trail is willing, I would deeply appreciate if you would look for it and return it to me. I could meet you anywhere within an hour of Sacramento to retrieve it from you. I'll attach a picture of it along with a picture of me on the hike and my email. To the person who finds it, I'll give you a $20 reward, cash (or if you are willing to mail it, that would be even better) My email is duncansophia@icloud.com

I haven't done this hike in over 15 years! Wow. They put a fence up around the top of falls now for…read moresafety. That was smart. Driving there, once u turned onto gravel road for 6 miles, it got pretty bumpy. There were lots of potholes on the road. But once you got to the split off before the wooden bridge u drive across. Make a right and follow it all the way down to parking area. Then go through the metal fence crossing a small creek. Turn right to stay on the trail. Follow it to down to where the split off is of which route to take to falls. Boom! You'll be there before you know it. Upper is only a mile up. But it'll vary with which route to take. It's beautiful with meadows and woody trees. Lots of sun. Bring sunscreen!! A lot of places to swim in if you want too. Overall a great hike.

Came out here to hike Beale Falls. There's a decent parking with lot approximately 60? Parking…read morespots. See my picture on where NOT to start. Like many others say, it's a gravel road for like last 5 miles or so. If you are driving a 2 wheel drive, you'll be fine but MOVE OVER for vehicles that want to pass. People think since they are doing 10 MPH that everyone else has to as well. Just move. Hike is pretty. There are multiple routes to get to the falls. My suggestion is when in doubt STAY RIGHT. Falls were cool espeically after rain. Got there around 11 on a Saturday. Probably about 30 to 40 people out there. Everyone likes to flock to the top of the waterfall which is cool but the best pics you'll be able to take are at the base. Unfortunately, you'll have people in your pic sitting or standing at the top which is annoying but my suggestion is the earlier you go the better. Crowd IQ exponentially gets WORSE as the day gets later. Cows all over the place. Not really muddy at all we went day after light rain.

Fantastic new playground structure for the kids with shade and lots of benches and picnic tables…read morenearby. Plenty of parking. Tennis courts and pickle ball courts here are great with new restrooms. The pool is well maintained and there are working showers in the pool area. Softball / baseball fields are well maintained too. Great community park!

Visited with family who actually Mine. Really interesting,…read moregreat place to Walk about. Lots of history and things to see. Something for everyone. Neat gift shop With reasonable Prices. Clean restrooms and grounds. This is a must.

If you haven't visited Empire Mine State Historic Park, it's truly a wonderful…read moreexperience--educational, historical, beautiful, and peaceful all at once. There is a $5 entry fee, but parking is free. The free mine and garden tours offer a fascinating glimpse back into the Gold Rush era of the 1850s. Whether you enjoy exploring the mining equipment, watching blacksmith demonstrations, touring the living and office quarters, browsing the gift shop, or simply taking in the breathtaking gardens, there's truly something for everyone.