THREE KNOBS SKI TRAIL
near Yuba Pass

This ski trail was marked in September 1997 by the Nordic Voice and the
Skiers and Hikers for Outdoor Enjoyment (SHOE). This website guide is
by Marcus Libkind.

Click here for map

Difficulty:
Intermediate

Length:
6 miles (10 km) round trip

Starting Elevation:
6400 feet

Cumulative Elevation Change:
+1000 feet, -1000 feet round trip

Navigation:
Road, marked trail and map

Time:
Half day

Season:
Late December through early April

USGS Topo:
7.5' series, Haypress Valley, Clio, Calpine, Sattley (optional)

Start and End:
On Highway 49, 1.1 miles west of Yuba Pass.

This wonderful tour in the Yuba Pass area is shorter than it's cousin the Lunch Creek Ski Trail, but is definitely a notch more difficult. The terrain is steep at times on one of the roads. In a few places the roads are very difficult to discern and it is necessary to carefully follow the markers. The 0.7 mile of the route which does not follow a road, but is marked, cuts through meadows as well as through sparse and dense wooded areas.

In return for the extra effort it takes to follow this route you are rewarded with a tour full of varied terrain where snowmobiles are prohibited.

This loop tour is described in a counterclockwise direction and in this direction the steepest sections are all uphill. In the first half-mile you climb 400 feet and in the next half-mile you climb 250 feet.

As described in the mileage log, it is possible to connect the Three Knobs Ski Trail with the Lunch Creek Ski Trail to create an assortment of interesting tours. Do this to give yourself a sense of newness when you return to this area.

Lodging is available in Downieville with its historic main street and in Sierra City which is nearer to Yuba Pass. But if you are staying in the Lake Tahoe area you should not rule out the Three Knobs Ski Trail. It is well worth the 40-mile drive which passes through the little town of Sierraville and not much else as it winds through the undeveloped mountains north of Tahoe.

Miles 0.0 - 0.05
Elevation change nil

From the trailhead (9) ski north on the snow-covered road for 0.05 mile until you reach a fork in the road (10). Here the larger road makes a sharp turn to the west (left) while the tour continues north (right).

Miles 0.05 - 0.5
Elevation change +400 feet

Continue north (right) for 0.5 mile until you reach the second sharp left turn where the narrow road starts to climb at a very steep angle (11). In this section you will zig right, then left and then right again before reaching the left turn and the steep road.

Miles 0.5 - 1.1
Elevation change +250 feet

Continue north on the road for 0.6 mile until you reach a road junction to the east of a small knob (12).

Miles 1.1 - 1.2
Elevation change -50 feet

Turn north (left) and ski on the snow-covered road for 0.1 mile until you reach the open area where Lunch Creek is located (13). The road continues straight ahead and the meadow through which the creek flows cuts across the road.

Miles 1.2 - 1.4
Elevation change +100 feet

Turn northeast (right), leave the road and ski uphill through the meadow for 0.2 mile until the meadow widens and the marked trail enters the woods (14). Look for a large snag in the meadow where it widens and the arrow pointing to where the trail enters the woods.

Miles 1.4 - 1.5
Elevation change +50 feet

Follow the marked trail north through the woods for 0.1 until you reach a snow-covered road (15).

Miles 1.5 - 1.7
Elevation change +50 feet

Ski northeast (right) on the snow-covered road for 0.2 mile until you reach a trail marker indicating that you leave the road to the north (left) (16). You have gone about 0.1 mile past the turn if you encounter a junction with another road which is a snowmobile trail.

Miles 1.7 - 2.0
Elevation change +100 feet

Turn north (left) off the road and follow the marked trail north for 0.3 mile until you reach an east-west road (17). This section parallels the road and snowmobile trail located to the east.

To connect with the Lunch Creek Ski Trail, ski east (right) on the snow-covered road for 50 yards to a road junction and snowmobile trail (21), and then ski north (left) on the snowmobile trail for 0.3 mile you will intersect the Lunch Creek Ski Trail (5).

Using this short connector route you can create an assortment of tours combining portions of the Lunch Creek and Three Knobs ski trails.

Miles 2.0 - 2.3
Elevation change nil

Ski west (left) onto the snow-covered road for 0.3 mile until you reach a trail marker indicating that you leave the road to the north (right) (18). If the road begins to curve to the north you have gone too far.

Miles 2.3 - 2.6
Elevation change +50 feet

Turn north (right) off the road and follow the marked trail around the north side of a knob until you reach the knob's west side where the marked trail leaves the woods and enters an open area (19).

Miles 2.6 - 3.3
Elevation change -200 feet

Ski west down the clearing, following the markers, for 0.1 mile and then along a snow-covered road for 0.6 mile until you reach a road junction (20). There is a sharp turn in the road 0.1 mile before reaching the road junction and in the 0.1 mile before reaching the turn the road is very difficult to discern. Look for the markers.

Miles 3.3 - 3.8
Elevation change -150 feet

Turn south (left) and follow the snow-covered road for 0.5 mile until you reach a very large snow-covered road (8). There is a Y in the road located 0.1 mile before reaching the large road. If you recognize it make sure you follow the west (right) fork. The large road is part of the Lunch Creek Ski Trail.

Miles 3.8 - 5.5
Elevation change -600 feet

Turn south onto the large road and follow it south for 1.7 miles until you reach the end of the tour at Highway 49 (9).