LUNCH CREEK SKI TRAIL
at Yuba Pass

The initial marking of this trail was done by the Skiers and Hikers for Outdoor Enjoyment (SHOE) and was subsequently remarked by the Nordic Voice. This website guide is by Marcus Libkind.

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Difficulty:
Easy intermediate

Length:
8 miles (14 km) one-way

Starting Elevation:
6700 feet

Cumulative Elevation Change:
+1000 feet, -1300 feet one-way

Navigation:
Road and marked trail

Time:
Most of a day

Season:
Late December through early April

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

Start:
Yuba Pass Sno-Park on Highway 49, 11 miles east of Sierra City.

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

This ski trail follows roads its entire length as it makes a giant loop in the Yuba Pass area to the north of Highway 49. It passes predominantly through timber with good views where the roads cut across hillsides. The roads are easy to follow except for two very flat sections; one at the start and the other along Beartrap Meadow. But all the roads have been well marked by volunteers with blue diamonds and arrows.

Although this tour is rated easy intermediate due to its length, advanced beginners will find it a good opportunity to cover more miles than they might usually do without having to deal with difficult navigation. As for the one steep section, if the tour is skied starting at Yuba Pass as described, the short steep section, which is on a narrow road, will be uphill which is the preferential direction for many skiers.

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

The Yuba Pass area is a very popular snowmobile area, but the Lunch Creek Ski Trail is an ideal way to minimize confronting them. Of the 7.5 miles of trail, only 2.3 coincide with snowmobile trails while 5.2 miles are designated ski only.

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 Lunch Creek 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 - 0.9
Elevation change +50/-100 feet

From the trailhead (1) ski north on the snow-covered road for 0.9 mile until you reach a fork in the road (2). Flat terrain makes it difficult to discern the road for the first 0.4 mile, but the road becomes obvious where it starts to traverse a hillside. Beyond the fork the snowmobile route goes left and the ski route goes right.

Miles 0.9 - 1.9
Elevation change +100/-150 feet

Continue east and then north on the east (right) fork for 1.0 mile until you reach the location where the road no longer traverses a hillside, the terrain is more open, and just ahead the road starts to climb gradually into the trees (3). This location is well marked with arrows indicating a left turn.

Miles 1.9 - 2.7
Elevation change +400 feet

Turn northwest (left) and ski on a snow-covered road for 0.8 mile until you reach a fork in the road (4). For the first 0.5 mile the road climbs very gradually and the markers will help you follow it. The final 0.3 mile is the steepest section of the entire tour.

Miles 2.7 - 3.2
Elevation change +250 feet

Continue on the west (left) fork for 0.5 mile until you reach a road junction and the snowmobile route (5). The start of this section of road is very obvious because the road makes a sharp left turn and then a sharp right turn before leveling out.

To connect with the Three Knobs Ski Trail, turn south (left) and follow the road and snowmobile trail for 0.3 mile until you reach a road junction (21). The road junction will not be obvious; look for signs indicating that the Three Knobs Trail is to the west (right). Turn west (right) and follow the snow-covered road for 50 yards until you reach more signs and the Three Knobs Ski Trail (17). At this point the Three Knobs Ski Trail continues in two directions: west (straight) on the road and south (left) on a marked section of trail.

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

Continuing on the Lunch Creek Ski Trail

Ski west (straight) on the road and the combined ski and snowmobile trail for 1.4 miles until you reach a major road junction (6). During most of this distance you will be paralleling Beartrap Meadow and at times it may be difficult to discern the road; look for the blue diamond markers if in doubt.

Miles 4.6 - 5.3
Elevation change +100/-100 feet

Make a 180 degree turn to the southeast (left) and ski on a wide road in a generally southerly direction for 0.7 mile until you reach a high point (7). In this section you will first descend to a low point where you cross the Beartrap Meadow outflow. This section marks the beginning of 2.9 miles of road closed to snowmobiles.

Miles 5.3 - 5.8
Elevation change +100/-100 feet

Continue south on the road, at first descending and then climbing, for 0.5 mile until you reach a high point (8). At the high point, the Three Knobs Ski Trail intersects the major road on which you have been skiing on its east (left) side.

Miles 5.8 - 7.5
Elevation change -600 feet

Continue south on the major road for 1.7 miles until you reach the end of the tour at Highway 49 (9).