Grouse Ridge Mountain Bike Trail Map

Guide to the best mountain bike trails in the Grouse Ridge Area near Emigrant Gap

Area Summary

Location: Off I-80 near Emigrant Gap
Best For: Advanced riders
Suitable For: Strong intermediates and better
Ground Cover: Evergreen forests, alpine meadows, lakes and rock fields
Seasons: Summer through fall. Some trails maintain snowpack into July.

Description:
The Grouse Ridge Area is a stunning basin chock full of scenic alpine lakes not far from Nevada City. Besides lakes, Grouse Ridge also has rocks...lottsa of them. The rides in this area are largely for advanced riders who are happy frequently dismounting to get through the boulder fields.

The scenery and its proximity to population centers means that the Grouse Ridge area can be pretty busy on summer weekends. However the area is huge and there's dispersed camp which spreads the crowds out and gives intrepid riders the opportunity to make Grouse Ridge a great weekend trip.

The trail map below is a jpeg of the actual maps from our books and map-sets.

The Grouse Ridge area is just one of the huge variety of mountain biking spots that the Northern Sierra has to offer. Discover more great rides.

Grouse Ridge Trails

Round Lake Trail - Single-track, easy between Carr and Island Lakes. Very rocky and technical beyond Island Lake.

Lindsey Lakes Trail - Intermediate fire road gives way to technical single-track.

Crooked Lakes Trail - Very rocky and technical single-track through beautiful lake basin. Long hike-a-bike sections.

Grouse Ridge Trail - Often steep, rocky and technical single-track.

Glacier Lake Trail - Rocky, technical single-track to scenic alpine lake.

Spaulding Lake Trail - Very rocky and technical single-track.

Directions to trailhead(s):

From I-80, 75 miles northeast of Sacramento, take exit 161 onto Hwy. 20 heading towards Nevada City. Turn right in 4 miles onto paved Bowman Lakes Road. Trailhead for Ride 1 is on right just past the end of the pavement at mile 11.