The Downieville Downhill

Information about the Downieville Downhill

What is the Downieville Downhill?

The Downieville Downhill is a 15-mile, mostly downhill, epic mountain bike ride from the top of the Sierra Crest down 5000 vertical feet to the town of Downieville. It's fast, flowy, rocky, technical and beautiful. Everything you could want from an alpine mountain bike ride and then some. Mountain bikers come from all over the world to experience the Downieville trails!

The Downieville Downhill is made up of multiple trails ranging from the alpine single track of the Sunrise Trail, to the bony rock puzzles of the Butcher Ranch Trail to the Star Wars speeding through the forest (of Endor) on the favorite Third Divide Trail, and finally to the river cliffs entertainment of the First Divide Trail.

Big Boulder Downieville shuttle will take great care to get you and your mountain bike to the top of the Downieville Downhill so you are fresh and ready for a fun ride.

Downieville Downhill Shuttle

Big Boulder Downieville shuttle transports mountain bikers and their mountain bikes from the town of Downieville at 2900 feet of elevation up to Packer Saddle at the Sierra Crest at 7,100 feet of elevation where the Downieville Downhill trails start. This is also the main starting point for many of the other epic Downieville mountain bike ride, but the Downieville Downhill is the classic.

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Riding the Downieville Downhill

Riding the Downieville Downhill will be fun, challenging, tiring and is sure to put a smile on your face. You'll become familiar with challenging places like "The Gorge", "The Waterfall" and "The Wall". All challenges for the best of mountain bikers, and all short hike-a-bikes if you are not up for it. And while the name is the Downieville Downhill, you will climb 800 vertical feet, 500 of that on one hill.

Finishing in Downieville

The Downieville Downhill trail ends at the edge of the town of Downieville where you can roll in tired, dirty, and smiling ready for a cool dip in the Yuba River swimming hole right next to our shuttle pick-up point. Or get on the strong rider plan and hop on another shuttle for a second lift to the top, and hours of more good times on the ride back to town.

How Long Will the Downieville Downhill Ride Be?

Downieville Classic racers can finish the Downieville Downhill in about an hour. Mortals can expect a two-hour ride depending on stops. Easy-going riders can take four hours. Sometimes mechanicals, like flats (five flat days have happened), can change your expected descending duration. Larger groups take longer to ride down. Plan accordingly.

Riding lower Butcher Ranch Trail on the Downieville Downhill.

How Good of a Mountain Biker do I need to be for the Downieville Downhill?

The Downieville Downhill trails are made up of a mix of intermediate to advanced level trails. Intermediate and higher-level mountain bikers all have a great time on the trail. It is not a great trail for beginners or riders who are not yet confident riders. And as always, trails mellow out the slower you go, so if you feel overwhelmed, slow down and get back to enjoying riding. Ride smart.

We also have Downieville-worthy mountain bike rentals that will boost your confidence on the trails, if you need a bike or need a more capable bike.

What to Bring

Helmet
Plenty of water and nutrition
Extra tubes! (plural!)
Hand pump
Pads are recommended

When on the Downieville Shuttle, feel free to ask our driver any questions and they will be happy to help you out.

If you would like a professionally guided Downieville ride reach out to Norcal Flow Expeditions.