Looking for a New Adventure?
Downieville Has It All
Downieville is a mountain biking boomtown located along Highway 49 in the Lost Sierra region of the Tahoe National Forest. It was founded in 1849, during the historic gold rush. The village built along the banks of two (the North Yuba and the Downie) pristine spring and
snowmelt-fed rivers is a year-round destination. Visitors will find a quaint downtown surrounded by the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. Downtown Downieville features hotels, inns, and cottages for accommodations, restaurants, shops, bars, a day spa, and a gallery to explore.
The Sierra town is host to the legendary Downieville Classic Cross Country Race and Festival. Each year, the town sees its population swell as thousands of athletes and spectators come from all over the United States, Canada, and even Europe to attend one of the top 10 bicycle festivals, according to Outside Magazine. The festival includes two of the toughest mountain bike races, food, live music, and the always-popular Ron’s House of Big Air bike jump.
Downieville is also well known for being one of the best locations for other outdoor activities, including white water rafting, kayaking, camping, hiking, fly fishing, and off-roading during the summer, and snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing during the winter.
Lodging in Downieville is an escape to a historic gold rush town where the rustic feel of the late 1800s remains with modern amenities for convenience.
Take a look at the beautiful scenery of Downieville, CA, the shops in town, the delicious food, and the atmosphere that makes this destination so unique for tourists.
Historic Downieville, CA in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
In 1848, gold nuggets found in the American River near what is now known as Placerville, CA sparked the California Gold Rush of the late 1840s and early 1850s. As an influx of people traveled to the western portion of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in hopes of striking it rich, the town of Downieville was founded on Highway 49 just north of the original gold discovery.
The area, originally known as The Forks because of its location at the fork of the Downie and Yuba Rivers, was soon dubbed Downieville after the town’s founder William Downie. Downie himself was a 49er who successfully led an expedition and made a fortune discovering gold on the site of the town.
At the height of the gold rush, Downieville’s population skyrocketed to over 5,000, with an active downtown area with 15 hotels, four bakeries, and a variety of butcher shops and saloons.
As Times Change, Much of Downieville Remains the Same
Since those days of the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s, things have changed in Downieville. The population has settled to about 200 year-round residents, and modern amenities and conveniences have replaced the old technology the town was initially built upon.
What hasn’t changed is the historic western attraction and appeal for which the area is known. If you’ve ever been interested in experiencing authentic western, small-town enchantment, Downieville, CA is about as original as you can get.
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