Butcher Ranch Trail
DESCRIPTION:
July wildflowers are tops on this exhilarating trip -- hike or bike -- with Pauley Creek’s famed cool pools ready to reward you when you’ve worked up a sweat (a certainty). This trail is a segment of the classic Downieville downhill mountain bike race. Shuttles buses take bikers to Packer Saddle all summer, so watch out for heavy bike traffic.
| Miles | Elevation Range | Options |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6160’-4520’ | Mountain Biking Options: Packer Saddle/#93 Road/Gold Valley OHV road/Pauley Creek/Second Divide/First Divide/Downieville: 20 miles, 11 miles double with 9 miles single track. Most difficult. This is the downhill part of the Downieville Classic. The shuttle bus to Packer Saddle eliminates the uphill. Packer Saddle/Deer Lake OHV Road to Summit Lake/Gold Valley OHV road to Smith Lake & Big Boulder Mine/Big Boulder Trail/Third Divide Trail/Lavezzola Road/First Divide Trail/Downieville: 22 miles, 7 double/ with 5 miles single track. Most difficult. This is the toughest and popular downhill to Downieville. Even most of the double track is rough 4WD road. The single track is very technical with lots of rock until you reach the Third Divide segment. Okay, here’s an even more challenging run for the truly fanatical: turn up Gold Valley instead of heading back via the Big Boulder segment. Head past Hawley then Spencer Lakes until you get to Lavezzola Creek Trail. Arrange a shuttle at the A-Tree (which makes the ride 16 miles from Packer Saddle) or return downhill via the Lavezzola Creek Trail to reach Empire Ranch and Lavezzola Road. Instead of following the road use the First Divide Trail to drop into the back door of Downieville. Whew, epic-sized 35 miles. Carry a flashlight.
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DIRECTIONS:
To Butcher Ranch Trail
Topographic Map: Sierra City. Drive or Shuttle Bus to Packer Saddle (see Lakes Basin). Follow road to left signed "Sierra Buttes Lookout 3 and Pauley Creek 5" for 1 mile to sign "Butcher Ranch 1, Pauley Creek 4." Take right fork for 0.7 mile to sign directing toward trailhead -- last section recommended for 4WD only. Another road option 0.3 miles further is not as steep, but still not recommended for sedans or light trucks. Unless you have a 4WD, park and walk last mile to trailhead. Hikers more frequently access this trail from the bottom via Second and Third Divide Trails. Bikers favor a one-way free-fall from the Ranch down to Lavezzola Creek Road.
ACTIVITIES:
Hiking: Dayhikes (Rating: Best)
Mountain Biking (Rating: Exceptional)
Packer Saddle/Butcher Ranch/Second or Third Divide/First Divide Trails/Downieville: This grand tour is 14 miles, mostly single track.
Many riders like to shuttle bus to Packer Saddle then follow roads down to Butcher Ranch trailhead. Essentially, all fas-s-st downhill. Single track is very technical, steep side-slopes, rocky, narrow, with short segment of busy Lavezzola Road from Third or Second to First Divide.
Uphill biking options if you don’t want to shuttle: Sierra Buttes 4WD road north (grueling) out of Sierra City to Packer Saddle. Or Highway 49 to Bassetts, Gold Lakes Road to Packer Lake Road, and the latter to the top of Packer Saddle. This choice is all paved, not overly steep but very long uphill with moderate vehicle traffic.
See Options above for mountain bike alternatives
