Yuba Pass / Lunch Creek
Based near the top of Yuba Pass, the Lunch Creek area has been set aside for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. It lies within the North Yuba OSV Restriction Area.
...meadows and other openings offer views of Sierra Buttes to the west and Sierra Valley to the east.
The southerly flank of Haskell Peak area is an excellent winter playground
DESCRIPTION:
Except for the Haskell Peak Trail which is the boundary of the restricted area, snowmobiles are prohibited from using the same roads/trails that form the marked ski trails.
The area is generally heavily forested but meadows and other openings offer views of Sierra Buttes to the west and Sierra Valley to the east. For the most part, the snow covered-logging roads and Bear Trap Meadows offer the best skiing.
Yuba Pass is a Sno-Park and permits are required to park there. Depending on snow and plowing conditions, Lunch Creek Trailhead parking is usually suitable for only a couple of vehicles; permits are not required.
| Parking Elevation: | 6620 feet | Base Elevation: | 6620 feet | Summit Elevation: | 7480 feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall | 0 inches | Season | December through April | ||
| Parking: | Skiable Area | 200 acres | Groomed | Yes | Terain Park | No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowmaking | |||||||
| Runs | Beginner | 0% | Intermediate | 0% | Expert | 0% | |
| Lifts | 0 | Types | |||||
| Contact(s) | Tahoe National Forest: 530-265-4531 |
|---|---|
| Website(s) |
DIRECTIONS:
To Yuba Pass / Lunch Creek
Yuba Pass sits about 7 miles east of Bassetts, 12 miles east of Sierra City, and 25 miles east of Downieville. From Sierraville follow Highway 49 west to the pass.
See the North Yuba-Sierra City Map or the topographic maps.
Topographic maps: East Slope -Winter Recreation or U.S.G.S. Haypress Valley, Clio, Calpine, and Satley.
ACTIVITIES:
Skiing - Cross-country (Rating: Best)
There are several options. All are marked. See Map. The circuit following the #09 Road, the #09-15 Road along with the ski trail further to the east, and returning via the #09-22 Road are considered the Lunch Creek loop. Total distance is about 9 miles.
The #09-17 Road is the designated 3 Knobs Ski Trail. By using it instead of the #09-22 Road you add 2 miles or a total loop of 11 miles.
You can also return down the Haskell Peak Snowmobile Trail to the Yuba Gap Sno-Park parking area. But this is not a loop. If you follow this route it is best to leave vehicles at both Yuba Gap and the Lunch Creek parking areas as you would have to follow Highway 49 west for a mile to return to Lunch Creek. This is not advised due to automobile traffic.
Difficulty levels: The #09, #09-15, and #09-17 Roads/trails are considered More Difficult. The #09-22 Road is rated Most Difficult.
Mileage: 9-11 miles
Snowmobiling (Rating: Best)
Although snowmobiling is prohibited in the Lunch Creek cross-country ski area, the Yuba Pass Sno-Park serves as the central access to numerous groomed snowmobile trails.
The southerly flank of Haskell Peak area is an excellent winter playground The Haskell Peak Trail skirts around the west and north sides of the closed area in Lunch Creek and then continues west for 14 miles to the Gold Lakes Road and groomed trail. Cross-country skiers will use the groomed trail also; so be alert. After the trail goes by Haskell Peak it intersects with the groomed Howard Meadow Trail. After heading north and west for 6 miles that trail intersects with the groomed Gold Lake Road. From Howard Meadow Trail snowmobilers can also connect to the groomed Mills Peak Trail. The lookout offers fabulous views of the Mohawk and Sierra Valleys. All of the trails access several logging roads which lead to timber harvest areas that offer acres of playground.
Lying to the south of Yuba Pass is a series of groomed trails that connect to the Little Truckee Summit snowmobile parking area. Trails also connect to Bassetts to the west, Jackson Meadow Reservoir and Meadow Lake to the southwest or continuing connections reach as far south as the Prosser Hill OHV parking area just above Truckee. In short, the list of choices is long. The Webber - Yuba Rim Trail departs directly south from Yuba Pass. Connecting trails are: the Rim Loop, Fifty Four Road Trail, Ridge Loop, Treasure Mountain, Jackson Meadows Road Trail, Pass Creek Loop, Meadow Lake Loop, the Prosser Creek Connection, and the Independence Loop. In all, you are connected to over 110 miles of groomed trails.
A map is essential. The East Slope - Winter Recreation map shows all trails. The “Tahoe National Forest and Lakes Basin Winter Recreation Guide” is excellent and is available at all Tahoe National Forest offices as well as the Beckwourth Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest.
Snowshoeing (Rating: Good)
This is a great snowshoeing area, especially if you follow the marked trails (roads) and play in the meadows.
There are several options. All are marked. See Map. The circuit following the #09 Road, the #09-15 Road along with the ski trail further to the east, and returning via the #09-22 Road are considered the Lunch Creek loop. Total distance is about 9 miles.
The #09-17 Road is the designated 3 Knobs Ski Trail. By using it instead of the #09-22 Road you add 2 miles or a total loop of 11 miles.
You can also return down the Haskell Peak Snowmobile Trail to the Yuba Gap Sno-Park parking area. But this is not a loop. If you follow this route it is best to leave vehicles at both Yuba Gap and the Lunch Creek parking areas as you would have to follow Highway 49 west for a mile to return to Lunch Creek. This is not advised due to automobile traffic.
Difficulty levels: The #09, #09-15, and #09-17 Roads/trails are considered More Difficult. The #09-22 Road is rated Most Difficult.
Mileage: 9-11 miles
