Looking for a fun family friendly water activity?  While the rest of the county is down at the South Yuba River try taking a trip out to Lower Scotts Flat Lake.  The smaller (and slightly cooler) lake is just downstream from Scotts Flat Lake.  Take Highway 20 up to the Five Mile House and turn right on Scotts Flat Dam Rd, before you get to Scotts Flat Lake.  (Click here for last year’s blog post with a photo of the street sign).  The dirt road is a bit bumpy towards the bottom, but the quiet and peaceful lake is a nice spot to enjoy some wildlife, take a paddle or do some fishing.  If you don’t own a kayak or stand up paddle board, consider renting one from either Mountain Recreation or a Hobie kayak from Hills … Read More »

This is the time of year you see those plastic boats tied to the top of trucks driving up and down Hwy 49.  The runoff is happening and the rivers are running.   We are surounded by white water living here in Nevada City. Here is what we landlubbers are missing on the South Fork of the Yuba and the North Fork of the American Rivers.

© 2012 InnSide Nevada City, © Photos by Dieter King

Happy New Year’s Eve from all of us at the Outside Inn.  The Innside Nevada City blog has grown and evolved over the last 12 months and I’m excited to continue to share our love for the community in the year to come.  I’ve done a recap on the best hiking, best restaurants, best coffee and best wineries, but today’s list is on the best of Nevada City.

South Yuba River
Outside Inn Veggie Cart
Wild and Scenic Film Festival
Nevada City Farmers Market
Nevada City Summer Nights and Victorian Christmas
Celebration of Life Triathlon
Community Supported Agriculture
Halloween
Fall color
Outdoor Activities (mountain biking, road riding, hiking, fishing, swimming, kayaking

If you’re looking for a secluded, scenic adventure check out Lower Scotts Flat lake.  We went on an amazing lake adventure only ten minutes from the Outside Inn that is totally secret and beautiful with plenty of wildlife. Lower Scotts Flat Lake is formed by the outlet from the dam of Scotts Flat Lake and is acceccisble by a 1 1/2 mile road off of Scotts Flat Road (turn at the Five Mile House on Highway 20).  At the end of a winding dirt road, with signs warning of its danger (all of which are put there by resisdents, not wanting the public to discover what lies below) is a beautiful long lake with a creek at one end and a small dam at the other.  No motor boats are allowed, so we were alone with the herons, geese, ducks, and jumping fish.  We … Read More »

This is the time of year we begin to see brightly colored boats on top of trucks and vans driving in and out of our river canyons. These intrepid kayakers come from all over the western United States to challenge themselves on our world class whiewater rivers. Within an hour’s drive of Nevada City we have six major river canyons, the three forks of the Yuba and the three forks of the American Rivers, that have 40 or more miles each of class 4/5 whitewater rapids and some of the best scenery and wilderness experiences left in America. While the rivers are raging and too dangerous of us who enjoy the Yuba River during the summer months, watch for this hardy group that know how to make the best of our classic river canyons and warm … Read More »