Downieville Outfitters Verified

Cancellations within 2 weeks of your reservation date will be subject to a $5 fee per shuttle spot.

Shop Hours 8:30AM - 5PM
Shuttle Times: 10AM, 2 PM, 5PM

Yes! We also provide a shuttle to the top of various Downieville trails for an additional cost.   All shuttle have a 6 person minimum.

Shuttle to DOWNIEVILLE DOWNHILL - $20 per rider

Shuttle to CHIMNEY ROCK - $25 per rider

Shuttle to MT. ELWELL - $45 per rider

1) Downieville Downhill Ride - Technical XC / DH
Your journey on the Downieville Downhill Ride lets pick between a few loop options. The trail begins with a 1.3 mile single track trail and leads to the Sunrise Trail and then continues on as the Butcher extension trail for another 2 miles. You'll then link up to Bucher Ranch Creek, a 150 year old trail with the most technical spots on the downhill. At the bottom you’ll cross Pauley Creek and ascend about a half mile till you reach a smooth fast single track on the 3rd Divide. You'll end your journey on the upper and lower 1st Divide, which bring you back to town. The ride is for intermediate to technical riders depending on how hard you ride. You can make it easier or harder depending on your level of comfort. The trail begins at el. 7100' and ends at el. 2800' over the course of 15 miles, so it is considered a pedalers downhill.

There are three loops at the top of the Downhill for Cross-Country riders: Pauley Creek, Big Boulder, or Lavazzola Creek. The 2nd Divide Trail is the Cross-Country ride as an alternative to the Downhillers 3rd Divide. Many riders link up a loop at the top with the 2nd Divide trail for a 3-5 hour ride.

Loop / options within the Downieville Downhill: 

Butcher Ranch Creek
*This is the trail that first made Downieville famous. Taken from Packers Saddle it starts in a meadow high in the Sierras east of town. It drops like a stone through creeks and canyons over brutally demanding terrain. The first mile and a half descends about 1200 feet. In all, the trail dives an astounding 4500 feet in 14+ miles with all the drop offs, rock gardens, and fast forest tracks to gladden the heart of any technical mountain biker. If you’re in it for the thrills, you came to the right place!”
Pauley Creek
*Pauley Creek Trail is the second greatest downhill ride in the Downieville collection. It shares all the technical joys of Butcher and Big Boulder trails but in an even more beautiful setting. It's more visual than other area trails because it starts in open country. Traveling to this trail allows you to get a larger picture of this part of the Sierras from ridge tops to meadows. Another advantage of using this trail is that it is more private. You’ll see fewer riders on this run. Do you like the idea of momentum roller-coaster riding on fern covered mountainsides? Does the thought of steep, rocky, stair-step descents teetering above icy mountain creeks mean anything to you? If so, you’ll find all that and more on Pauley Creek.

2) Big Boulder Creek
* The International Mountain Bike Association rates Boulder Creek as an “Epic” American trail. There’s not a great deal you can add to that. If dropping a stomach churning 1700 feet in 2+ miles on a narrow, rocky trail seems like a good way to relax on your next vacation then yes, you really should consider this ride! Most of the Big Boulder Creek Trail consists of rocky, unstable soil conditions. Much of it is extremely narrow, strewn with gnarly tree roots, off camber, and on a steep mountainside. Could it get much better than that? Long climbs, beautiful vistas, and screaming downhill action make this a ride to remember.

3) Chimney Rock / Empire Creek - Technical XC/DH Single Track
The 1996 Bike Magazine rated this Empire Creek as the "best downhill in California!" with a 6400' to 6800' elevation. Looking for another downhill in Downieville? Well, here it is and this is a technical one to test your skills! Our shuttle takes you up Saddleback Road (8 mi.) up a steep road to Poker Flat and to the base of Bunker Hill where we drop you off. From the trail head it has a 1 mile moderate climb to reach Chimney Rock, a huge volcanic rock 12 feet in diameter at the base, rising up for 25 feet. At this point you are on a vista with 360-degree views where the trail continues eastward, descending under a lightly forested canopy then starts to climb around Needle Point and Rattlesnake Peak until it reaches the end of Empire Creek Canyon where you descend to Downieville.

4) Mt. Elwell to Graeagle - Technical XC / DH 
The Mt. Elwell Trail is one of Downieville’s best-kept secrets. It’s a cross-country tour with a variety of elements. It is part sight-seeing trip, part mountain climb, and part downhill thrill ride.   In twenty three miles it traverses meadows, ridges, and climbs over 2000 feet. It summits Mt. Elwell, one of the tallest peaks in Sierra County. The 360-degree view from the peak is a breathtaking one. Occasionally from this spot you can see Mt. Lassen, which is over 100 miles distant. Finally, you descend 3300 feet over eight miles of an assortment of single track conditions from buttery smooth to bone-crunching moon rock.  It’s a demanding ride that will leave you even more amazed at the variety and challenge of the Downieville area trails.

5) Halls Ranch - Technical XC Single Track
Halls Ranch is an epic ride one way with an elevation of 2600' to 4400' just 5 miles west on Hwy 49 to Indian Rock Picnic Area (across from Ramshorn campground). The trail begins just off the access road to the summer Home Tract. Go 100 ft. up this road and climb 2000' in 2 miles through numerous switchbacks to the ridgetop viewing North Yuba drainage to the South and Fiddle Creek to the North. Halls Ranch trail descends sharply down to Fiddle Creek in a northerly direction then sharply climbs out of Fiddle Creek to Halls Ranch. Some people prefer to ride it from the North to the South so they can do the last 2 miles to Hwy. 49 downhill. The northern trail head for Halls Ranch Road is off of the paved Cal Ida road (aka Forest Service Road 25). After this trail there is a shuttled ride from Packer Saddle in the Plumas National Forest.

6) Fiddle Creek Ridge Trail - Technical XC Single Track
Fiddle Creek Ridge Trail begins the same as Halls Ranch but make a turn at a fork to continue to Fiddle Creek. You'll continue 5 miles west on Hwy 49 to Indian Rock Picnic Area (across from Ramshorn campground). The trail begins just off the access road to the Summer Home Tract. You'll next go 100 ft. up this road and climb 2000' in 2 miles through numerous switchbacks to the ridgetop viewing North Yuba drainage to the South and Fiddle Creek drainage to the North. Following that you'll immediately climb over another ridge to drop into Little Fiddle Creek before making the final ascent to Halls Ranch. This trail then connects with the Halls Ranch trail. Proceed West on ridgeline to continue on Fiddle Creek ridge trail approximately 6 miles until it descends down to Cal Ida road near Indian Valley Outpost. Fiddle Creek trail passes through the Indian Burn (result of 10,000 acre burn in 1987) to Hwy 49 Ramshorn.

7) North Yuba Trail - Moderate XC Single Track above the North Yuba
This cross country leg burner starts at the West end of town and goes 11.5 miles one way with an elevation of 2800' to 3000'. It is a true XC Single Track with a lot of canopy, combined with exposed areas high above the Yuba river, offering incredible views This. trail crosses many side drainage's that flow into the North Yuba River. An excellent fitness ride. Make sure you bring your bug spray!