Independence Trail: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Nature Trail}} |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Independence Trail wheelchair ramp.jpg|thumb|Rush Creek flume and wheelchair ramp leading down to Rush Creek]] --> |
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{{Infobox hiking trail |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Independence Trail trailhead sign.jpg|thumb|Main trailhead to the Independence Trail on Hwy. 49]] --> |
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|photo=Independence Trail (5445821871).jpg |
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| ⚫ | '''The Independence Trail''' is located approximately 7 miles from downtown [[Nevada City, California|Nevada City]] within the [[South Yuba River State Park]] in the [[ |
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|length={{ubl|East, {{convert|2.2|mi|km}}<ref name=east>{{cite web|url=https://www.bylt.org/trail/independence-trail-east/|title=Independence Trail East|publisher=Bear Yuba Land Trust|accessdate=2023-03-29}}</ref> |
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|West, {{convert|2.5|mi|km}}<ref name=west>{{cite web|url=https://www.bylt.org/trail/independence-trail-west/|title=Independence Trail West (Closed Until Further Notice)|publisher=Bear Yuba Land Trust|accessdate=2023-03-29}}</ref> |
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}} |
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|elev_change=None<ref name=east/><ref name=west/> |
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|trailheads=[[California State Highway 49]], {{coord|39.29130|-121.09766|region:US-CA_dim:2km|display=inline,title|format=dms}} |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | '''The Independence Trail''' is located approximately 7 miles from downtown [[Nevada City, California|Nevada City]] within the [[South Yuba River State Park]] in the [[Sierra Nevada]] foothills within [[Nevada County, California|Nevada County]], in Northern [[California]]. The trail is the former [[Excelsior Ditch]], which was found and repaired by [[John Olmsted (naturalist)|John Olmsted]] and a large group of local volunteers. It is notable for being the first [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|ADA]] approved wheelchair nature trail.<ref>{{cite web |last=McManis |first=Sam |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/01/5612495/fresh-tracks-wheel-chair-friendly.html |title=Fresh Tracks: Wheel-chair friendly Independence Trail welcomes trekkers of abilities |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=August 1, 2013 |accessdate=April 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813230543/http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/01/5612495/fresh-tracks-wheel-chair-friendly.html |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It topped the list of "favorite trails for 2013" in [[The Sacramento Bee]] newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gonevadacounty.com/2013/12/our-countys-independence-trail-is-top-trail-for-2013-in-sac-bee/ |title=Our County’s Independence Trail is top trail for 2013 in Sac Bee |publisher=Nevada County, California |date=December 26, 2013 |accessdate=April 30, 2014}}</ref> |
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Founded by Olmsted and Sally Cates, and built with help from countless locals, the Independence Trail transformed the historic Excelsior gold mining ditch into the nation's first identified handicapped-accessible wilderness trail. It |
Founded by Olmsted and Sally Cates, and built with help from countless locals, the Independence Trail transformed the historic Excelsior gold mining ditch into the nation's first identified handicapped-accessible wilderness trail. It was one of the most popular trails in the area, contouring along wooded hillsides, passing live streams, and crossing deep gorges on restored wooden flumes that once transported water for hydraulic mining. Due to safety hazards caused by landslides from heavy storms in 2017 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yubanet.com/regional/0117/ | title= YubaNet Happening Now – January 2017 | date=January 10, 2017 }}</ref> and the Jones Fire of 2020 destroying the wooden walkways, the trail is closed until further notice. It is in the process of being rebuilt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theunion.com/news/i-cant-believe-its-gone-independence-trail-ramp-flumes-destroyed-in-jones-fire/ | title= ‘I can’t believe it’s gone’: Independence Trail ramp, flumes destroyed in Jones Fire |work= The Union | date=August 21, 2020 | accessdate=January 10, 2021}}</ref><ref name=east/> |
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The trail has two separate sections—West and East—that extend from one main trailhead on [[California State Route 49]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www. |
The trail has two separate sections—West and East—that extend from one main trailhead on [[California State Route 49]].<ref name=west/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nevadacountygold.com/play/hiking/independence-trail |title=Independence Trail |publisher=Nevada County Gold |accessdate=April 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716000934/http://nevadacountygold.com/play/hiking/independence-trail |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Independence Trail West is oriented for most of its length around the canyon of Rush Creek, a large tributary stream that enters the [[South Yuba River]] at Jones Bar. The West trail features several wooden flumes, a large covered viewpoint, picnic tables and benches. Flume 28, over 500' in length, crosses above a waterfall on Rush Creek 1.1 miles west of the trailhead. It is a "must see" piece of mining history. |
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The Independence Trail utilizes the old Excelsior |
The Independence Trail utilizes the old Excelsior Canal, built between 1854 and 1859 by hundreds of Chinese laborers. To bring high pressure water for hydraulic mining. The ditch tapped the South Yuba river more than 2 miles upstream from here, and ran all the way to what is now the dam at [[Lake Wildwood, California|Lake Wildwood]], then by the China Ditch to the [[Smartsville, California|Smartsville]] mining district, 15 miles west of Grass Valley. After hydraulic mining was outlawed in the 1880s the "Excelsior Ditch" was used for agricultural irrigation until it was abandoned in 1963. In 1969, John Olmsted rediscovered the rock-lined ditches, adjacent paths for ditch tenders, and wooden flumes that provided access over ravines. It is a gold country gem and part of the South Yuba River State Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southyubariverstatepark.org/RespDocuments/Cultural%20History/Independence%20Trail/Independence%20Trail%20narrative.pdf|title=Independence Trail History|website=southyubariverstatepark.org/}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{California hiking trails}} |
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{{coord missing|Nevada County, California}} |
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[[Category:Hiking trails in California]] |
[[Category:Hiking trails in California]] |
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[[Category:Geography of Nevada County, California]] |
[[Category:Geography of Nevada County, California]] |
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{{NevadaCountyCA-geo-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 00:23, 28 August 2024
| Independence Trail | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Length | |
| Trailheads | California State Highway 49, 39°17′29″N 121°05′52″W / 39.29130°N 121.09766°W |
| Elevation change | None[1][2] |
The Independence Trail is located approximately 7 miles from downtown Nevada City within the South Yuba River State Park in the Sierra Nevada foothills within Nevada County, in Northern California. The trail is the former Excelsior Ditch, which was found and repaired by John Olmsted and a large group of local volunteers. It is notable for being the first ADA approved wheelchair nature trail.[3] It topped the list of "favorite trails for 2013" in The Sacramento Bee newspaper.[4]
Founded by Olmsted and Sally Cates, and built with help from countless locals, the Independence Trail transformed the historic Excelsior gold mining ditch into the nation's first identified handicapped-accessible wilderness trail. It was one of the most popular trails in the area, contouring along wooded hillsides, passing live streams, and crossing deep gorges on restored wooden flumes that once transported water for hydraulic mining. Due to safety hazards caused by landslides from heavy storms in 2017 [5] and the Jones Fire of 2020 destroying the wooden walkways, the trail is closed until further notice. It is in the process of being rebuilt.[6][1]
The trail has two separate sections—West and East—that extend from one main trailhead on California State Route 49.[2][7] Independence Trail West is oriented for most of its length around the canyon of Rush Creek, a large tributary stream that enters the South Yuba River at Jones Bar. The West trail features several wooden flumes, a large covered viewpoint, picnic tables and benches. Flume 28, over 500' in length, crosses above a waterfall on Rush Creek 1.1 miles west of the trailhead. It is a "must see" piece of mining history.
The Independence Trail utilizes the old Excelsior Canal, built between 1854 and 1859 by hundreds of Chinese laborers. To bring high pressure water for hydraulic mining. The ditch tapped the South Yuba river more than 2 miles upstream from here, and ran all the way to what is now the dam at Lake Wildwood, then by the China Ditch to the Smartsville mining district, 15 miles west of Grass Valley. After hydraulic mining was outlawed in the 1880s the "Excelsior Ditch" was used for agricultural irrigation until it was abandoned in 1963. In 1969, John Olmsted rediscovered the rock-lined ditches, adjacent paths for ditch tenders, and wooden flumes that provided access over ravines. It is a gold country gem and part of the South Yuba River State Park.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Independence Trail East". Bear Yuba Land Trust. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ a b c "Independence Trail West (Closed Until Further Notice)". Bear Yuba Land Trust. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ McManis, Sam (August 1, 2013). "Fresh Tracks: Wheel-chair friendly Independence Trail welcomes trekkers of abilities". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ "Our County's Independence Trail is top trail for 2013 in Sac Bee". Nevada County, California. December 26, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ "YubaNet Happening Now – January 2017". January 10, 2017.
- ^ "'I can't believe it's gone': Independence Trail ramp, flumes destroyed in Jones Fire". The Union. August 21, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ "Independence Trail". Nevada County Gold. Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ "Independence Trail History" (PDF). southyubariverstatepark.org/.
