Driving Directions
Address: 32613 CA-49, Sierra City, CA 96125 (Please do not mail items to this address. Our mailing address is PO Box 2059, Nevada City, CA 95959)
Note: There will be prayer flags at the turn off to Big Springs Rd.
Cell reception is spotty on the way to Big Springs. Please print these directions or save them to your device so they don’t require connectivity to view just in case GPS stops working. Coming from Grass Valley & Nevada City, there is cell service in Sierra City at the Sierra Country Store. If you need assistance, you can ask the Sierra Country Store to point you in the right direction. Coming from Truckee and Reno, there is service in Sierraville. If you need assistance, you can call our office at 530-862-1005.
From the Bay Area or Sacramento (Two Options)
Via Truckee
Take I-80 East to Truckee, proceed north on Highway 89 to Sierraville.
Take a left at the junction of Highway 89 and Highway 49 in Sierraville and proceed to Sattley.
One mile past Sattley where Highway 49 and Highway 89 separate, take the left fork, Highway 49, to Downieville and Sierra City.
Big Springs is 8.8 miles from the top of Yuba Pass. Continue past Bassett’s Station and the turn off to the Lakes Basin. You will drive over Salmon Creek. Big Springs Rd. is the road right after Salmon Creek Rd. Turn right onto Big Springs Rd. and immediately left, up the driveway, past the gate, and follow signs to parking.
Via Grass Valley & Nevada City
Take Highway 49 to Sierra City. Big Springs is located 3.4 miles east of the Sierra Country Store in Sierra City, on the lefthand side of Highway 49. Turn left onto Big Springs Rd. and immediately left, up the driveway, past the gate, and follow signs to parking.
From Reno
Take 395 north to Hallelujah Junction and Highway 70 west.
At the town of Beckwourth (and the west edge of Sierra Valley) turn left on county road A-23 and continue to Sattley.
At Sattley A23 ends-turn right on Highway 49 / Highway 89
One mile past Sattley where Highway 49 and Highway 89 separate, take the left fork, Highway 49, to Downieville and Sierra City
Continue up and over Yuba Pass and carry on past Bassett’s Station and the turn off to the Lakes Basin. Big Springs is 8.8 miles from the top of Yuba Pass on the right side of the Hwy, off of Big Springs Rd. Turn right onto Big Springs Rd and immediately left up the driveway, past the gate, and follow signs to parking.
Gas Stations
We highly recommend that you fill up in either Grass Valley/Nevada City or Reno. Gas in Truckee is up to $1 more per gallon. If you find yourself needing gas once you’ve left Grass Valley/Nevada City/Reno, there is a gas station 2 miles from Big Springs at Bassett's Station, 100 Gold Lake Hwy, Sierra City, CA 96125. There are also the following gas stations on the routes below.
From the Bay Area or Sacramento (Two Options)
Via Truckee
Sierraville Service & Country Store, 126 S Lincoln St, Sierraville, CA 96126
Via Grass Valley
Lost Nugget Market & Gas, 16448 CA-49, Camptonville, CA 95922
From Reno
Valero, 16 E Sierra Ave, Portola, CA 96122
EV Charging
At the moment, there are no EV charging stations on site. We highly recommend that you charge on your way in.
Here are the nearest charging stations based on the possible driving routes to Big Springs, once you leave the larger towns of Grass Valley and Reno.
From the Bay Area or Sacramento (Two Options)
Via Truckee
Electrify America Charging Station, 11399 Deerfield Dr, Truckee, CA 96161
There are no chargers between Truckee and Big Springs, but if needed, there are Tesla chargers about 11 miles off route at Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club, 768 Whitehawk Dr, Clio, CA 96106.
Via Grass Valley
Located in Riverside Mountain Lodge, 206 Commercial St, Downieville, CA 95936
From Reno
Located in Caboose Park, 150 Commercial St, Portola, CA 96122