Driving Directions, Gas Stations & EV Charging
Address: 32613 CA-49, Sierra City, CA 96125
Note: Please plug in the address exactly as it is shown above. Do not put “Big Springs Garden Retreat Center” into your map. The directions will not be correct. The turn off to Big Springs Retreat Center is on Big Springs Rd and will have a sign and prayer flags.
Cell service is spotty on the way to Big Springs. Please review these directions and print or download them so they do not require connectivity to view. The directions specify gas stations and EV charging along the way. We have one EV charger at Big Springs available for use with a fee. There is typically cell service in Downieville and coming from the other direction, in Sierraville. If you need assistance, you can call the Office at Big Springs: 530-862-1005. We encourage carpooling to minimize environmental impact.
Driving Directions from the Bay Area or Sacramento-2 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 towards Sattley.
One mile past Sattley where Highway 49 and Highway 89 separate, take the left fork, Highway 49, towards Downieville and Sierra City.
Big Springs is located 8.8 miles from the top of Yuba Pass, on the right side of Highway 49. Continue past Bassett’s Station and Gold Lake Highway on your right and drive over Salmon Creek and past Salmon Creek Rd. Big Springs Rd will be your next right. Turn right onto Big Springs Rd and immediately left, past the gate, up the gravel driveway, and follow signs to parking.
Note: If you see Big Springs Waterfall on your right, you have passed Big Springs Rd. You can turn around there and Big Springs Rd will be the first left after you get back onto Highway 49.
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 left side of Highway 49. You will see Big Springs Waterfall on your left, directly before Big Springs Rd. Big Springs Rd is on your left. Turn left onto Big Springs Rd and immediately left, past the gate, up the gravel driveway, and follow signs to parking.
Note: If you see Salmon Creek Rd on your left. You’ve passed Big Springs Rd, and you can turn around there. Big Springs Rd will be the first right after you get back onto Highway 49.
Driving Directions from Reno
Take 395 North to Hallelujah Junction and Highway 70 West.
At the town of Beckwourth turn left on county road A-23 and continue towards 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, towards Downieville and Sierra City.
Big Springs is located 8.8 miles from the top of Yuba Pass, on the right side of Highway 49. Continue past Bassett’s Station and Gold Lake Highway on your right and drive over Salmon Creek and past Salmon Creek Rd. Big Springs Rd will be your next right. Turn right onto Big Springs Rd and immediately left, past the gate, up the gravel driveway, and follow signs to parking.
Note: If you see Big Springs Waterfall on your right, you have passed Big Springs Rd. You can turn around there and Big Springs Rd will be the first left after you get back onto Highway 49.
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. 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-2 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
We highly recommend that you fully charge in either Grass Valley/Nevada City or Reno. We have one EV charger at Big Springs available for use with a fee. There are also the following charging stations on the routes below:
From the Bay Area or Sacramento-2 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