There are three rivers in Nevada County: Yuba River, Truckee River, and Bear River. The South Yuba River draws nearly a million visitors each year. This California Wild & Scenic River drops a dramatic 4,000 feet in elevation over a distance of 40 miles, creating hundreds of stunning waterfalls intermixed with placid emerald pools. The South Yuba River is part of the larger Yuba River Watershed, which is home to the Middle Yuba and North Yuba, and drains more than 1,500 square miles of Sierra Nevada foothills. The most highly visited access points to the South Yuba River are managed by a patchwork of state and federal agencies, including the South Yuba River State Park, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Tahoe National Forest.

River Safety Tips

• No cell service: There is no cell service in the Yuba River Canyon. Plan ahead by caravaning or choosing a meeting place before you leave. Download maps offline to help you navigate when cell service is unavailable. 
• Limited Parking: Parking is limited. If there are no parking spaces available, this means the site has reached visitor capacity. No Parking signs are posted on narrow roadways to ensure emergency personnel can access these remote areas.
• Emergency Information: The nearest hospital is located in Grass Valley, Sierra Nevada Memorial: 155 Glasson Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945. 

River Etiquette

The Yuba River is enjoyed by more than 800,000 visitors annually. Help protect this treasure by doing your part to leave the shores of the river even cleaner than you found them. 

• Pack it in, pack it out! Be prepared to leave no trace.
• Pick up after your pets. 
• Rocks and glass don't mix. Prevent injuries by leaving glass at home. 
• Prevent wildfires at the river. Please save BBQs and campfires for safer venues.
• Park only in designated spaces. Obey parking signs to provide access for emergency personnel.