Home › California › Nevada City › Hiking Trails
Hiking Trails
4.7 ★★★★★ 99 Google reviews · Running trail in Nevada City, California · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- 5 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Hiking Trails' own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Canal-side trail geared towards hiking and dog-walking that's also popular among runners.
What runners say about Hiking Trails
“It's a very peaceful walk in the woods, not difficult; well maintained trail with even surface.”
“Normally has great views over Donner Lake but the California fires obscured them this day.”
“It was a perfect place to go running, especially since there were hardly any hills right along the canal.”
“Lots of shade, but still enough Sun to get burned on a bright day.”
“Relatively easy hike once you get off the trail leading from the Gracie Road parking lot.”
Very pleasant path to have a stroll/walk by the canal. It is shady and you can hear the water running. It is a bit difficult to get there or find the correct parking spot, but there are plenty of places to start with. Very nice for jogging, walking dogs or just relaxing and enjoying the environment.
I love these hiking trails. Clean and picturesque, and not too crowded. The last time I was here they ran out of maps, so I recommend getting a trail app on your phone (or print out a map beforehand) if you don't want to get lost.
A trailhead for the Cascade Canal Trail is here. It's a very peaceful walk in the woods, not difficult; well maintained trail with even surface. Lots of shade, but still enough Sun to get burned on a bright day.
Such a fun discovery. Took our toddlers on this fun trail through the woods. Small parking area. No trail maps so we didn’t know where we were going.
Trail conditions & character
“Normally has great views over Donner Lake but the California fires obscured them this day.”
“It is a bit difficult to get there or find the correct parking spot, but there are plenty of places to start with.”
“Very nice for jogging, walking dogs or just relaxing and enjoying the environment.”
“Lots of shade, but still enough Sun to get burned on a bright day.”
“It's a very peaceful walk in the woods, not difficult; well maintained trail with even surface.”
Plan your run at Hiking Trails
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- Loop distance5 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitenevadacitychamber.com
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Running trails near Nevada City
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Empire Mine State Historic Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,089 reviews
The site of this state's oldest gold mine has miles of trails to hike, bike or explore on horseback.
Hardrock Trail Entrance
4.7 ★★★★★ 149 reviews
Hiking area featuring easy trails through a forested locale.
Condon Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 873 reviews
Large, forested off-leash dog run with fencing, water & bench seating for owners.
Wolf Creek Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 72 reviews
Shady paved trail for hiking or biking with kids and dogs, plus an aqueduct and a powerhouse.
Independence Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 141 reviews
Hike or walk along this easy-to-access trail featuring wooden bridges and river access, plus swimming holes, waterfalls and creeks.
Alan Thiesen Trailhead
4.5 ★★★★★ 52 reviews
Forest hiking area offering trails with shade trees, some leading down to a creek.