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Bullards Bar Reservoir
21 reviews
4.05 of 5
This is the best ride I know of. You start with a downhill of about 8-10 miles, through a dense forest single track, with scattered jumps. At the bottom the trail is carved into the side of the hill around the edge of the water. This goes for about 12-15 miles, with roller coaster single track, and whoop-de-doos. If for some strange reason you tire of the single track the veiw of the water, and the moss covered trees will tide you over. At the end you can take a paved road back with a very easy, gradual climb. This ride takes about 3-4 hours to complete, but with doc Willy's beer prices as low as they are, there is a great place to rest before you head home.
Park At Doc Willys Bar, and head up the hill just above the bar, slight climb for a few miles and the trail head is on the left. You cant miss it. Or pick up a map at Coyote Adventure Company for .25.
Summary: I started this ride from the little dirt parking area on Old Toll Road with the intent of doing as big a loop as possible. I began down a narrow fire road that ha been marked off limits ot OHVs...a sign which had clearly been ignored. Anyhow, that decent was OK...fast, not technical in any way. The trail become single track after a couple miles of that. The section between that point and dark day is reasonably fun, winding around the steep bank of the lake. The trail is covered with leaves, which makes the traction iff in some places. I like the ride fine until that point. On the way back, after ride up Marrysville road, and connecting with eight ball trail, I rode down 7 Ball, which was a coll, if very short semi tech trail, and then up some switchbacks (after going to opposite of my original direction on a section of Bullard's Bar Trail)...maybe called Ridge Trail? Can't remember. Anyhow, this trail, given the reviews, was a bit disappointing For me. Save the first 6 miles or so section trail between my start point and dark day, and the 7 Ball trail and the switchback climb, this trail was pretty boring. When I'm riding 22 miles, and 13 to 14 miles of it is a sleeper, I think "why am I not just training on the road?" Anyhow, anyone who races, and is a techncally skilled expert or above may have the same experience as I did. I live in Nevada City now, and I would not bother to return to this trail again unless I happened to be camping along it.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Hole in the Ground. South Yuba for scenery. Ash Canyon over in Carson City...I like the Forresthill/ Forresthill Connector/ Clementine Loop. Good flow on Clementine, good for training. Decent bone rattling descent (on my XC hardtail). If you are on a full suss rig, I recommend Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, or Downieville anything. the others I mentioned are hardtail only rides (you have to make it interesting).
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Summary: This trail is awsome! I rode it in Oct. after a week of rain and it wasn't muddy and very few puddles (5 or 6 in 15 miles). There are several options, and sence the trail follows the shoreline of the resevoir the elevation gain and loss is equal in both direction. Of course there is a climb involved in ridding from the resevoir to all of the five trial heads. At the Dark Day access you can drive down to the res. level. The best downhill section is the top, From Old camptown road down to the resevoir 6-7 miles of brakeless-prerfect-gradiant-singletrack, water burms, banked corners, and a smile from ear-to-ear. Thank You Guys who have worked on this trail, it is great shape!
Recommended Route: Don't Start in Camptown, unless you enjoy ending a loop ride with a 8 mile climb on the road. I like to get the dirty work out of the way. If you want to do the whole thing, do yourself a favor and park at the Vista Point Parking area at the western end of the trail. Then ride back up Marysville road to Old Camptown road, go about 1.5 miles to the trail head. This trail head is not well marked, there is wide spot in the road where people spin donuts with trucks in the dirt on both sides of the road. Look around to the north where the road frist widens. This is where your euphoria will begin!
Other recommended trails in the same area: Not from the area first ride other than the Downiedown
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Summary: FUN FUN FUN! just got back and cant wate to go again.the bullard bar trail takes you along the resavor and just rolls along with nice banked curves and roller coaster ups and downs that favor down. Ferns,moss coverd oaks,emerald colored lake huge pines that hide the suns heat and yes POISION OAK make this ride great.
Recommended Route: for a nice 13.6 mi. ride start at rebal ridge trail head (next to rebal ridge market) and head towards the lake, then take the bullards bar trail to the vista look out point near the dam where your ride (car,truck) back to the market should be waiting.
only real climbing will be at the very end on a old gravel road, not bad at all. this 13 mi. ride feels more like 6mi. even in the summer heat.
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Summary: Nice trail, last 15 miles lots of fun. Beautiful scenery along lakes shores but don't be too seducted by views. New trail construction, along with an occasional fallen tree and soft soils can be hazardous. Not too aerobic but does have some short technical sections. Good trail to take beginners as you take your time and enjoy. I knocked it off in about 2:20 but with occasional stop to get my bearings, I was pushing it pretty hard.
Recommended Route: Not sure I took recommended route as I've been told that there are better. I drove on 49 North to Marysville Road. AFter 6 miles I turned into Vista Camping area and parked. as for the ride I returned to Marysville for 1.5 miles to Schoolhouse Campground. Single track is immediately off of this road and paralells Marysville Road. Proceed to paved road and after a short distance you are back on Marysville Road. THere is a trail on the right of the road but I would not recommend it as it is not well maintained. I would simply continue on Marysville to Old Camptonville. Go left and as road Ts take a quick left and a qucik right back onto Old Captonville. Proceed about 1.5 miles to Bullards Bar trailhead on left and have fun. Tsay on trail, proceed through boat launch back onto trail until you hit a older paved road. Go left and after a .7 mile uphill you are back where you started.
Other recommended trails in the same area: South Yuba/Missouri Flat, Pioneer Trail
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Review Date June 12, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: skip smith
, from pacifica
Summary: Love it in the trees the whole time,dont stop though cause the skeeters will get ya.Jump in the lake anytime you want to. Not to tech of a ride, but if u go as fast as u can u can have a lot of fun with it.
Recommended Route: dont do the road stuff, get somebody to either drop u off or do a point to point.Take it as far as u want to go, but ride toward the dam allways.
Other recommended trails in the same area: yuba river , malakoff, downieville{of course}
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