California's Sierra Nevada Mountains Are The Backyard Playground Of This Adventurous Town With Year-Round Charm

California certainly has no shortage of enticing adventure towns. You could hit Mariposa to explore the famed "Gateway To Yosemite," putting rushing waterfalls and incredible peaks like the Half Dome on the itinerary. Or you could cruise over the San Jacinto Mountains from LA to reach the arty and nature town of Idyllwild. Head further north and there's another option that has stacks of historic charm, not to mention the mighty Sierra Nevada rising before its front porch. Cue Downieville.

Founded way back in 1849 in the midst of the California Gold Rush, Downieville straddles the confluence of the Downie River and the North Yuba River. It's hard to ignore the pull of the mountains here; they erupt in sweeps of pine-covered hills on all sides. They herald the great Tahoe National Forest, which engulfs Downieville's modest population of just 61 in a sea of 850,000 acres of public land that's filled with deep gorges, jagged peaks, roaring rivers — it's endless!

Sure enough, the region around Downieville is so darn pretty that the drive into town is a wonder in its own right. Coming from the west, you can follow the scenic 49 Highway through charming California Gold Country, taking in the vibrant town of Nevada City and then skirting the North Yuba River as it gurgles over rocks and boulders. Coming from the east, you'll cross the Pacific Crest Trail and then whiz through another secret outdoor adventure hub in Sierra City. The closest major airport is the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, just under two hours' drive to the east.

If Downieville's location deep inside the Tahoe National Forest makes it sound like just about the perfect place for outdoors adventurers, that's because it is! Yep, this small town has a big offering when it comes to getting out and about. During the warmer months, when there's plenty of sunshine and dry weather, it's a mecca for hikers, campers, and wild swimmers. During winter, the famous snowpack of the Sierra Nevada opens ski trails and snowshoeing routes aplenty.

According to AllTrails, the highest-rated trek in the Downieville area is the Second Divide Trail, a winding 9-mile day hike that tracks the course of a creek through thick forest inhabited by bald eagles and owls. That's closely followed by the Downie River Trail, a 7.7-mile, multi-use track that's good for ramblers and bikers alike, offering river crossings and a descent into a deep canyon. Of course, the high sierras aren't far, either. Branch out eastwards and you could hit the incredible Sierra Buttes, where high paths offer sweeping panoramas of the mountains and the glacial lakes.

Prefer to conquer the trails on two wheels? You're in luck, because Downieville is a well-established hub for MTB lovers. Its most iconic route has to be the so-called Downieville Downhill, a 15-miler with attitude that romps over waterways as it crashes through the pines. That's the host of an annual competition in August, but can be done by experienced riders at any time. And that's just scratching the surface. This town lords over miles and miles of biking routes, including winding river tracks beside the Yuba and altitude-giving rim trails with oodles of crags and boulders.

Downieville doesn't shut up shop when the winter sets in. Highway 49 is generally open all year round, with only the Yuba Pass deeper into the sierras susceptible to seasonal snow closures. There's enjoyments to be had by simply stepping onto Main Street. It's classic Gold Country stuff. There are timber-built sidewalks along the fronts of the buildings, everything from art galleries to playhouses providing the entertainments, and that ubiquitous Wild West saloon in the form of bustling St. Charles Place.

Winter in Downieville is prime time for skiers, too. The Yuba Pass Snow Park — just under 25 miles to the east of town — is the place to go to pick up the poles and fix the skis, since it touts everything from cross-country ski routes to tubing runs and snowshoeing hikes. There's also a range of snowmobiling routes peppering the sides of Gold Lake Road, even closer to Downieville itself.

Fall is prime time for enjoying the swimming spots that abound along the rivers that meet at Downieville. That's because the waters here can remain chilly well into summer, and spring snowmelt can bring big currents. On balmy days, you can splash in the cooling plunge pool of Finney's Hole near the town center, or drive west to the Oregon Creek Day Use Area to find mini waterfalls and rocky sunbathing areas.