The Best Hiking Trails in Downieville

On this first leg of Section M, the PCT climbs determinedly out of the North Yuba river gorge onto the elevated slopes of the Sierra Buttes. Then it rolls northward on a series of ridges and basins, patched with conifer woodlands and mountainside meadows....

The mountain called Sierra Buttes is a stand-out landmark near Downieville, California. This cliff-lined peak is the tallest in the area, and it’s crowned with multiple craggy pinnacles. Atop one of these granite outcrops is a fire lookout tower, dated but still sturdy, that grants a royal view for those who ascend all the way to it....

Pair the stunning Lakes Basin area with mountain top singletrack running along the spine of the Sierras on this epic high-mountain loop! The route begins at a trailhead on Packer Lake Road, quickly making for the top of the ridge via the Pacific Crest Trail....