Nevada County Natural History

Are you the kind of person who’d like nothing better than sitting by the wild and beautiful Yuba River watching a pair of ravens at work? We invite you to stay long enough to catch one of them using a tool. Think there haven’t been Wolverines in the Sierra Nevada since the 1920s? Good news- one was caught on film near Truckee as recently as 2008! Wildlife enjoyment opportunities abound, so here’s hoping you spot an American Marten or a Sierra Mountain Kingsnake on your next hike. And if you are a fan of physical science and like to take the long view, we can offer some terrific geologic history as Nevada County rises from the foothills to our impressive Sierra Nevada summits. With a companion book such as, “Assembling California,” by John McPhee along, you can examine the cutaways on the sides of Interstate 80 which provide a striking visual explanation of the forces that formed these mountains- and deposited all of that gold! Or to appreciate the intersection of man and geology, a visit to Malakoff Diggings State Park is highly recommended. You’ll see for yourself how the amazing power of placer mining resulted in whole mountainsides being washed away in frenzy for more gold. Isn’t it about time for Nevada County?