Catfish Cove
Campground
Campground · 0.9 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Nevada City
Bullards
- 9.8 mi
- round trip
- 896 ft
- climb
- 2,789 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is Bullards open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.
Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts
Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Bullards is a hard hike in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Yuba River Ranger District and the New Bullards Bar Reservoir area. The trail is an out-and-back of about 9.8 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 896 feet, starting at roughly 1,943 feet and reaching a high point of about 2,789 feet. The land is managed by Regional Water Districts. The most comfortable stretch for a visit runs from late spring into early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Nevada City show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 71°F, with only a few wet days in June and September. July and August average highs near 87°F. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows bikes. It is open year-round, and the closest neighbors are the Rebel Ridge Trail, about half a mile away, and the Eight Ball hike, about 0.6 miles away. For an overnight stay, Dark Day campground sits about 1.2 miles off, and the Oregon Creek canoeing spot is about 5.8 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after The Lost Nugget
Restaurant
On your way back · 2 miIf it rains Firehouse Number 1 Museum
Museum
In town
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Nevada CityLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Bullards
Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
51° / 35°
13 wet
Feb
53° / 35°
12 wet
Mar
57° / 37°
12 wet
Apr
62° / 40°
9 wet
May
71° / 47°
6 wet
Jun
79° / 54°
3 wet
Jul
87° / 60°
1 wet
Aug
87° / 59°
1 wet
Sep
82° / 55°
2 wet
Oct
71° / 47°
5 wet
Nov
57° / 40°
9 wet
Dec
48° / 35°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Nevada City, CA, 14.2 mi away at 2,781 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Brylie Oxley, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)South Yuba Trail
~15 min drive
8.48-mile out-and-back trail in California with 6,099 ft elevation gain/loss.
Photo: Brylie Oxley, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Round Mountain Trail
~15 min drive
4.16-mile out-and-back hike in California with 2,873 ft elevation gain and loss.
Photo: Rebeca.stovall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Rim Trail
~17 min drive
6.24-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,895 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Seven Ball
~1 min drive
2.00-mile out-and-back trail in California with 369 ft gain.
HIKE
Bullards Bar Trail
~2 min drive
10.76-mile out-and-back trail in California with 6,764 ft elevation gain and loss.
Photo: Rebeca.stovall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Humbug Trail
~18 min drive
4.82-mile out-and-back hike in California with 2,821 ft elevation gain and loss.
Photo: Bob Betzen, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Point Defiance Loop Trail
~19 min drive
2.41-mile loop trail in California with 1,569 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Willow Creek
~2 min drive
2.00-mile out-and-back trail in California with 91 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Eight Ball
Next door
7.60-mile out-and-back trail in California with 499 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Rebel Ridge Trail
Next door
2.72-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,439 ft elevation gain
Also worth it near here
