Cascade Canal Trail
This popular trail offers an almost level walk along a peaceful canal through a forest with many Douglas firs and dogwoods. At 3200' elevation, it is a bit higher and cooler than many local trails. There are several places along the route where views open up briefly to more distant scenery.
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A short distance east of Nevada City
Year around
Mostly private with Nevada Irrigation District easement for canal and trail
Some trailheads have signs (see below). Mileage indicators every 0.5 mile.
4.5 miles one way | 6.7 miles by adding Orene Wetherall trail out and back
Nearly level (90' in 4.5 miles) | add 560' change for Orene Wetherall out and back
Easy
Dirt; good for running and bicycling in most places
Mixed conifer and hardwood on west and north sides of Banner Mountain
Foot and bike only. No motorized vehicles. Dogs on leash. Stay on trail; respect private property. Hikers and cyclists watch for each other and pass safely.
Primary Trailheads:
Gracie Road Trailheads: Take either Gracie Rd or Banner Lava Cap Rd easterly from Nevada City. The west end of the trail is accessible from two parking areas at or near the intersection of Gracie and Banner Lava Cap roads.
1) The best parking area is on Gracie Rd about 700 feet NW (downhill) from the intersection with Banner-Lava Cap Rd. Look for a "Cascade Canal Access Trail" sign on the east side of this parking area. (N39.24106 W120.99855) A pleasant trail leads into the forest from this trailhead and connects with the main trail in 0.3 miles. Go left at the main trail.
2) Another parking area is at the intersection of Banner Lava Cap and Gracie roads. Go about 100' down Gracie Rd from the parking lot and enter the main trail where you see the canal. (N39.24008 W120.99639) This is the formal start of the measured 4.5 mile canal trail with a 0.0 mile marker.
Red Dog Road Trailhead: From downtown Nevada City take Boulder St east (becomes Red Dog Rd) for about 2 miles and find Pasquale Rd on your left. Note your mileage there and go 0.3 mile farther on Red Dog Rd where you will see the canal and a gate on your right with a "Public Parking Prohibited" sign. There is parking on the right shoulder immediately uphill from the gate. The trailhead is at the gate.
(N 39.25919 W120.97511)
Neighborhood access trails:
Woodpecker Way: From the intersection of Banner Lava Cap and Gracie roads, go uphill on Banner Lava Cap about 0.4 mile, turn left on Mayflower Dr, then left on Butterfly Dr, then left on Woodpecker Way. The trailhead is on your left, less than 100 yards up Woodpecker Way. There is a "Cascade Canal Access Trail" sign at the trailhead. (N39.24338 W120.98589) The access trail connects to the main trail in 0.2 mile. (On your left shortly before you reach the main trail there is a bench with a fine view of Nevada City and environs.)
Banner Mountain Trail: Note: The name "Banner Mountain Trail" can be confusing to people new to the area. This is both a paved and unpaved road. A paved portion provides vehicular access to trailhead parking; then an unpaved portion serves as an access trail to the main Cascade Canal trail.
From the intersection of Banner Lava Cap and Gracie roads, go uphill on Banner Lava Cap Rd about 1.3 miles. Turn left on Banner Mountain Trail and go about ½ mile. Park in the paved turnout about 400' past the intersection of Banner Mountain Trail and Woodstock Drive on your left. Walk 300' further down Banner Mountain Trail to its intersection with Wintergate Lane (private) and the end of the pavement (no parking here). This is the trailhead. (N39.24247 W120.97342) Go downhill into the woods on Banner Mountain Trail, now a dirt road, 400 feet to reach the main trail. Go left toward the Gracie Rd trailhead or right toward the Red Dog Rd trailhead.
Trail tips:
This is an easy trail to follow since it runs along the open water of the Cascade Canal for most of its 4.5 mile length. In a few places the canal disappears into piped sections and in one place, at about 1.6 miles east of the Gracie trailheads, the canal disappears into a pipe across a ravine and the trail is simply a dirt road for a short while.
The western half of the canal trail going east from Gracie Rd is the most heavily used. It runs along the edge of a residential area where you will see houses across the canal, some unique private "drawbridges" that homeowners use to get on the canal path, and even a gazebo.
Orene Wetherall side trip: At about 0.75 mile east from the Gracie trailheads, you will find the clearly marked Orene Wetherall trail branching down to your left. (N39.24369 W120.98742)
This is a nice 1.2 mile round trip "out and back" trail that switchbacks down (280' elevation drop) through lovely forest to its end point, then you climb back up to the main canal trail. If you hanker for some elevation change instead of a flat trail, try going from the Woodpecker Way trailhead (see above) down to the Cascade Canal trail, turn left and go about 0.2 mile, turn right at the Orene Wetherall trail, follow it down to its end, then return uphill to the beginning on Woodpecker Way. This route gives you an elevation change of about 350' down and 350' back up. There is a guide to the Orene Wetherall Trail in the right column of this web page.
One of the best viewpoints along the entire canal trail is about 0.2 mile east of the Orene Wetherall trailhead, where there is a red sluice gate across the canal (this is also where the Woodpecker Way access trail meets the canal trail.) Here you can look out through thinned forest and see downtown Nevada City and distant ridges beyond. The white spire of St. Canice church and the bulk of the Nevada County courthouse are the most obvious landmarks visible in the town. If you go a short way up the Woodpecker Way access trail you will find a great bench where you can enjoy this view to your heart's content.
At about 1.6 mile east from the Gracie trailheads, you will see a large metal pipe with a pedestrian catwalk spanning the ravine to your left. You can take this catwalk across the ravine, where the main trail continues to your left, or you can continue a short distance to the head of the ravine. If you continue to the head of the ravine, turn left where the trail makes a "T" with a dirt road coming in from your right. This is the 4WD portion of the road called Banner Mountain Trail and it will coincide with the Cascade Canal trail for about the next 0.2 mile. (Taking a right at the "T" would lead you in 400' to the paved section of Banner Mountain Trail and the trailhead described under "Neighborhood access trails" above.)
The eastern half of the canal trail -- from Banner Mountain Trail to Red Dog Rd -- gets the lightest use and feels more remote. A landmark along this section is the crossing of Little Deer Creek where another metal pipe with catwalk bridges the ravine over this pleasant creek which is usually flowing. A dirt bypass trail drops down from each end of the pipe and fords the creek. Mountain bike riders use this bypass to avoid the catwalk. It is steep and may be slippery, so take care if you use it.
