Downieville Classic Important Information

Link to Racecourse Map

Sierra City parking, registration location and racer staging

Downieville Classic event schedule

Parking in Downieville

Parking may be available in the following areas: Cannon Park lot at west end just before entering town (coming from Nevada City); US Forest Service lot over the green bridge past the courthouse and down the hill to the left; and on the levee on the southeast end of town as your leaving Downieville on Highway 49 headed toward Sierra City.

The following road closures and No Parking will take place:

• Downieville Community Hall parking lot:  Thursday August 7, 2025 10:00am through Sunday August 10, 2025 7:00pm. Entertainment Stage set-up in the parking area. Handicapped parking to be relocated to the front of the Community Hall. 

• Main Street, Downieville from the intersection of Highway 49 to Community Hall, including the Community Hall parking lot: Thursday August 7, 2025; traffic control and restricted parking begin at 2:00pm until 3:00pm, complete closure from 3:00pm Thursday August 7, 2025, to 7:00pm on Sunday August 10, 2025. Emergency access shall be available at all times. No set up of booths or other items shall block access to White Way. 

• Maiden Lane, Downieville: Thursday August 7, 2025; traffic control and restricted parking begin at 6:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday August 10, 2025. Complete closure on Saturday August 9, 2025, 8:00am to 5:00pm. Complete closure Sunday August 10, 2025, from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Emergency access shall be available at all times.

• Pearl Street, Downieville: Local resident access only on Saturday August 9, 2025, 8:00am to 4:00pm. Local resident access only on Sunday August 10, 2025, from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Single side of the street parking is enforced to allow Emergency access at all times. Narrow areas near Hansen Bridge will be coned off to prevent parking at pinch points.

• Maiden Lane & Pearl Street will be signed for closures/controlled parking two (2) weeks ahead of the event

• Sierra County Park, Downieville: Thursday August 7, 2025 from 3:00pm to Sunday August 10, 2025 at 7:00pm for expo and vendors, public access shall be available at all times.

• Butte Street, Sierra Buttes Road: Saturday August 9, 2025 open to local traffic from 6:00am to 7:30am, complete closure from 7:30am to 9:30am. 

• Castagnea Alley: Saturday August 9, 2025, open to local traffic from 6:00am to 7:30am, complete closure from 7:30am to 9:30am. 

• Lavezzola Road: Saturday August 9, 2025, complete closure from 8:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday August 10, 2025 from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

• Upper Main Street, Hansen Bridge to Lavezzola Road, Downieville: Saturday August 9, 2025 complete closure from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday August 10, 2025, complete closure from 8:00am to 4:00pm. 

• Upper Main Street, School Street to Hansen Bridge, Downieville: Saturday August 9, 2025, complete closure from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday August 10, 2025, complete closure from 8:00am to 4:00pm. 

• Downieville (Parking lot behind Yuba Expeditions): Closed for Outdoor Demo Event, Thursday August 9, 2025, 8:00am to Sunday August 10, 2025, 7:00pm. Emergency access shall be available at all times.

• Sierra City Park (The Flats): Closed for Event Parking Friday August 8, 2025, 8:00pm to Saturday August 9, 2025, 4:00pm.

The following trail closures and right-of-way encroachments will take place:

• Butcher Ranch, Pauley Creek, Big Boulder, Third Divide, and First Divide Trails: Saturday August 9, 2025 complete closure from 7:00am to 4:00pm.

• Butcher Ranch, Pauley Creek, Big Boulder, Third Divide, and First Divide Trails: Sunday August 10, 2025 complete closure from 7:00am to 4:00pm.

   

Parking on Packer Saddle on Saturday

Parking past the Gold Valley Rim Trail road crossing (just past "The Narrows") will require staying until or after 2pm, as it is a race crossing. An alternative to waiting is to take the 93 dirt road back to town.

Downieville Classic History 

The population of the world is currently 8 billion, 23 million, 192 thousand. Give or take a million. Just a generation ago in 1960, when most of us were still mere twinkles in the eyes of our parents, there were half that many people in the world. A hundred years before that, the population of the planet had barely broken a billion.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, folks. By the end of the next thirty years, there will probably be more than TEN BILLION of us squeezed onto this beautiful blue-green ball of life. That is one heck of a lot of people.

And they’ll all want somewhere to play.

Downieville is a very unique place. It boasts a vivid history, and sits in one of the most beautiful spots on this rapidly shrinking planet. You can do almost anything here without breaking any laws or stepping on any toes. The trails are sublime and seem endless, climbing from rivers to peaks and snaking invisibly through trees. It is a place where you can ride for a couple hours and find somewhere that feels truly quiet. Empty. This is a rare fortune, possibly worth more than any gold ever taken from these hills, and one that will only increase in value as we increase in numbers.

As with any fortune, care must be taken to keep it intact. Come here, by all means. Ride the epic trails. Breathe the air and taste the water. Treat the land, the air, the rivers, and the people who call this place home, with respect. Because as tough and hardy as it may seem here, as much as the local trails may thrash you, this is a paradise too fleeting and fragile for any of us to lose. We can’t afford that.

Respect, remember. 

- Mike Ferrentino

 

MORE INFO: This event is under special use permit with the Tahoe National Forest. Non-Discrimination Notice. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agricultural policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.