Downieville Classic Cross Country Race

Point to point cross country race, and
All Mountain World Championships, Stage 1
August 9th, 2025

SIERRA CITY TO DOWNIEVILLE
Sierra City to Downieville. 4,500' ascent / 5,700' descent

Since 2019, we have eliminated the gravel road 93 to Baby Heads, and replaced with spectacular all Sierra Crest singletrack on the new Gold Valley Rim Trail singletrack! Miles more of singletrack instead of gravel road.

Start Times Update for 2025

The Downieville Classic cross country race is one of the last remaining point-to-point bicycle races in the United States. The 26.5 mile course follows a rugged "Gold Rush" era route that departs the mountain town of Sierra City (elevation 4,100'), climbs to the crest of the Sierra Nevada (elevation 7,469'), and then plunges 5,700 vertical feet into downtown Downieville. A golden pathway, selected as a tribute to the mountains, the rivers, the fresh mountain air, and to the hard men that carved these trails through the river canyons in search of gold and prosperity.

The adventure begins with an 8 mile, 3,000' climb up the face of the Sierra Buttes, a metamorphic crown that stretches 8,600' towards the wide-open sky. This legendary climb is known to many as the "Trail of Tears". It starts with pavement, turns to dirt, and then gradually steepens and narrows to a loose, exposed, shaly doubletrack. We try to make things more comfortable by providing world famous Downieville Classic aid stations at the 4 and 8 mile markers.

After cresting the saddle, the route picks-up the what was previously the Pacific Crest Trail traversing the spectacular Sierra Crest with a fun singletrack descent to the top of "Baby Heads" - a fast, loose, rocky descent that is responsible for numerous flat tires, get-offs and lead changes. At the bottom of this anarchy awaits Gold Valley and the Pauley Creek crossing. This 30' wide crossing can be as deep as 3' during the race, often making it difficult to navigate across at high-speed.

Once across, the route turns to singletrack on the Pauley Creek Trail, a 17 mile creekside plunge that blends flowing turns and rolling jumps with jagged rocks and slippery roots. After descending 2,000' and crossing three foot-bridges, the trail climbs from the Pauley Creek Canyon to the Lavezzola Creek Canyon, and to the trailhead of the world famous Third Divide Trail. Third Divide is known for it's Star Wars like speeds, magic carpet tread, bermed corners and lofty airs.

After a thrilling 3 miles, Third Divide Trail dumps out onto Lavezzola Road, which descends to the upper First Divide trail, a 150 year-old water flume built to provide water to a nearby hydraulic mining site. This stretch of trail requires a ton of pedaling as it winds its way downstream through the Lavezzola Creek Canyon, across a saddle, and into the Pauley Creek Canyon to the long awaited streets of downtown Downieville for the finish.

For On-Site Registration and Packet Pick-up see the Registration page

 

START TIME:

Diagram of Sierra City: Car Parking, and Registration Location / Racer Staging

8:30 start
PRO MEN*
PRO WOMEN*
Singlespeed open ages*

8:35 start
Expert Junior Men 13-18*
Expert Men 30 & Under*
Expert Men 31-40*

8:40 start
Expert Men 41-50*
Expert Men 51-60*
Expert Men 61+*

8:45 start

Junior Women 13-18*
Expert Women 30 & Under*
Expert Women 31-40*
Expert Women 41-50*
Expert Women 51+*

Note: * indicates a combined category with XC and All-Mountain class riders for Saturday's XC race

8:50 start
Sport Junior Men 13-18
Sport Men 30 & Under
Sport Men 31-40
Sport Men 41-50
Sport Men 51-60
Sport Women 30 & Under
Sport Women 31+

8:55 start
Beginner Men 30 & Under
Beginner Men 31-40
Beginner Men 41+
Beginner Women open ages

CROSS COUNTRY COURSE CUT-OFF TIMES

• Packer Saddle - 11:30am
• End of Gold Valley Rim Trail / Top of Baby Heads - 12:30pm

Due to restrictions with road closures, riders must make it to Packer Saddle by 11:30AM, or they will be pulled from the race. If a rider cannot make it to Packer Saddle in the required time and still wants to continue to Downieville, they must pull their bib #/race number plate from their bike and notify race officials. These riders will no longer have safety support and the roads will be open to vehicle traffic. There is an additional cutoff the end of the Gold Valley Rim Trail at 12:30pm. Sweep Wagon shuttles back to Downieville or Sierra City will be available.
 

CROSS COUNTRY RACE CATEGORIES:

"Stick to the Track"
Some riders seem to be all too familiar with racing events like Megavalanche, and other big mountain enduros, where the fastest man or woman down the mountain, regardless of the route, is crowned champion. This type of racing became a problem in the 2010 Downieville Classic, as we had several riders using what we like to refer to as "Hillbilly Lines". We are officially ending this method of racing, by placing course marshals in known “cutter” areas. Riders that do not stick to the track will be disqualified.

PARKING AND RACER SHUTTLE
Carpooling or getting a ride to the Start in Sierra City is HIGHLY suggested.

Parking will be available at the "Flats", Kentucky Mine Museum, and north of Sierra City on Highway 49. Be sure that your vehicle is completely off the road surface, otherwise you could be ticketed and towed! Complimentary racer shuttles will be available between 11:30am and 4:00pm, first come, first serve, returning racers to their cars in Sierra City.

Note: If you are being dropped off in Sierra City by a friend, parking in Downieville is limited to the following areas: Highway 49, both north and south of Downieville. The USFS Downieville Ranger Station, located across the bridge from the Pizzeria and behind the Courthouse. Cannon Point, located at the western end of Downieville along Highway 49.

Parking is always a major issue in Downieville. We recommend you use the shuttle services provided, especially on Saturday, as the number of cars outnumber the town's population. Be curtious to the locals and respect all private property.
Special Note: please be smart about where you park, especially in town, or you will be ticketed and towed!