Upper Jones Pond
2.2 miles to pond; super easy; Elevations: 290’-490’; Time: 45 minutes; Tread: gravel road except double track trail a few hundred feet above the road. Horses and mountain bikes are permitted, but there’s no easy way to get behind the gate and cattle guard. Hikers can scramble over the gate.
This trail uses the Jones Road which is open to mountain bikes, but you’ll have to throw the bike over the metal gate at the bottom on the Spenceville Road.
DESCRIPTION:
The gentle road follows the open meadows along little Jones Creek. Few trees along the road and little shade until the double-track bends left (east) to top a flat ridge just before the pond. Bland unless you catch wildflowers in the meadows until a connecting trail climbs up the small draw to the lower (southern) end of the Lookout Trail.
Upper Jones Pond is rather small and clogged with weeds. But ducks like it.
This connection back over the Lookout site hilltop is very pleasant and offers great views from the top. You can drop down the Lookout Trail which is an old road until you hit Nichols Road and continue to Spenceville Road near the primitive campsite (the only people/horse gate through the fence along the main road). From there you would have to return west (left) up the gravel road for maybe an easy ¾ mile.
As a hiker, I dropped north below the lookout site on the road/trail until I crossed through a gate. Then I dropped left 90 degrees down the slope, through shady oaks woodlands and across a great meadow. Then continued cross country until I met Jones Road shortly above the trailhead on the Spenceville Road. It was a moderately easy trek and I only had to crawl through one dilapidated barbwire fence. Other than the double-track above the pond and the segment of Lookout Trail this cross-country piece was the best part of making a loop.
DIRECTIONS:
To Upper Jones Pond
From the east and Grass Valley: Drive 12.5 miles via Highway 20 west of the Highway 49/Highway 20 intersection in Grass Valley. Continue to the black-topped Beale Air Force Base road (Hammonton Road). Turn left (south) and drive 3.8 miles to Smartville Road. Turn left again (south) on the blacktopped road and drive 1.8 miles to graveled Waldo Road. Follow south until cross the Waldo Bridge and then left again onto Spenceville Road. Follow it east for about 3/4 mile. The metal gate with no signs indicating that is the Jones Road is shortly past the wooden corral on the right side of the road.
From the west and Marysville: Follow Highway 20 towards Grass Valley and east as it climbs into the Sierra Foothills. After 15 miles turn right (south) onto the Beal Air Force Base road (Hammanton Road). After leaving the highway follow the directions above.
ACTIVITIES:
Hiking: Dayhikes (Rating: Good)
Jones Road is so-so, but the link to Lookout Trail makes this a nice loop.
Equestrian Trail Riding (Rating: Poor)
The trail/road up Jones Creek is a good ride. The problem is getting around the fence and cattleguard. The one barbwire gate that connects from the corrals is very taut and a two-person job.
Mountain Biking (Rating: Poor)
You have to throw your bike over the metal gate. Then the ride is only 2 miles until the trail turns up to the pond. From there bikes are not permitted except on the gravel road.
