Henness Pass Road
This is an undesignated parking area with no trails marked. The road to Alleghany is plowed routinely. At the point where the Alleghany road turns to the right off the Pliocene Ridge Road, parking is permitted.
The broad Pliocene Ridge is heavily timbered with rolling terrain...
...Henness Pass Road continues to Jackson Meadows Reservoir where you can tie in with the groomed snowmobile trail.
DESCRIPTION:
To the left is the Forest City Road. The broad Pliocene Ridge is heavily timbered with rolling terrain broken by creeks dropping into Oregon Creek or the North and Middle Yuba Rivers. Straight ahead (east) the un-plowed South Branch of the Henness Pass Road continues to Jackson Meadows Reservoir where you can tie in with the groomed snowmobile trail.
| Parking Elevation: | 4960 feet | Base Elevation: | 4960 feet | Summit Elevation: | 5780 feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall | 0 inches | Season | Late December through mid-March | ||
| Parking: | Not plowed | Skiable Area | 200 acres | Groomed | No | Terain Park | No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowmaking | |||||||
| Runs | Beginner | 0% | Intermediate | 0% | Expert | 0% | |
| Lifts | 0 | Types | |||||
| Contact(s) | Tahoe National Forest: 530-265-4531 |
|---|---|
| Website(s) |
DIRECTIONS:
To Henness Pass Road
Travel north via Highway 49 from Nevada City to the Alleghany turnoff. Follow this paved road east to the junction with the Forest City Road. Park at the junction off the main road.
Topographic maps: See Index Map or U.S.G.S. Alleghany & Downieville.
ACTIVITIES:
Nordic Cross-country Skiing (Rating: Good)
Most skiers play in the area surrounding the parking location or follow the Henness Pass Road for a short distance then return. Logging roads and harvest areas offer side trips. Bald Mountain lies at the junction of the South and North Routes of the Henness Pass Road and was the site of first developed ski area on the Tahoe National Forest. Take a good topographic map.
Difficulty level: The Henness Pass Road is Easiest. More Difficult opportunities lie to each side of the road.
Mileage: Skiers’ choice. Bald Mountain is about 3 miles.
Snowmobiling (Rating: Good)
From here none of the roads are groomed as snowmobile trails. The South Branch of the Henness Pass Road is an easy road to follow. Although the road makes a trail that is rated only More Difficult -- except in times of tough snow conditions -- the remote nature and lack of grooming earmarks this route for the more adventuresome snowmobiler. The South Branch of the Henness Pass Road continues to Jackson Meadows Reservoir where you can tie in with the groomed snowmobile trail. From there the trail continues along the Henness Pass route to Little Truckee Summit. Much closer to the Allehany parking area, several logging roads and logged areas offer play areas to either side of the main route.
Difficulty levels: Trail difficulty is Easiest to More Difficult. But due to length and the remote location, the through route is Most Difficult.
Snowshoeing (Rating: Good)
Most snowshoers play in the area surrounding the parking location or follow the Henness Pass Road for a short distance then return. Logging roads and harvest areas offer side trips. Bald Mountain lies at the junction of the South and North Routes of the Henness Pass Road and was the site of first developed ski area on the Tahoe National Forest. Take a good topographic map.
Difficulty level: The Henness Pass Road is Easiest. More Difficult opportunities lie to each side of the road.
Mileage: Your choice. Bald Mountain is about 3 miles.
