California Highway 49 North: Nevada City to Downieville

[@alankott3129]

While in high school in the early to mid 70's, a bunch of us would drive up from San Jose to spend our summer camped out by Indian Valley Outpost. This section of highway in your video brings back some truly awesome memories. Thanks!

[@compdude100]

Downieville seems like such a neat little town nestled in the mountains, and I love how the highway thru the town gets so narrow it loses its yellow centerline!

[@trebors386]

Definitely my favorite section of Highway 49, the road was built for a Mazda Miata.

[@InterstateKyle]

It is a really great drive indeed!

[@JJ9er]

At 6:19 you drove past Peterson's Corner on the left. My grandparents (my Dad's parents) owned it from 1968-1979. I was only 5 years old when they sold it but they continued to live in North San Juan the rest of their lives and we would always go to the Corner. Back then it was a bar, restaurant, dining hall, grocery store, gas station, and my granpa had his barber shop on the very end of the property. At 7:08 you passed on the left the driveway to my maternal grandmother's property. And lastly the Middle Fork, we would spend countless weekends up there in the summers and my whole family would go up to the river, park and take the quick walk down to the water. My brother, cousins, and I, jumped off that bridge too many times to count as kids. I have many fond memories of being in the area as a kid. Thanks for this!

[@alankott3129]

I lived in DV in the mid to late 70's. I remember eating there multiple times. It was a great establishment. Great memories in general.

[@chargerdriver]

Thanks for the Downieville information. I am going to have a roadtrip in CA next April, and now its a definite Must-See on my list :)

[@InterstateKyle]

I hope it’s a good trip for you! Glad I could provide a little preview and help you plan your trip!

[@Sam-ts8hi]

This whole thing has very bitter sweet experience for meh !! I lived up there for almost 3 years, fell in love with Amazing hippi girl but life is shattered everywhere was a freaking mess !! I use to drive this road almost every other week all the way to Downiville and Sieara city and what not, thinking about her, It still fills my heart mfucker! I will prolly never heal from that crush of the fcking life.. this freeway and Hw20.. It has become part of my everylasting life !!

[@flarrfan]

I'm so enjoying your CA49 drive. Made a trip to CA three years ago with one purpose being to drive the PCH. Now I have another road to replace it on the bucket list. Reminds me a lot of the Blue Ridge Parkway with very different scenery and history which I'd overlooked before.

[@InterstateKyle]

Thank you so much Kent!

[@dwood78part23]

Several weeks ago, I re-watched your series of CA Route 49 from the 2021 season. & the one thing I kept on thinking & thanks for mentioning this in the commentary is did you'll finish the rest of the drive on CA route 49 to it's end at CA route 70. Hearing that you have the footage of the rest of the highway to its end, I'll be waiting to see it. PS, Hilary came & went. Where I lived, we escaped the worse of it- just a little windy & rain- at times heavy, but not to the point that it caused real flooding. An earthquake also happened on Sunday as well, though I never felt it despite it being a 5.1 magnitude one! Let's just say that SoCal had a eventfully weekend nature wise!

[@InterstateKyle]

Glad you’re safe! I’m sure that must have been an experience! A Hurriquake if you will 😂. Bad jokes aside, thanks for tuning in. Can’t wait for you to watch the rest of the series on CA-49.

[@grizzfan08]

That river canyon section can rank up there with the Bagby Grade. North San Juan's another one of those "blink and you miss it" towns. A quick historical note: the Makakoff Diggings Site led to hydraulic mining being banned in the US because of how destructive it is (in the 1860s/70s, there had been an earthen dam above Marysville that breached, and completely flooded Marysville). Downieville is like Markleeville... hard to get to. But at least they still retain their Gold Rush heritage.

[@nancystanley613]

I was born in Alleghany, California in 1957. My father worked in the mine

[@jsmcguireIII]

Many a fine evening back in the day at the St. Charles. 🍻

[@surferdude642]

One of my favorite motorcycle roads, all the way to the hwy 89 junction.

[@InterstateKyle]

That sounds like an awesome time!

[@windyrotorblast]

Yes. I live in Grass Valley and would ride out to Harrington's for their trout breakfast. We would refuel in North San Juan if we planned on going over the top to hwy 89.

[@sallygalfriday]

thanks for sharing this road trip. it filled me with Joy. i love the sierras and lived out there for a while. it feel like home to me.

[@authorTLNelson]

Going to watch the last half later today. This is like a sigh of releif....so relaxing❤

[@InterstateKyle]

Thank you so much for watching!