Site Name: Washington Rd Scenic Overlook, Nevada City
Coordinates: 39.3339216205079, -120.80332559583337
Bortle Class: 2
Best time of the year to visit for Milky Way visibility: March – June
Site Ratings
Site Darkness Rating: 5 (1 – Poor, 5 – Great)
Site Light Pollution: 3 (1 – Bad, 5 – Very Little)
Site Airline Traffic: 3 (1 – Lots, 5 – Very Little)
Site Accessibility: 5 (1 – Difficult, 5 – Easy)
Site Foreground Interest: 2 (1 – Poor, 5 – Great)
Site Safety: 4 (1 – Poor, 5 – Great)
Cell Phone Signal: 1-2 (How Many Bars)
Accessibility:
Easy 2WD vehicle access, on paved roads. The site is flat, and your vehicle will be within 100 ft of where we’ll setup our cameras. You will be walking over sticks and some rocks. There are no restrooms or other facilities onsite. The last place to find a restroom will be at the Five Mile House on hwy 20 or across the street from the Five Mile House is the Rainbow Market, there is a porta-potty outside for the mountain bikers.
Directions:
Drive 1 hour north of Sacramento, CA on hwy 49 to Nevada City, CA. From Nevada City, head north on 49 and continue straight once the road splits, on to highway 20. The road becomes a two-lane highway at this point and begins to wind up the hill. Drive approximately 12.7 miles and turn left onto Washington Rd. Drive another 1.5 miles and look for the wide flat area to the right of the road, where we’ll setup our cameras.
Parking is available on both sides of the road.
Notes:
You can camp at Scott’s Flat campground, just 5 miles away.
If you want to make a weekend out of it, there are lot’s of great place to stay and eat in Nevada City and Grass Valley.
Please be considerate of others when you arrive at the site or leave and turn off your headlights, so that you don’t illuminate the field (where we’ll be) in front of you as you park your vehicle.
There is also an excellent sunset spot at the top of the hill to the west of the parking area.
What to Bring:
- Camera
- Tripod
- Red light headlamp
- Camp chair
- Drink / snacks
Map
Google maps link with directions from Nevada City: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HxDgYmypdNNpn44C7
