South Yuba River State Park
Encyclopedia
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
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The park consists of the 22-mile long South Yuba River
Yuba River
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...
Canyon running from near Edwards Crossing to Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Nevada County, California
Bridgeport is a former settlement in Nevada County, California, from the town of French Corral. Its elevation is above sea level...
and contains some 2,000 acres (8 km²) belonging to the California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Parks and Recreation
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, also known as California State Parks, manages the California state parks system. The system administers 278 parks and 1.4 million acres , with over of coastline; of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and of hiking, biking, and...
and another 9,000 under federal jurisdiction. The area became prominent as a target of immigration in the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
of 1849.
The park is noted for its historical gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
connections and for the number of 19th century crossing bridges built along the length of the river, as well as for its scenic beauty and natural and scientific interest, particularly in regard to its geology and wild flowers. The river is a popular area for swimming, as summer temperatures in the surrounding communities can easily reach triple digits.