Nevada County and the Sierra Foothills offer abundant outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and gold panning. The area’s lakes and rivers provide opportunities for water skiing, rafting and kayaking. Scotts Flat Lake offers camping and boating, and the Yuba River is a local favorite for summer swimming. Winter skiing and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe is only an hour away.

Nevada County is also known for its gold mining history, dating back to the California Gold Rush in 1849. Outdoor attractions to include Empire Mine State Park and Malakoff Diggins State Park, and gold panning in the South Yuba River near Nevada City.