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Major city · United States

Sierra City

Go for one night as a Highway 49 stop: 1 day for the Kentucky Mine and Main Street, 2 if you hike or resupply on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Sierra City is a Gold Rush town of about 220 people on California Highway 49, halfway between Downieville and Sierraville in the Sierra Buttes foothills. There is one street, one mine museum, a handful of cabins and a campground. It works as a single overnight on a Gold Country drive or a resupply stop for Pacific Crest Trail hikers, not as a multi-day base.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep (mine museum and Herrington's open Memorial Day to Labor Day / May–Oct)
avoid Nov–Apr (snow, seasonal closures); Mon–Tue year-round (most businesses shut)
Airports
RNO · SMF
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Sierra City911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Sierra City, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or breakfast at the café$8–15
  • Street or quick mealBurger or sandwich lunch$12–20
  • BeerDraught beer at the saloon$6–9
  • Budget bedForest Service campsite (Wild Plum), a night, per roomUS$24
  • Mid-range bedForest Service campsite (Wild Plum), a night, per roomUS$24
  • High-end bedForest Service campsite (Wild Plum), a night, per roomUS$24

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Kentucky Mine Historic Park and MuseumGold Rush Main StreetPacific Crest Trail resupplySierra Buttes and the Yuba River
Airports
RNO Reno–Tahoe International (About 1 h 30 min–2 h by car via I-80 and CA-49; the usual gateway. Winter storms can close CA-49.) · SMF Sacramento International (About 2 h 30 min–3 h by car via I-80 and CA-49.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    15°C (59°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    20°C (68°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F) low), wettest Jan (9 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Sierra City: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C (45°F)

−3°C (27°F)

9 rd

Feb

9°C (48°F)

−2°C (28°F)

9 rd

Mar

12°C (54°F)

0°C (32°F)

9 rd

Apr

15°C (59°F)

2°C (36°F)

7 rd

May

20°C (68°F)

5°C (41°F)

5 rd

Jun

25°C (77°F)

8°C (46°F)

3 rd

Jul

29°C (84°F)

11°C (52°F)

1 rd

Aug

29°C (84°F)

11°C (52°F)

1 rd

Sep

25°C (77°F)

8°C (46°F)

2 rd

Oct

19°C (66°F)

4°C (39°F)

4 rd

Nov

11°C (52°F)

0°C (32°F)

8 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

−3°C (27°F)

9 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical option: CA-49 is the only highway in, and it becomes Main Street. Everything in town is a short walk. No local bus service; the nearest larger services are in Downieville and Sierraville. Check road conditions before winter travel.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Downieville

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive west on CA-49, about 21 km (13 mi)

Gold Rush main street, river swimming and a second museum; pairs well with a Sierra City night.

Sierraville

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive east on CA-49, about 37 km (23 mi)

Small ranch town with a store and hot springs nearby; check opening days.

Loyalton

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive east on CA-49 past Sierraville

Larger supply stop for groceries and fuel.

Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Drive north on Gold Lake Highway from Bassetts

Alpine lakes and trails; snow closes the road into early summer.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Main Street (CA-49) in town

Cabins at Buttes Resort and Herrington's Sierra Pines; walk to the store, café and saloon.

Wild Plum Campground

Forest Service campground about 3 km (1.9 mi) east of town on the Yuba River; tent and small RV sites, no hookups.

Downieville or Sierraville

Fallback beds 21 km (13 mi) west or 37 km (23 mi) east if town is full; both add drive time.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–100 excl. bed
Mid
$100–170 excl. bed
High
$170+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Cabin or resort room1 × 1 night × US$120US$120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110US$220
Fuel, Reno round trip1 × US$60US$60
Kentucky Mine museum and tour2 × US$8 · Cash onlyUS$16
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$45
Trip total≈ US$246 per person per day, bed includedUS$491

Seasonal; two-night minimum on some rooms

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or breakfast at the café$8–15
Burger or sandwich lunch$12–20
Draught beer at the saloon$6–9
Gallon of gas$4.50–6.00
Campsite per night$24
Cabin per night$79–155

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are mountain driving, winter storms, wildfire smoke and no cell signal. Tell someone your route and carry water.
  • Most private businesses except lodging and the gas station close on Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Herrington's Sierra Pines is seasonal (about May–Oct) and the Kentucky Mine museum runs Memorial Day to Labor Day only.
  • Cell coverage is patchy in the canyon; download offline maps before you drive in.
  • Winter storms can close CA-49; carry chains and check Caltrans conditions.
  • The Kentucky Mine museum is cash only.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Caltrans road conditions
1-800-427-7623

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Sierra CitySierra City

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Main Street, Sierra City, CA 96125To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Caltrans road conditions1-800-427-7623

Embassy

No consulates in Sierra City; nearest consulates-general are in San Francisco. Emergency services: 911.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Campsite, Wild Plum: $24 per site
  • Cabin, Buttes Resort: $90–155 per night
  • Kentucky Mine tour: $7 adult, $3.50 ages 7–17, cash only

Say or show

  • Main Street, CA-49 — Where is the general store?
  • Check Caltrans before driving — Is the road open?

Cash is useful: the mine museum is cash only and signal is patchy for card payments.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sierra City. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep (mine museum and Herrington's open Memorial Day to Labor Day / May–Oct) · avoid Nov–Apr (snow, seasonal closures); Mon–Tue year-round (most businesses shut) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for RNO and SMF: drive times, winter chain rules, last-services rung.
  2. Walking cluster on Main Street with rescue anchors: store, post office, café, saloon, cabins.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kentucky Mine, Wild Plum Campground, Herrington's) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Sierra City

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