I am on a mission to see everything in California. I grew up here but moved away to work in Chicago for about a dozen years and came back determined to visit every spot of this beautiful state. Right now I'm focusing on a lot of day trips around Sacramento.
One destination I recommend is the Emerald Pools in Nevada City. Emerald Pools Recreational Area is a series of swimming holes and short hiking trails located on Jordan Creek and the South Yuba River in Nevada City. Nevada City itself has a great history. It was settled in 1849 during the gold rush, and is a quaint little city about 60 miles northeast of Sacramento.
I'm not a fan of hanging out with the rest of the tourists though, give me Mother Nature any day! Therefore, I took the short ride on Forest Route 18 to see the Emerald Pools. It's absolutely beautiful. Because it's winter, the pools aren't quite as "emerald" as in the warmer months, but still, the water is clear, and you can perch on the rocks above and lose yourself while watching the water squeeze through the narrow crevices into the pools below.
From the parking area on State Route 18, it's an easy, all ages, half-mile hike to the pools. Once you get there, you'll need to be agile enough to climb the rocks, but there's plenty of space to just sit and enjoy the beauty without playing mountain goat.
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