Nevada County recently entered into an “Adopt-a-Trail” agreement to support the eastern portion of the well-loved local Hirschman Pond Trail in Nevada City. Hirshman Trail is minutes from the Eric Rood Center and is a source of enjoyment for County staff almost every day. Employees frequently use the trail for walks and lunch breaks to relax and decompress while outdoors. County staff now have an opportunity to give back to the trail.
Over the next two years, County staff will volunteer in non-work-related stewardship, maintenance, and bi-monthly inspections for the Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT). Through BYLT’s program, staff volunteers will individually walk the trail to check for trash, vandalism, safety issues, and general upkeep. Teams from County departments will tackle larger projects such as erosion control, building a retaining wall, spreading gravel to maintain the trail’s surface, brush maintenance, and trail route preservation.
Nevada County will be adopting the first mile of the trail on the eastern portion from the parking lot tail head to the Woods Ravine Section, as volunteers have already adopted the other trail portions. Learn more about BYLT’s Adopt-A-Trail Program at www.bylt.org.
About Hirschman Pond Trail
Only a mile from the heart of downtown Nevada City, this trail system, partially constructed by the Land Trust, gets you quickly out into nature with lots of different things to enjoy. The centerpiece is lovely Hirschman’s Pond. In 2021, Hirschman’s Pond was designated a Nevada County Historical Landmark to honor pioneer miner Leb Hirschman and the Jewish community that settled here during the Gold Rush.
The eastern 0.4 miles of trail is constructed to ADA standards, providing barrier-free access to Hirschman’s Pond. Highlighting this section of trail is a 40-foot long trestle that was built to replicate the railroad and flume construction techniques of the late 1800s.
West of the pond, the trail narrows and meanders through oak woodlands, pines, and grasslands for an additional 2 miles. Hirschman’s Pond is five acres of water from natural sources at the foot of tall cliffs carved by hydraulic mining of the area in the 1800s. Now people visit to enjoy the tranquil scenery, fish along the shore, and view wildlife, including ducks, geese, and herons on the pond. There is a nice bench on the south shore of the pond for taking in the view.