Site Name: Scott’s Flat Reservoir, Nevada City
Coordinates: 39.28249, -120.92239
Bortle Class: 3
Site Ratings
Site Darkness Rating: (1 – Poor, 5 – Great)
Site Light Pollution: (1 – Bad, 5 – Very Little)
Site Airline Traffic: (1 – Lots, 5 – Very Little)
Site Accessibility: (1 – Difficult, 5 – Easy)
Site Foreground Interest: (1 – Poor, 5 – Great)
Site Safety: (1 – Poor, 5 – Great)
Cell Phone Signal: (How Many Bars)
Accessibility:
Easy 2WD vehicle access. Some level ground, best images from the sandy beach. Some wheelchair accessible areas near the parking lot.
Directions:
Drive 1 hour north of Sacramento, CA on hwy 49 to Nevada City, CA. From Nevada City, head north on F49 and continue straight once the road splits, on to highway 20. The road becomes a two-lane highway at this point and begins to wind up the hill. Drive approximately 4.5 miles and turn right onto Scott’s Flat Rd. Drive 3 miles until you come to the ranger station and entrance to the campground.
Drive through the entrance and follow the road through the campground to the day use area by the bathrooms.
Notes:
You can camp at Scott’s Flat campground on the northern shore.
Day use ends at dusk, so to take pictures after dark, you need to either have a camping site or be on an organized, Master The Milky Way, field trip.
If you want to make a weekend out of it, there are lot’s of great place to stay and eat in Nevada City and Grass Valley.
What to Bring:
- Camera
- Tripod
- Red light headlamp
- Camp chair
- Drink / snacks