By Daven Mathies

It’s hard to believe that the Nevada City Film Festival is old enough to drive this year. What started as a small showcase for local, home-grown films (many of which were experimental or borderline nonsensical, but always deeply enjoyable) has grown into a full-featured international movie extravaganza. The entire event once fit within the Magic Theatre’s 65-seat auditorium, but this year’s festival will host events at three venues, including the historic Nevada Theatre, the oldest, continually running theater on the west coast.

​With festival programs spanning four days, things kick off on Thursday, September 8 at the Miner’s Foundry for the opening night party and a screening of the award-winning UK documentary, Of Shark and Man. Not to be missed, Of Shark and Man tells an incredible story of one of the greatest marine conservation successes of all time, personalized through the lens of 32-year-old David Diley who risks everything to drop his dead-end job and pursue his (terrifying) passion of working with Bull sharks, one of the ocean’s most voracious predators.

On Friday, the festival goes high tech with the Kaleidoscope virtual reality showcase. From abstract animations to an exploration of the world of Vincent van Gogh, attendees will have the chance to don VR goggles and be transported to new worlds in this curated experience. Sure, you’ll look ridiculous on the outside, but you’ll be mesmerized by what you see on the inside.

Friday will also see the 10th anniversary screening of Little Miss Sunshine at the Nevada Theater with filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris in attendance. This is a rare opportunity to see the hilarious and touching film that won the hearts of viewers and critics alike in 2006, and which features a very different type of performance from The Office’s Steve Carell.

Saturday’s programs begin at 11:00 a.m., which should leave you enough time to grab breakfast at Ike’s or the South Pine Café before taking the kids to the Miner’s Foundry for a series of child-friendly programming. Fill out the day with more programs, VR experiences, and feature films.

The closing party will commence at Ol’ Republic Brewery on Sunday at 7:00 p.m., but if you’re looking to kill time before then, make sure to hit up the Constitution Day Parade on Broad Street. This year the parade will feature Nevada City’s own Alexander Rossi, winner of the 2016 Indianapolis 500! We may not have known anything about that race before, but now we’re all diehard fans!​

For tickets, scheduling, and more information on the Nevada City Film Festival, click here. And for more on the weekend’s Constitution Day celebration, head over to the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce.

Growing up in Nevada City, I was never left wanting for things to do. As a child, I ventured out on grand adventures through enchanted forests filled with imaginary creatures, or tossed sticks into streams and chased after them on their ill-fated naval expeditions (I'm an only child, you can understand). As I grew up, the adventures changed their tone, but not the importance they played in my life, from long summer days spent under the sun on the banks of the green Yuba river to ski trips to Sugar Bowl in the Sierra Nevada Mountains each winter. Nevada City is a perfect town to host outdoor enthusiasts of all types, but even the more modest adventurer can find plenty of casual outdoor entertainment along the many hiking trails in the area. Here’s a list of three that I highly suggest exploring while you are here, each of which can be easily completed in an afternoon.

1. Hirschman Trail

Named after the Hirschman brothers who were Nevada City-area gold miners and merchants, Hirschman Trail can be found just outside of downtown Nevada City, with a trailhead on Cement Hill Rd. at HWY 49. There are actually multiple trailheads, but for visitors, the Cement Hill one will be the easiest to find. The trail winds just under a half mile through tall trees and immense granite boulders to Hirschman Pond, which lies at the foot of tall, sharp cliffs carved by hydraulic mining. The 5 acre pond is home to fish, ducks, geese, and the occasional heron. From there, the trail continues roughly another two miles, with no more than 150’ in elevation change. Hirschman Trail is a great way to feel like you’re getting lost in nature without actually getting out of town.

2. Purdon Crossing to Edward’s Crossing, S. Yuba River

This trail follows along the shaded, south side of the Yuba River, starting (or ending) at Purdon Crossing, just 4 miles from the Nevada City Retreats property. It offers a unique opportunity to experience several different microclimates and types of terrain, from mossy and fern-covered areas rich with streams, to dry, almost desert-like rock outcroppings, to dense forest. Walking from Purdon to Edward’s goes against the flow of the river, and thus will be a casual incline; you can hike the trail the opposite direction for a leisurely downhill stroll. It will help to have a drop-off and a pick-up vehicle, one parked at each crossing, unless you want to turn it into a 10 mile hike.

3. Independence Trail

No list of hiking trails in Nevada City can be complete without Independence Trail. (We actually featured it briefly in our promo video.) As the nation’s first ADA-approved wheelchair nature trail, and being completely volunteer-built, it represents the community’s commitment to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience our great outdoors. Located 7 miles outside of downtown Nevada City off of HWY 49, the easy-going trail follows along the old Excelsior Mining Ditch, winding through forested hills, over bubbling streams, and across wooden flumes that once carried the lifeblood of hydraulic mining. The mining was incredibly destructive in its time, but the natural beauty of the area has long since returned, and Independence Trail offers an exceptional way to experience and appreciate it. The grand finale is the 500’ Flume 28, which passes over a waterfall, creating a spectacular view out across the hills and forest. If there is one outdoor adventure you get to while in Nevada City, make it this one!

And there you have it. There are plenty of other hikes and adventures in the area, but these three are some of our local favorites that we keep going back to. Just remember, even on these “easy” hikes, you should always be cautious—rain and wind can alter trail conditions; dirt can erode, rock can break away, and fallen limbs can block access. So be safe, fill up your water bottle, and have fun! It’s amazing how invigorating a breath of fresh air can be.