more stats
2.1 miles
Distance
49 ft
Climb
-1,143 ft
Descent
00:16:08
Avg time
-1,096 ft
Altitude change
3,484 ft
Altitude min
4,608 ft
Altitude max
4,606 ft
Altitude start
3,510 ft
Altitude end
-9.8%
Grade
-67.2%
Grade max
21.5%
Grade min
955 ft
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
266 ft
Distance flat
00:16:08
Avg time

Third Divide Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Dirtbike/Moto
  • Riding Area
    Downieville Trail Network
    Downieville, California
  • Ref Number
    #11E07
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in E-Biking
    • 75 in Trail Running
    • 95 in Hiking
    • 100 in Dirtbiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #18754 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #3044 in E-Biking
    • #121961 in Trail Running
    • #86494 in Hiking
    • #4653 in Dirtbiking
    • #3505 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #477 in Mountain Biking · California [+]
    • #78 in E-Biking
    • #6,007 in Trail Running
    • #4,941 in Hiking
    • #240 in Dirtbiking
    • #305 in Horseback
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 3
  • Land Owner
    USFS

Third Divide makes up part of the classic Downieville downhill route. It is considered the "fast and flowy" section--quite a bit smoother overall than Butcher Ranch with a great downhill pitch. It is typically maintained at a high level due to its popularity and use.

Access Info

After crossing Pauley Creek on Butcher Ranch trail and climbing out of the valley, the trail will split, with Third Divide continuing uphill to the right, and Second Divide splitting off left and down. The top of Third Divide and also be accessed from Big Boulder trail from the north.

Tags
Flowy
Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 13 rides
  • 17 miles average
6 Months
  • 359 rides
  • 19 miles avg distance
All
  • 1,612 rides
  • Last: Oct 7, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
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Status:
on Sep 4, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.63 (35 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (10,666)
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      Directions to third-divide trailhead (39.611840, -120.750730)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      3 more »
      mtb
      188 |
      Jul 31, 2022 @ 11:30pm
      Jul 31, 2022
      mtb
      239 |
      Dec 22, 2021 @ 9:09am
      Dec 22, 2021
      ebike
      69 |
      Jun 19, 2026 @ 10:08pm
      Jun 19, 2026

      Videos

      22 more »
      youtuber Third Divide (May 2022) / Downieville, CA / MTB
      mtb
      5:58 | 74 | May 21, 2022 , Downieville
      youtuber Third Divide (August 2022) / Downieville, CA / MTB
      mtb
      5:59 | 76 | Oct 7, 2022 , Downieville
      youtuber Big Boulder Trail (2023) / Downieville, CA / MTB
      mtb
      8:59 | 408 | Jun 6, 2023 , Downieville
      youtuber Third Divide (2023) / Downieville, CA / MTB
      mtb
      6:15 | 98 | Jun 9, 2023 , Downieville

      Trail Lists

      Routes with this trail

      120
      Downieville Downhill
      ★ 4.3 • 15 miles • 816 ft • 7 • Shuttled •
      This is the classic Downieville Downhill route. Shuttle up to the start at the Sunshine Trail. From there...
      144
      Downieville Tower to Town
      ★ 5.0 • 18 miles • 1,048 ft • 18 • Shuttled •
      While Tower-to-Town can describe any route between the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout Tower and the town of...
      833
      Yuba Expeditions: Gold Valley Rim, Pauley Creek, Butcher, Third, First
      19 miles • 1,593 ft • 8 • Shuttled •
      The second most popular route down the mountain. Yes there will be climbing and water crossings, but it...
      4.8 ★★★★★
      35 Ratings
      5 ★ 86%
      4 ★ 9%
      3 ★ 3%
      2 ★
      1 ★ 3%

      2 Reviews & Comments

      savesthejade savesthejade
      Open and fast loose dirt chute with some side features to kick off. Surprisingly few brake bumps.
      twowheeledwanderer twowheeledwanderer
      Fast flow! Third Divide is basically where you open up the brakes and let it rip. There is one technical rock feature that is tricky to make (up not down) but other than it's fast and smooth(ish).

      Use this guide to help plan your next trip to Downieville! https://twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/a-quick-mountain-bike-escape-to-downieville-california

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      Nearby Trails

      Downieville Trail Network

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Third Divide located?
      Third Divide is located in Downieville Trail Network, Downieville, California, United States. It is part of the Downieville Trail Network trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.61184, -120.75073.
      ▼ How hard is Third Divide?
      Third Divide is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 9.8%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Third Divide?
      Third Divide has 49 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,143 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 3,484 ft to 4,608 ft.
      ▼ Is Third Divide a point to point trail?
      Third Divide is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Third Divide?
      Third Divide is 2.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Third Divide?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Third Divide. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Third Divide?
      Third Divide is best visited during: Spring, Summer, Fall.
      ▼ How do I access Third Divide? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Third Divide are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Third Divide?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 16 minutes to ride Third Divide. The trail is 2.1 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Third Divide?
      Third Divide is a very popular trail. There have been 10,723 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 10,664 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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