Yuba County, California travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Yuba County is in the Sacramento Valley region of California.

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 41°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Sacramento)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
SMF Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento — 42 mi away (major hub). Directions
TKF Truckee Tahoe Airport, Truckee — 65 mi away. Directions

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Places in Yuba County

Marysville

City / town · 5 listings

Cities

Marysville
Olivehurst
Wheatland

Go next

- Named for the Marysville Buttes that are actually found in neighboring Sutter County, Yuba County's northwestern neighbor is a rural destination featuring rolling hills, rivers, and large agricultural areas. The town of Chico is a college town that is home to many excellent restaurants, massive Bidwell Park, and the National Yo-Yo Museum. The town of Oroville boasts a downtown area that dates back to the Gold Rush, and is now home to America's tallest dam (tours available), behind which sits a reservoir that is enjoyed by boaters and hikers. Further afield, 410 ft tall Feather Falls rewards hikers willing to traverse the 8 mi loop trail.
- Located northeast of Yuba County, the forests, rivers and mountains of Plumas County were originally inhabited by Native Americans before miners arrived during the Gold Rush, followed soon after by loggers, and today tourists visit the county for its camping, fishing, whitewater, snowshoeing, and other outdoor opportunities. The Feather River Scenic Byway is a popular way to see the county's beauty, with the east-west route following California's first designated wild and scenic river past nearly one hundred waterfalls, historic bridges and tunnels, spring wildflowers, vivid fall colors, and the "Stairway of Power" consisting of seven hydroelectric powerhouses installed along the river.
- Located in the mountains and forests adjacent to the Nevada border, Yuba County's northeastern neighbor was a booming mining area during the Gold Rush, but today is home to only about 3,000 people. Historically the county was the site of several massive gold discoveries, including the 106 pound Monumental Nugget in 1869; a replica of the huge nugget can be seen in the Kentucky Mine Museum in Sierra City.
- Located east of Yuba County, Nevada County rises from the Sierra foothills to the Nevada border. The county retains many examples of its Gold Rush past, ranging from California's oldest operating theater in Nevada City to the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley, an establishment that has hosted four Presidents since its opening in 1851. Even before the Gold Rush, the county gained fame for the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846, and today the lake named for that doomed expedition is a popular recreation spot.
- Yuba County's southeastern neighbor stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Named after the Spanish word meaning "sand or gravel deposits containing gold", the county was a hotbed of activity during the Gold Rush. Today visitors can enjoy mountain activities such as hiking and skiing, and will also be impressed by the historic courthouse in Auburn.
- Yuba County's southwestern neighbor, tiny Sutter County lies between the Sacramento and Feather rivers, with nearly 90% of the county's land used for grazing and agriculture. The county is home to the eroded volcanic lava domes of the Sutter Buttes, which occupy a circular area roughly ten miles across and are sometimes referred to as the world's smallest mountain range.