With some awesome day trip options in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to enjoy everything that Downieville, 25 miles away, has to offer. The Downieville Downhill, Chimney Rock/Empire Creek Trails and Underground Gold Miners Museum alone justify the drive. Sierra City is another popular option. It’s 30 miles away and has tons of awesome things to see and do. Upper Sardine Lake, Lower Sardine Lake and Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout are only the start.