The San Juan Ridge is a geographic feature
extending approximately 24 miles (38.6 km) east-northeast between the South and Middle Yuba River

Yuba River

The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...

s in the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The elevation is approximately 790 m (2,600 ft) above sea level.

History

"The Ridge" was notable for hydraulic mining

Hydraulic mining

Hydraulic mining, or hydraulicking, is a form of mining that uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment. In the placer mining of gold or tin, the resulting water-sediment slurry is directed through sluice boxes to remove the gold.-Precursor - ground...

 during the California gold rush

California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...

, the largest operation of its kind being run by North Bloomfield Mining and Gravel Company

North Bloomfield Mining and Gravel Company

The North Bloomfield Mining and Gravel Company of North Bloomfield, California, was established in 1866 and operated a hydraulic gold-mining operation at the Malakoff Mine subsequent to the California Gold Rush...

. French Corral

French Corral

French Corral is an unincorporated community in Nevada County, California, United States, off State Route 49 via Pleasant Valley Road, and northwest of Nevada City....

 was the first mining camp on The Ridge. In the 1990s, research was conducted to renew gold mining efforts.

Tourism

The South Yuba River State Park

South Yuba River State Park

South Yuba River State Park is located in Nevada County, California.The park consists of the 22-mile long South Yuba River Canyon running from near Edwards Crossing to Bridgeport and contains some 2,000 acres belonging to the California Department of Parks and Recreation and another 9,000 under...

 and Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park belongs to the California State Historic Park system, a part of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Malakoff Diggins is the site of California's largest hydraulic mines...

 are nearby, as is historic Nevada City, California

Nevada City, California

-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...

.