Alta Sierra is a census-designated place (CDP) in Nevada
County, California, USA. The population was 6,522 at the 2000
census. Alta Sierra is located at (39.128952, -121.052442).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a
total area of 8.4 square miles (21.7 kmē), of which, 8.4 square
miles (21.7 kmē) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 kmē)
of it (0.24%) is water.
The Alta Sierra Country Club and its 18-hole
golf course are at the core of this residential subdivision.
Requiring membership independent of homeownership, the club has
an expansive clubhouse with fine dining and casual dining rooms,
a golf shop, and a swimming pool. With no parallel fairways, the
6,537-yard course follows the natural terrain of the mountainous
mini community. A private course with limited public access, the
links put golfers through a series of elevation changes while
wending past native oak and pine, and a variety of home styles
and settings. Even residents who don't belong to the country
club get the benefit of the golf course's evergreen scenery and
the restive feeling of living within a resort environment.
Created in the 1960s, this residential community was formed by
subdividing three large cattle ranches into about 2,300 home
sites. Cradled between Wolf Mountain and Mt. Olive, at 1,800 to
2,300 feet above sea level, the Alta Sierra subdivision offers
all types of lots - some perched on steep hillsides, others
sitting on almost flat parcels and most homes are designed to
fit the lay of the land.
Built out through the decades, homes at Alta Sierra come in an
assortment of architectural styles, with a wide range of price
tags to match. For those who prefer more elbow room, the Alta
Sierra Ranches subdivision off of George Brewer Road at Wolf
Creek, supplies home sites on larger pieces of property that can
accommodate horses and 4-H projects. Rattlesnake Creek slithers
through the north end of Alta Sierra; South Wolf Creek dodges
across its south side, adding creek-side home sites to the mix.
There are four unofficial parts to Alta Sierra: The cluster
service businesses and eateries that front Highway 49; the Alta
Sierra Estates tract of single-family residences on mostly
city-size lots; the Alta Sierra Ranches country-style
neighborhood; and The Country Club Hub. Because Alta Sierra has
no streetlights, sidewalks or curbs - and abundant trees,
waterfowl and wildlife - it is imbued with a rural, mountain
hamlet quality.
The business and tourist areas of Grass Valley
and Nevada City are only 6-9 miles to the north for all of your
every day needs and the Sacramento Metro area is one hour to
downtown and the major shopping area in Roseville is about half
as far.
