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Transportation and Directions

Yes, our retreat is a little out of the way. And once you get here, you’ll be glad it is!

Our guest services staff will greet you 8:30 am – 5:00 pm on Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am – 6:30 pm Fri and 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Sat & Sun. Please call us if you expect to arrive after office hours at 800-346-5350 or 530-478-7518. We will leave a welcome packet for you.

Fly and Drive/Ride

The best airport to fly into is Sacramento. Reno Airport is also an option but is less preferable.

Rides options from Sacramento Airport

Rent a car
Driving: Consult Google Map & Directions and our Map for our exact location. Be careful about relying fully on GPS or online maps. Google Maps is accurate, but be careful not to miss the exit when I-80 turns toward Reno.
Public Transportation, bus or train.

Third Party Drivers who come to The Expanding Light Retreat

Personal Private Driver
Michael (916) 201-5168
PersonalPrivateDriver1@gmail.com

By Car

Consult our Map for our exact location. Please be cautious with online maps. Google Maps is accurate, but be careful not to miss the exit when I-80 turns toward Reno.

Maps and Directions:

From Sacramento

90 minutes

Take I-80 (E) towards Reno - go about 25 miles.
At Auburn, turn left on CA-49 (N) toward Grass Valley / Nevada City - go 38 miles.
Just past Nevada City, turn left at the "49 to Downieville" sign. Follow this road for 10.5 miles (watch your odometer). It's a curving mountain road that crosses the Yuba River.
Turn right on Tyler-Foote Road (immediately after the sign for Malakoff Diggins State Park) - go about 5 miles
Turn left on Ananda Way and left again (almost immediately) on Expanding Light Way.

From Reno

Two hours

Take I-80 (W) towards Sacramento - go 55 miles
Take CA-20 (W) - go 27 miles
Turn right on CA-49 (N) towards Downieville - go 10.5 miles
Turn right on Tyler-Foote Road (immediately after the sign for Malakoff Diggins State Park) - go about 5 miles
Turn left on Ananda Way and left again (almost immediately) on Expanding Light Way

From the Northwest

About 15 hours from Seattle, WA, or 12 from Portland, OR

Take I-5 (S) to Williams, CA
Take CA-20 (E) to Nevada City - go 77 miles
Turn left on CA-49 (N) towards Downieville - go 10.5 miles
Turn right on Tyler-Foote Road (immediately after the sign for Malakoff Diggins State Park) - go about 5 miles
Turn left on Ananda Way and left again (almost immediately) on Expanding Light Way.

Bus

Greyhound Bus (from available cities)

Greyhound bus offers service from available cities to Colfax, approximately an hour from Ananda. Contact Greyhound directly for routes, current prices, schedules and reservations at 800-231-2222 or www.greyhound.com.

Amtrak Bus (from available cities)

Amtrak offers limited bus service from available cities into Colfax (if coming from the East) and Auburn (if coming from the West), each about an hour from Ananda. Contact Amtrak directly for routes, current prices, schedules and reservations at 800-USA-RAIL or www.amtrak.com.

Train

Amtrak Train (from available cities)

Amtrak offers train service from available cities into Colfax (if coming from the East) and Auburn (if coming from the West), each about an hour from Ananda. Contact Amtrak directly for routes, current prices, schedules and reservations at 800-USA-RAIL or www.amtrak.com.

Shuttle Services from Airports, Bus and Train Stations

Google Map Directions

These pages feature step-by-step directions, along with Google Maps, to help you find the best route. (More will be added.)

From Sacramento to the Retreat

Weather

Check Weather Report from Accuweather

We’re located at a 2500-foot elevation in the foothills, not the mountains. We sometimes get a little snow, but winters are generally mild. In January it’s common to have high temperatures in the 60s. We can't promise particular weather when you visit, but it is very rare for snow to cause travel problems.