Barbara Schmidt Millar Women's Triathlon
Nevada City (Cascade Shores), United States · August · Independent (community volunteer event, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.7 km (11.0 mi) bike, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) run. Half-mile swim, 11-mile bike, about 3-mile run (0.8 / 17.7 / 4.8 km). 0.5 / 11 / 3 mi.
Why people love it
- Women-only triathlon, with relay teams and a 5K walk option.
- Half-mile (0.8 km) swim in Scotts Flat Lake, a forested Sierra foothill reservoir.
- Swim, transition and finish are all at Cascade Shores; packet pickup is at the foot of Lake Lane.
- Proceeds fund breast cancer screening at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.
- Small field of 75 athletes plus 15 relay teams in 2026; long-time racers value the camaraderie.
Watch out for
- The Lake Lane hill hits both the bike and the run; locals call it the dreaded hill.
- Altitude is about 950 m (3,100 ft), and late August can be hot by mid-morning.
- Wildfire cancelled the race in 2014 and drought changed it to a duathlon in 2015.
- Revived in 2026 after seven years as a trial run, so the format may change.
- Water temperature, wetsuit rule and bike elevation gain are not published.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.0
Local press reports a joyful 2026 return of a 30-year charity tradition; no independent reviews, and the field was only about 90. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Volunteer-run and restarting after seven years; the organiser called 2026 a trial run. Few details from athletes. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.2
Women-only, relay option, 0.8 km (0.5 mi) lake swim; the hill and altitude need some training. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.8
Hilly bike and run at 950 m (3,100 ft); small field. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.8
Water temperature and wetsuit rule are not published; late-August reservoir water is likely warm. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.8
Late-August reservoir, likely warm; temperature is not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.4
Sheltered reservoir with no current; Union photos show flat water. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
Short 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim in a reservoir. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Forested mountain reservoir; described as beautiful by organisers, with few athlete accounts. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Small field, wave starts and a short swim; safety boat numbers are not published. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Rural neighbourhood roads; nobody has reported on surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Residential Cascade Shores roads, closure details not published. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Wooded Sierra foothills and lake views. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.7
Forested foothills likely give shelter; nobody has reported on wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.8
Rural hills and the Lake Lane climb over 17.7 km (11 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Est. 200-300 m (650-1,000 ft) over 17.7 km (11 mi); unpublished. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2
Neighbourhood and rural roads with a steep hill. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Locals and family along neighbourhood roads and the finish; small field. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Volunteer support from hospital and community groups; no details. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Wooded neighbourhood streets near the lake. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Shaded streets, a hill and mid-morning warmth over 4.8 km (3 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.6
Climb up Lake Lane on a 4.8 km (3 mi) run. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Late-August 9:00 AM start, est. 18-28 °C (64-82 °F) rising through the morning. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Wildfire cancelled 2014 and drought changed 2015; seven-year hiatus in part due to fire conditions. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Forested Sierra foothill reservoir; the praise comes mostly from organisers and local press. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Lake swim visible from the shore and a finish near the boat launch. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeModerate2.8
About 950 m (3,100 ft), above the 700 m (2,300 ft) midpoint. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Nevada City and Grass Valley lodging 15 km (9 mi) away; small event. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Foothill tourist town rates. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
Drive to Cascade Shores; parking details not published. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.4
SMF about 100 km (62 mi), then winding foothill roads. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Swim, transition and finish at Cascade Shores; packet pickup at the foot of Lake Lane; boat launch closures handled by NID. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Historic Nevada City and Grass Valley have many restaurants and shops. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Nevada City (Cascade Shores), California, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 29 August 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (community volunteer event, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation)
- Field size
- About 90 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $75
- First held
- 1995
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.7 km (11.0 mi) bike, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Scotts Flat Lake (reservoir), Cascade Shores boat launch (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Lake Lane hill ('the dreaded hill') on bike and run
- Run shade
- Wooded neighbourhood roads
- Air temperature
- 15–30 °C (59–86 °F)
- Humidity
- Low (Sierra foothills summer)
- Altitude
- 950 m (3,120 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Sacramento International (SMF), 100 km (62 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Nevada City, Grass Valley
- Booking
- Nevada City and Grass Valley, about 15 km (9 mi) away, have inns, hotels and Airbnbs.
What racers and reviewers say
- The Union (Grass Valley)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Race-day report on the first BSM since 2019. Capped at 75 athletes and 15 relay teams, with a half-mile swim, 11-mile bike and 3-mile run plus a hilly 3.1-mile 5K. The organiser called it a joyful, emotional reunion and a successful trial run, with the race set to return next year with wider entry.
“It was the most joy-filled event”
- The Union (race preview)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Preview with three long-time participants who have done the race 6 to 15 times and train together; they value the camaraderie over speed. Highlights 'the dreaded hill' that both bikers and runners climb, the 9 AM start and packet pickup at the foot of Lake Lane.
- The Union (revival feature)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Organiser-written history: started in 1995 with 13 women, peaked above 400, raised more than $230,000 for mammograms and nursing scholarships, and is now the only all-women triathlon in California. Describes a beautiful lake swim, cycling on Pasquale Road and running through wooded neighbourhoods with local cheering. Written by organisers, so treat praise cautiously.
- Mother Lode TrailsRaced 2016 · article · Mixed
Report on the 22nd edition in September 2016 at the Scotts Flat boat ramp: swim 0.5 mi, bike 11 mi, run 2.8 mi, with a 5K fun run/walk and newcomers encouraged. Notes the 2014 race was cancelled by wildfire and 2015 became a duathlon because of drought.
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Sources
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