Coughlin Spring, Nevada City, CA

## Overview Coughlin Spring is a roadside public drinking spring located along Tyler Foote Crossing Road in the rural hills outside Nevada City, California. Situated in Nevada County within the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills, this spring has been made accessible to passersby via a simple hose-and-faucet setup in front of a distinctive white house. A sign marks the spring's location, making it relatively easy to spot from the road. The spring's source is reported to be approximately one mile up the mountain from the roadside tap, feeding water down to the faucet by gravity. The spring is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Visitors have historically used this as a drinking water source, though as with any natural spring, water quality can vary with seasonal conditions. ## Directions 1. From Nevada City, head north on **Highway 49**. 2. Turn onto **Tyler Foote Crossing Road** (follow signs). 3. Continue along Tyler Foote Crossing Road for approximately **7.9 miles**. 4. Watch for a **white house** on the **right side** of the road near the address 17894–17895 Tyler Foote Crossing Road. 5. The spring faucet is located in front of the house, marked by a sign. **GPS Coordinates:** 39.370674, -120.990852 ## What to Expect Coughlin Spring is a no-frills, roadside spring — perfect for filling up water bottles on a drive through the beautiful Nevada County backcountry. The setup consists of a hose connected to a faucet, positioned in front of a white house that some have described as "Coughlin-shaped." A posted sign identifies the spring, so keep your eyes open as you drive along Tyler Foote Crossing Road. The spring eye itself is located roughly a mile uphill from the tap point, and the water flows down to the roadside faucet. Because this is a rural mountain road, there are no formal parking areas — simply pull off to the side of the road safely when stopping to collect water. Tyler Foote Crossing Road winds through the forested foothills northeast of Nevada City, offering a scenic drive with towering pines and occasional views of the surrounding ridgelines. The area is popular with those exploring the northern Gold Country region of California. If you're passing through, Coughlin Spring makes a convenient and refreshing stop.