Guides
7.5 mile trail near Colfax, California
Stevens Trail is about 7.5 miles long located near Colfax, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a half day. It is very scenic, rich in history and is on the National Register of Historic places. Built by Truman Allen Stevens it was used as a toll road for miners that needed to get from the mining town of Iowa Hill to the railroad...
Walk around Empire Mine State Historic Park and explore several smaller abandoned mines and 100 years of mining history
Welcome to Empire Mine State Historic Park, home to Empire Mine, which was once the most profitable gold mine in California during the gold rush. This hike will take you around the Empire Mine site and past several smaller mines which were all eventually absorbed as part of the large mining operation at Empire Mine. Along this hike you will see old...
4.6 mile trail near Auburn, Placerville, and Sacramento, California
Lake Clementine Loop Via Trail & Unmarked Riverbank Route is about 4.6 miles long and located near Auburn, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. This route take the easy trail from the Old Foresthill Bridge underneath the New Foresthill Bridge to the Lake Clementine dam. The return route is somewhat strenuous and...
2.1 mile trail near Auburn, California
(also near Sacramento, Cool, and Placerville)
This easy hike to Black Hole Of Calcutta Falls is about 2.1 miles round trip stroll located near Cool, California. The trail is great for walking and normally takes 1-3 hours. The trail is also used by an occasional horse and rider. Black Hole Of Calcutta Falls flows year-round. The waterfall can provide a respite from the sun. It's a nice place...
Walk along the river where the historic railway once traveled and end up at a stunning amphitheater of carved limestone
This great hike along the Middle Fork of the American River ends in a spectacular amphitheater of sheer limestone walls rising around you. Enjoy the natural beauty of the American river canyon and also pass by an enormous cave that was the site of both paleontologic excavations and more mining activities. Learn about the plants and animals present...
Enjoy views of the Middle Fork American River Canyon on this easy walk across the historic arched cement bridge
This short walk brings you up to and then across the Mountain Quarries RailRoad Bridge, which was the longest concrete arch railroad bridge in the world when it was built in 1912. Enjoy great views of the Middle Fork American River Canyon and marvel at what was a fantastic feat of construction for its time. The triple span bridge was built by the...
3.2 mile trail near Auburn, California - American River, Sacramento metro area
The hike to the Base Of Auburn Dam Site is about 3.2 miles long and located near Auburn, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. This trek start at Gate 142 of the Auburn State Recreational Area and proceeds down to the base Auburn Dam. Most of the route follows a paved road. The route then reverses itself and returns...
Trips
Stevens Trail South - Iowa Hill
Iowa Hill, California, United States
Hiking | 6.8 miles (5.0 miles away)
Hiking | 6.8 miles (5.0 miles away)
This hike was from the Iowa Hill Store, in the old mining town of Iowa Hill, down to the North Fork of the American River. We had hiked the northern Stevens Trail from Colfax to Secret Ravine and really enjoyed it. Then we found out about this "forgotten side" of Stevens Trail that also takes you to Secret Ravine, but from the south and on the opposite side of the river.
Coming from...
Eric Peach was nice enough to lead us on an interpretive walk of the Quarry Trail in Auburn State Recreation Area. During this 3.5-mile round-trip hike he explained the history of the quarry and the area, native plants and wildlife, and answered our many questions about the Quarry and its history.
Independence Trail
Jones Bar (historical), California, United States
Hiking | 3.6 miles (15.3 miles away)
Hiking | 3.6 miles (15.3 miles away)
We decided to take a hike where there would be some shade today. This place is beautiful. Most of the trail is shaded by trees. The trail is flat, mostly level. It is 3.59 miles out and back from the wheel-chair access parking (where the restroom is) to the jeep trail and back. Walking slowly and looking at scenery, it took us a little over 1.5 hours to complete the trail. ...
Hardrock Trail and Osborn Hill Loop
Empire Mine State Historic Park, California, United States
Hiking | 4.5 miles (8.8 miles away)
Hiking | 4.5 miles (8.8 miles away)
This morning we went to Empire Mine State Historic Park as part of our journey through the California State Parks. We hiked the Hardrock trail and added in the Osborn Loop Trail as well to make it a bit longer.After the hiles we explored the Bourn Mansion and the old mine yard where we saw several old buildings, rusted machinery, and even went a little ways into Empire Mine.
This was a great hike. The trail is said to be very popular and
a good one for horseback riders and mountain bikers, but we
only encountered hikers on our December day. In fact, at 9:30 am,
there was only one other car in the lot, but there were several there
in the afternoon when we got back. The book we read that described the
hike said there were no facilities at the trailhead, so we...
Training Hill Tr/Pig Farm Tr Loop
Auburn, California, United States
Hiking | 2.9 miles (13.7 miles away)
Hiking | 2.9 miles (13.7 miles away)
Steep climb up Training Hill Tr from American River Confluence towards Cool. Pig Farm Tr is an easy down hill finish to this loop.
This trip starts in Iowa Hill. At the start we were joined by two dogs that wanted to follow us and would not leave. We decided to call them Kelly and Ted as they were substituting for our hiking partners.This hike starts with 4 miles of sometimes steep downhill, all the way to the river. There are some nice views, but I must say the flies and bugs are very annoying. At...
The trail is broad (made for a stagecoach) with a regular slope which takes you into the rather steep American River Canyon. At the end of this hike is the confluence of the North and middle forks of the American River. High likelihood to see deer.
I took my dog up here for his first hike. He enjoyed the waterfalls and the river. The GPS map isn't that accurate I started using it late(so start at the "end" marker) and then I forgot to turn it on sometimes. We started at the bridge where YJ Rd crosses the river. We made it to Devil's Falls and then kept going. At the Yankee Jim and Canyon Creek Trail intersection...
Directions: From Sacramento take I-80 E, exit Weimer Cross Rd (#131), turn right toward Canyon Way, right onto Yankee Jims Road and continue 5.3 miles along the road (becomes a rough dirt road). Park at the Yankee Jims Bridge (path down to the North Fork of the American River on the far side of the bridge) or continue 0.5 mi up the road to the base of Devils Falls to park. Shirttail...
