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Natalie's
Nearby Trails
Tevis Cup Trail
Tevis Cup Trail 		  American River Canyon TrailsAmerican River
Canyon Trails 		  More TrailsFoothill and
High Country Trails
This page is oriented toward equestrian trail users, but most of the trails listed are multi-use, that is, reasonably safe for hikers, horses and mountain bikes. Riders may also encounter trail bikes or ATV's on some trails, legal or otherwise. Be careful.

PLEASE NOTE

Most of these trails are NOT suitable for novices. This warning applies both to horses and their riders.

no bikes Trails listed with the "No Bikes" symbol are restricted to horses and hikers only. In general, the restriction is due to the danger of bicycles spooking horses on blind corners in single track sections that have steep canyon dropoffs.

Some of these trails pass through wilderness areas that are accessible only to horses, hikers and helicopters. Do not travel on trails alone.

Always carry plenty of fresh water: Creek water is NOT safe for humans to drink, no matter how pure it may look. That said, if you find yourself stranded and without water, it's better to drink from the creek than to go crazy with thirst.

These trails traverse the natural habitat of many creatures, large and small. Deer, rabbits, hawks and turkey vultures are common sights. Wild turkeys, coyotes, skunks and raccoons are sometimes seen. Bears, bobcats, mountain lions (cougars), foxes, eagles, opossums and porcupines are out there, too, but sightings are very rare indeed.

The numeric information given here is roughly accurate. "Trailer Time," shown in parens under the traihead name, is from I-80 at Auburn to the trailhead, and will vary according to the rig you are driving. Trail Lengths shown are estimated and are designated as follows:

distance one-way one-way distance out and back out-and-back loop distance loop distances
Western States Trail (100-mile Tevis Cup route)
Trail Head Route Trail Length Look For Trail Notes
Robie Park,
map
(120 min.)		 Western States Trail to Squaw 6 mi.
distance one-way		 Pine forest, canyon views Multi-use, graded logging roads and single-track trails
Squaw Valley
map
(90 min.)		 WS Trail to Robinson Flat 28 mi.
distance one-way		 Broad views of Sierra range; Cougar Rock (outcrop); Elephant Trunk (granite bedrock crossing) no bikes graded roads and single-track; steep and rocky in places
Robinson Flat
map
(90 min.)		 WS Trail to Devil's Thumb 14 mi.
distance one-way		 Canyon views; Last Chance (natural watering hole); Devil's Thumb (outcrop) no bikes mostly single-track; long climbs/descents
Old WS Trail through Duncan Canyon and along Red Star Ridge; return via new WS Trail on Foresthill Divide 18 mi.
loop distance		 Canyon views; natural alpine meadows and wooded creeks Multi-use, mostly single-track; long climbs/descents
Devil's Thumb
map
(90 min.)		 WS Trail to Michigan Bluff 8 mi.
distance one-way		 Canyon views; "Swinging" Bridge creek crossing no bikes mostly single-track; long climbs/descents
Michigan Bluff
map
(60 min.)		 WS Trail to Foresthill 10 mi.
distance one-way		 Quaint, historic town of Michigan Bluff and Canyon views no bikes mostly single-track; moderate climbs/descents
Foresthill
map
(45 min.)		 WS Trail to Francisco's (exit via Driver's Flat or White Oak Flat) 18 mi.
distance one-way		 Historic logging town of Foresthill; Canyon views; the "California Loop" switchbacks; view of Ruck-A-Chuck Rapids no bikes mostly single-track; moderate climbs/descents
Todd Valley
map
(45 min.)		 WS Trail from "Cal-2" to Francisco's (exit via Driver's Flat or White Oak Flat) 12 mi.
distance one-way		 Shorter version of route to Franciscos than starting from Foresthill; Canyon views; the "California Loop" switchbacks; view of Ruck-A-Chuck Rapids no bikes mostly single-track; moderate climbs/descents
Driver's Flat
map
(45 min.)		 Pick up WS Trail at Francisco's, continue to Rt. 49/Cool 10 mi.
distance one-way		 Canyon views; wet feet no bikes graded roads and single-track; slow going on rocks; river crossing (impassable in Springtime); Multi-use trail from river to Hwy 49 crossing (narrow road, but traffic is heavy at times)
White Oak Flat
map
(45 min.)		 Pick up WS Trail at Francisco's, continue to Rt. 49/Cool 10 mi.
distance one-way		 Canyon views; wet feet no bikes graded roads and single-track; slow going on rocks; river crossing (impassable in Springtime); Multi-use trail from river to Hwy 49 crossing (narrow road, but traffic is heavy at times)
Cool
map
(20 min.)		 WS Trail to Auburn Fairgrounds 6 mi.
distance one-way		 Canyon views; No Hands Bridge no bikes single-track; moderate climbs/descents; creek crossings.
Trail Head Route Trail Length Look For Trail Notes


American River Canyon Trails, North and Middle Forks
Trail Head Route Trail Length Look For Trail Notes
Auburn Staging Area
(5 min.)		 Loop ride via Am. River Trail, climb out via Cardiac Hill 6 mi.
loop distance		 Auburn Dam site; Canyon views. long, steep climbout with switchbacks
Western States Trail to Cool 7 mi.
distance one-way		 Via No Hands Bridge to town of Cool no bikessome steep climbs/descents
Am. River Trail to Rattlesnake Bar 10 mi.
distance one-way		 Auburn Dam site; Canyon views; views of Lake Folsom. moderate grades; single-track, rocky in places
Rattlesnake Bar,
Loomis
(20 min.)		 Am. River Trail south to Sterling Point 5 mi.
distance one-way		 Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom. single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Sterling Point,
Granite Bay
(30 min.)		 Am. River Trail south to Granite Bay 3 mi.
distance one-way		 Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom. single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Granite Bay
(35 min.)		 Am. River Trail south to Beals Point 3 mi.
distance one-way		 Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom. single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Beals Point
(40 min.)		 Am. River Trail south to Negro Bar 10 mi.
distance one-way		 Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom. single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Negro Bar
(45 min.)		 Am. River Trail north to Auburn Staging Area 30 mi.
distance one-way		 Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom. single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Boole Road,
Weimar
(20 min.)		 Several Trails along the canyon of the North Fork of the American River. See Meadow Vista Trails Assn. trails list.      
Heather Glen,
Weimar
(15 min.)		 Several Trails along the canyon of the North Fork of the American River. See Meadow Vista Trails Assn. trails list.      
Bunch Canyon,
Colfax
(20 min.)		 Aka, Yankee Jims Road. See Meadow Vista Trails Assn. trails list.      
Ponderosa Bar,
Weimar
(20 min.)		 Several Trails along the canyon of the North Fork of the American River. See Meadow Vista Trails Assn. trails list.      
Stevens Trail,
Colfax
(15 min.)		 See Meadow Vista Trails Assn. trails list.      
Cool
(30 min.) 		Knickerbocker Loop Trail (aka, Olmstead Loop) 10 mi.
loop distance		 Spectacular views of Sierra Range; Canyon views. rolling hills, with some moderate grades. Note: there are plank bridges over some creeks, but they are NOT built for horses
Wendel Robie "RB" trail loop 15 mi.
loop distance		 Beautiful ride through lush wooded ravines and natural meadows; Canyon views; adjoins the Auburn Lake Trails trail network. no bikes Mostly single-track; moderate to steep grades; crosses Hwy 49 (traffic is heavy at times)
Drivers Flat,
Foresthill
(30 min.)		 Foresthill Divide Loop Trail 10 mi.
loop distance		 Beautiful ride through lush wooded areas; Canyon views. Multi-use, mostly single-track; moderate grades; crosses Foresthill Divide Rd twice (traffic heavy at times)
Euchre Bar,
Alta
(45 min.)		 Old mining trail to Am. River and then to Humbug Creek and back (trail also continues to Foresthill Divide, an additional 5 mi. round trip) 15 mi.
distance out and back		 Spectacular vista of North Fork river gorge; suspension bridge at river crossing; scattered remains of original gold mining equipment; Old Dorer Mine (abandoned) Long, steep climb with switchbacks; trail narrow in places with steep, 200-ft. dropoffs to river
Trail Head Route Trail Length Look For Trail Notes


Nearby Foothill and High Country Trails
Trail Head Route Trail Length Look For Trail Notes
Weimar Institute
Weimar
(15 min.)		 Weimar Institute trails
map		 1 to 5 mi.
loop distance 		Beautiful wooded area with small creeks; Manzanita groves; well-conditioned trails. no bikes good footing; easy going; some short, moderate hills
Dutch Flat
(30 min.)		 cross dam at Dutch Flat Reservoir (Yuba River) to Mule Springs 10 mi.
distance out and back		 Historic Mule Springs site (stopover used during Donner Party rescue effort) wide, graded roads
Eagle Lakes,
off I-80
(45 min.)		 Eagle Lakes to Meadow Lake 20 mi.
distance out and back		 Beautiful alpine lakes and streams; spectacular views of Sierras some steep climbs, some smooth granite areas
Skillman Campground,
off Hwy 49, above Nevada City
(45 min.)		 Multiple routes within a network of trails any distance
loop distance		 Skillman Reservoir area; pine and oak forests good footing; single track and graded logging roads; some steep climbs; creek crossings.
Boreal
at I-80 summit
(60 min.)		 Pacific Crest Trail any distance, North or South
distance out and back		 Wide, unobstructed Sierra range vistas; wooded canyons. some steep climbs, rocky in places; little or no water on trail in some areas
Jackson Meadows
Hwy 89, N of I-80
(120 min.)		 Pacific Crest Trail any distance, North or South
distance out and back		 Wide, unobstructed Sierra range vistas; wooded canyons; horse camp with four paddocks at trailhead. some steep climbs, rocky in places; little or no water on trail in some areas
Trail Head Route Trail Length Look For Trail Notes


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