If you can handle straight down and straight up hiking, trail running, or horseback riding with…read morecliff drop-offs, this Bud's for you! Head down the paved road to the river. Someone else said it's 3 miles round trip but my Strava says 3.2 miles up from the river with 800' gain. :shrug Check out Alltrails app for more input and routes. If you stick to the pavement route, the path is very wide, two cars width and more at times. So no fears of steep drop-offs. Beyond the river, it's single track. On the dirt routes going down to the river, it's very technical and steep. Though I've never been on it, I know about K2/Cardiac Hill. LOL! If you want to explore the Western States trail that's used by Tevis Cup and Western States Endurance Race (both 100 mile endurance races one on horse one on foot), then head down the dirt trail off the horse side. If you travel a little more than 3 miles down this path you'll encounter a waterfall if there's still flowing water. Cross in the water or on the bridge (horses ok either way). But again, this trail isn't for the faint of heart when it comes to horses and their riders. Be mindful it may be too much for you or your horse. Horse side has a large watering hole that had water in it in early April 2023 (while some locations fear the horse sicknesses and have shut off water). There's also tying rails. And plenty of room to maneuver a rig. Paved side has a building with restrooms. The restroom is accessed by the paved lot but is on the side nearest the dirt lot/horse trailer parking. I don't recall it having soap or towels or hand dryers in April 2023. C'mon 'rona, give us soap even if it's the sandpaper powder! Be aware that some days there are major events and you may not be able to park there. I suppose you can call City of Auburn or just be prepared to go somewhere different such as railroad park. Major events include: Tevis Cup, Western States Endurance Race, and American River Endurance Race.

Beautiful large park. Costs $7 to enter/park, and there's a strict close time to leave at sundown…read more Highly recommend for biking, but not so much for casual walking with kids. This place is huge and has a decent amount of hills and flat areas.

Amazing trail in scenic the Folsom SRA…read more Folsom lake gets a lot of attention as Lake Natoma is technically part of Folsom Lake's Recreation area but it couldn't be more different. Location: Lake Natoma is located downriver from Folsom damn and is held back by the Nimbus Dam. The major difference is that there is no motorized boats allowed on the lake and the water level is pretty consistent. This makes it much better for kayaking and paddle boards. It also make it great for waterfront trail that runs around the entire lake. Activities: With the recent renovations this trail is great for biking, walking and jogging. With the scenic view of the water and the scenery. Vibe: Besides the main trail, there are side trails and single tracks that run along the man trail. Lake Natoma has many activities and the multiuse trail is just one part. It's great to have something so great in Sacramento's backyard

Like it or not, the Lake Natoma waterfront and trail enhancement project was completed several…read moreyears ago. The result is the Lake Natoma Waterfront Access Trail. It provides ADA access to Lake Natoma area that's next to the Folsom historic district. The trail is a loop that cuts a path down closer to the river's edge and connects the current American River trail. It was my first time exploring the waterfront access. It was within a hour before dusk (in the winter) so I didn't venture far out. There are no lights out. I used the Gold Lake Drive access point behind Lake Natoma Inn that's also near the Lake Natoma Bridge Crossing pedestrian walk. The upper path is an ADA trail. The trail loops in an oval. It's shared with cyclists and pedestrians. So if you have mobility issues and/or children, please be vigilant and watch out for those cyclists. The lower trail hugs the river which the body of water is called Lake Natoma in this particular area. Not to be confused with the Lake Natoma recreation area off Hazel Avenue. There is a variety of foliage and wildlife to observe. Nearby parking maybe hard to find. You might have to park further away and walk over. But the plus side is that parking is totally free in and around Historic Folsom. Just be aware of the posted time limits.

Ever since moving to the Sacramento area back in 2001, I have yet to conquer all the hidden trails,…read morecreeks and nature surrounding it. This takes me to the city of Folsom where I stumbled across "Hinkle Creek Nature Area", a place I had not even heard about until making an actual visit. Located in a residential part of Folsom alongside Baldwin Dam Rd., this park/nature preserve is closest to Oak Ave and Folsom-Auburn Rd while being just west of the American River. I came here with my lady during the afternoon of Sunday 2/1/2026 at around 1:00pm. Much to my surprise, parking was free and easily accessible. What I particularly liked about this nature area was that you may enter through either a paved or unpaved trail as the entire walk stretches in just under a mile. And much to my surprise, the 36-acres that accommodates this park actually made me feel as if I was more in the open air wilderness. Since we came during a comfortable day, we witnessed a ton of fresh green grass and the absence of leaves on many of the trees. During my walk, The overall nature area is the perfect spot for relaxed, leisurely walks that even the most non-skilled person can do while it is stroller and pet friendly. I also wanted to add that the trail can also be used for mountain biking and even horseback riding even though we did not witness that on our walk. I also encourage everyone to pay a visit to the actual Hinkle Creek Nature Center that offers useful information and educational programs to children. All in all, this is an excellent and well-maintained nature center that caters to all walks of life. My rating, a unanimous five stars.

What a find! I have to say that the Hinkle Creek Nature Area is one of our most favorite suburban…read morenature areas in the Sacramento region. The one-mile loop, partially paved and all easily marked, truly makes you feel that you aren't in the middle of a neighborhood. For the most part, it's quiet, and serene -- even when homes are nearby. The only real noise is when you walk beside a road for a few 100 feet.The small creek and pond provide a beautiful setting to walk by or sit and relax. Dog are allowed, but keep in mind that if your dog is a barker or not totally canine-friendly, there are few places to let others pass when you are on the unpaved portion of the trail. Go in the spring time when the grass is green and lush. This is a gem of a find.

What a great trail, just be cognizant of where you walk/bike because the trail is paved and has…read moretwo-way traffic. There are some shady spots it's a nice ride with free parking if you arrive early enough. Some wildlife and the backyards of a nice residential community. Bring water!

3.5 Stars nice if you live in the area but not worth a trip by itself. The trail follows Dry Creek…read morewhich actually looks nice this time of the year. People were generally friendly but we saw a few questionable people as well. There was a spot on the trail underneath a overpass where we could see racist graffiti and a Swatiska. The graffiti had been cleaned up but was still visible.

I was in the area for a California state park lead height. We started at 6:00 a.m. the trail was…read moremoderate. Happy to walk through a very much carved out Trail no issues or problems. Parking is easy but I could see how parking could fill up here it's a moderate size parking lot. I was just as true if you're looking for a moderate hike it does have some areas that are not shaded of course.

*SWEETWATER TRAIL*Came up here around 8am on a Sunday and there were only 2 cars in the parking…read morelot...by time we left it was still only less than half full. I've never been here so here's a heads up for those that are new. Every time I googled the pin would drop on Salmon Falls Rd. So I looked up Salmon Falls Bridge and zoomed in. There is a sharp left turn right before you get to the bridge itself. This turn will take you up to two parking lots, both with their own bathroom (four stalls total). There's also a boat ramp but this area is shallow. The trail starts at the lot to the left as you enter. The pathway is not too narrow but in some areas it is and it's used for both walking/biking and there is POISON OAK everywhere. I suggest wearing long socks/pants. If you do wear shorts be cautious! There are plenty of trails that lead off to the right and take you down toward the lake. My boys and I packed up our coolers and spent some time down there for lunch. When we went it was beautiful and sunny with just a light breeze. This is a nice trail to get in a good walk/run. We will definitely be back as it's beautiful up here...enjoy!!

The American River Parkway is a gem. Nice paved trails are patrolled and kept in great shape. Dirt…read moretrails veer off the main paved trail for additional biking fun. I regularly ride from Hazel (Nimbus( to Beale Point and back, about 20 miles. On weekdays the trails are sparsely populated; on weekends very crowded. Get a Poopy Pass to park at a State Rec Area. And don't bother trying to park on the weekend, likely the lots are full and you'll be turned away. Nice picnic areas along the way, some with toilets.

Some parts are better than others. Don't be out in the dark, some areas are not nice and there are…read moresome camps on the side.

Beautiful, family friendly park with shade trees and stuff for kids to climb on. Paved trail along…read moreseasonal creek. Information on how to care for our environment.

The map here on Yelp shows the directions to Rusch park instead. The correct address is 7000 Auburn…read moreBlvd, Citrus Heights, CA 95610 as all the other reviews say it's behind Costco.

My regular walk for many years. Very scenic. Up and down…read moresteep hills then it flattens out. It's through the backyards of fabulous houses in American river park. There are great stairways to add to your workout. Shader walk in late afternoon and evening. Jody

Beautiful, shady little loop. One of my go tos when I want to get a quick walk in. Very peaceful.read more