MOTHER LODE TRAILS
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Volunteer
  • Links
    • Law Enforcement Emergency
    • Federal, State, County Districts Parks & Trails
    • Running Clubs
    • Equestrian Clubs
    • Mt. Bike Clubs
    • Hiking Clubs
    • Trail Advocacy Organizations
    • Phone Numbers State & Federal Parks, Trails & Lands
    • Lost & Found on the Trails
    • Where to Eat on the Trails
  • News
  • Alerts

Ranch Trail enjoyed by mt. bikers and others

2/24/2018

 
Picture
Behind gate 116 in the Auburn State Recreation area is Ranch Trail, and is enjoyed predominantly by mountain bike riders. It runs alongside the Mammoth Bar OHV park currently closed due to erosion from last winter’s storms. The sweeping views of the middle fork of the American River are worth the short trek from the Foresthill Road to the edge of the canyon. A small shade structure used to house a picnic table beneath but it has been moved up closer to the road.

A rock outcropping (photo credit - Mary West) that had even better view now has a discouraging fence in front of it. If you continue down and around the hill, another shade structure and picnic table are here. On a clear day you can see the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east and Folsom and even Sacramento to the west.

Some like the trail because it isn’t popular. There are no waterfalls or water access. Just a wide dirt trail, easy slope and great view. In spring there are a variety of wildflowers and lush grass. In winter, it can be chilly with the no windbreak of trees. I like to take my dog out here and enjoy watching the sun move across the canyon. The light and shadows change as the day passes. Other trails branch off from this one to make your hike as long as you like.

To get there from Auburn, take Interstate 80 to the Foresthill exit. Drive over the Foresthill Bridge and look for gate 116 on the right. It is down off the shoulder of the road so be cautious parking completely over the white line on the edge of the road near the railing. Take the trail behind the gate and to the right.
--By Mary West

To read the complete unedited article in the Auburn Journal newspaper,  CLICK HERE.

Mary West is a retired radio personality and news reporter with a longtime love of the outdoors, sharing her favorite day hikes in Placer, Nevada, El Dorado and Yuba counties. Learn more about local trails by following Mary on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.





Comments are closed.

    Trail News

    Visit this page for all of the latest Trail News that affects our area.

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Home
Contact
 Mother Lode Trails is YOUR local volunteer-run trail information and resource website. Here you can find
up-to-the minute information on trail alerts, links and trail news for Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Yuba and
Sacramento counties. Mother Lode Trails is trademarked.