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California
Auburn to Sacramento

From Auburn the ADT follows the Western States Pioneer Express Trail into the American River Canyon, downstream alongside the American River and in the foothills on the WNW side of Folsom Lake in the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. After leaving the Western States Pioneer Express Trail, the ADT follows the American River Bikeway. It passes Folsom Dam and Folsom Prison, which is on the other side of the river below the dam, the historic bridge across Lake Natoma to Old Town Folsom, Lake Natoma, Nimbus Dam and the Nimbus Fish Hatchery. The ADT then continues on the American River Bikeway (also designated as the Jedediah Smith National Recreation Trail) for over twenty miles through the American River Parkway to the end of this segment at the mouth of the American River where it flows into the Sacramento River in Discovery Park.

Codes for type of trail along route:Codes for services along route:
P=Paved road w/shoulder R=paved road no/shoulder C=camping PC=primitive campsite
T=Trail-hiking only B=Trail allows bicycles BB=bed & breakfast zipcode=post office
H=Trail allows horses S=Sidewalk L=lodging M=meals
G=Gravel or dirt road G=groceries B=bike shop
  W=water CO=country road


CUMULATIVE MILES CODE DESCRIPTION EAST TO WEST
0HTrailhead for the Western States Pioneer Express Trail in Auburn adjacent to the Auburn Dam Site viewpoint parking lot on Pacific Avenue.
0.2HPass trail exiting to the left.
0.4HBear right to enter wide asphalt paved area. At far end of this area bear to the left side. Cross paved road. Cross wider paved road; then immediately turn left onto trail.
0.8RTrail enters paved road. Go right on road 200 paces.
0.9HTurn right onto trail from road.
1.3HCross Maidu Road diagonally to the right side of metal gate and continue on trail.
1.7HCross Maidu Road. Trail Junction. Turn left onto Cardiac Bypass Trail which trail is used by the Western States Pioneer Express Trail to descend into the American River canyon.
1.8HCross canal. Continue straight ahead downgrade on trail. (Elevation 1300 feet)
2RTurn right onto paved road. Paved road junctions. Turn right.
2.2HLeave road onto trail to the left. Continue downgrade on the trail.
2.6GTurn right onto gravel road. Go 100 feet to gravel road junction. Go straight across road onto trail which becomes a dirt road. Continue downgrade on the dirt road.
3.3HLeave road to the right through an opening in barbed wire fence next to a gate. Go 50 feet to trail junction. Turn left, cross small stream and continue downgrade on the trail. (The Cardiac Bypass Trail ends at the trail junction.)
3.6HBottom of grade - 60 feet from the American River. Turn right on trail which follows the American River downstream. (Elevation: 520 feet)
3.9HTrail junction with trail that goes straight ahead. Turn left and immediately cross small stream. Note: The American River Flows into Folsom Lake. The Western States Pioneer Express Trail follows the river downstream and then continues SSW on the WNW side of the lake. The Trail is located on the hillsides bordering the river and lake at variable distances from and elevations higher than the river and lake. Where the lake begins depends upon the time of year and the amount of precipitation received in the American River watershed.
7.7HHistorical display board on left side of trail.
7.8HCross wood bridge over stream at Morman Ravine.
7.9GMilepost 48 at point where trail enters gravel road at small PG&E hydro powerhouse. Proceed past either side of powerhouse and on road toward the lake.
8.1HLeave road onto trail to the left 50 feet after road becomes paved.
8.2HPass trail to the right which goes along the right side of Avery's Pond. Continue straight ahead along the left side of Avery's Pond.
8.7HTrail junction with trail that goes straight ahead. Bear left and go downgrade.
9.4HMilepost 46.5 and pass trail going downgrade to the left. Dirt road crosses trail. Pass dirt road going downgrade to the left.
9.6HTurn right on dirt road which becomes a trail after about 150 feet.
9.9HCross paved road at Rattlesnake Bar. Cross over small gullies.
10HTurn right onto dirt road. Cross gravel road onto trail.
10.2HTrail becomes dirt road.
10.3HRattlesnake Bar Assembly Area. Dirt parking area is on the left side of trail. Continue straight ahead. Roads junction. Turn right upgrade onto rough dirt road.
10.6HCross wood bridge over small stream.
10.9HMilepost 45 and trail junction. Go left.
11.2HCross small stream with log railing on both sides of the trail.
11.4HCross small stream. Milepost 44.5 is nearby.
12.1HTrails junction. Turn right. Continue to bear right at a second nearby trail junction. Then ascend to short steep grade.
12.2HCross small flat area straight ahead, then downgrade to dirt roads junction. Turn right on dirt road but not on road to the right rear. Go upgrade. Watch for trail to the left as approaching top of grade. Turn left onto trail.
12.3HPass trail to the right which goes about 120 feet to the east end of Horseshoe Bar Road. This area is the Horseshoe Bar area of Folsom Lake.
17HViewpoint of Folsom Lake.
17.2HLos Logos Trail crosses ADT from right rear to left front.
17.4HPass trail to the left. Proceed upgrade to the right.
18.2HCross dirt road. Proceed straight ahead on the trail. (The corner of Twin Rocks and Boulder Roads is 200 feet to the right on the dirt road.)
18.8HCross paved road and pass through the Granite Bay Assembly Area. This area has a drinking fountain and picnic tables.
19.8HCross paved road. Trail Junction. Go left.
20.1BHCross the paved road which enters the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area at Granite Bay. (Douglas Blvd. Extends west from the entrance one mile to a shopping center and beyond to the city of Roseville.) Continue straight ahead on dirt trail. Just before reaching a paved parking area the trail swings to the right onto a narrow crushed rock road. Go upgrade 150 feet. on the crushed rock road, then turn left onto a dirt road used as a multi-purpose trail.
21.6BHThe Western States Pioneer Express Trail exits road to the right at point where the road becomes surfaced with crushed rock. Continue straight ahead on the multi-purpose trail on top of Folsom Lake Levee.
22.5BHMulti-purpose trail on top of levee becomes paved at iron gate.
23BHCross over paved road to Beals Point parking lot at beach area in the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. (There is a public restroom and snack bar .2 mile to the left on the far side of the parking lot. To the right of the road crossing there is a campground.) At this road crossing the paved multi-purpose trail becomes the paved American River Bikeway. Proceed straight ahead on the bikeway.
24BHPass through tunnel beneath Folsom Dam Road. (If desired, leave trail to the left just before entering the tunnel, cross small parking lot and Folsom Dam Road to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area Headquarters Office where trail informatiion and maps can be obtained.)
26BHPass paved trail to the left which crosses over the upper end of Lake Natoma on the Folsom Historic Bridge. Lake Natoma is a reservoir behind Nimbus Dam on the American River. If desired, cross over the bridge, bear right, then left onto Riley Street and cross Riley Street to the Folsom Powerhouse. (Pioneer Hydro Electric Plant - 1895-1952) --.2 mile from the Bikeway. Continue SSW on Riley Street to Folsom Old Town --.4 mile from the Bikeway.
26.6BHPass by large parking lot on the left at Negro Bar.
31BHPass by the north end of Nimbus Dam.
31.3BHPass beneath and then cross over the Hazel Avenue bridge to the south side of the American River. Cross paved road which enters the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and visitor parking lot. The hatchery, which has a salmon and steelhead fish ladder from the American River into the hatchery and a visitor center, is open to the public.
31.7BHPaved trails junction. Turn right. Note: The American River Bikeway is also known as the Jedediah Smith National Recreation Trail from this point to the end of this segment at Discovery Park.
34.1BHPass beneath the Old Fair Oaks Bridge - a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the American River. The community of Fair Oaks is on the other (north) side of the bridge.
34.4BHPass beneath the Sunrise Blvd. Bridge over the American River.
34.5BHPass paved trail to the right which goes to a pedestrian bridge over the American River and to the Sacramento Bar on the other (north) side of the river. There is a restroom and drinking fountain at this trails junction.
35BHPass through small park with picnic tables, restroom and drinking fountain.
35.6BHPass trail to the left to restroom.
35.8BHPass trail to the left rear to trail parking lot on Ambassador Drive in the community of Rancho Cordova.
38.4BHPass Cordova Community Park which is on the left. Pass through Goethe Park which is mostly undeveloped.
40.5BHCross the Harold M. Richey Bicycle Bridge over the American River from east to west.
40.7BHPass paved trail to the right which goes to the end of Arden Way. Pass picnic and parking areas which are on the right. (1/2 mile long)
44.2BHPass beneath the Watt Ave. bridge over the American River.
45.8BHPass beneath the Howe Ave. bridge over the American River.
46.4BHPass beneath the Guy West Bridge, a pedestrian and bicycle suspension bridge over the American River. The California State University Sacramento campus is on the other (SW) side of the bridge.
46.9BHPass beneath the Fair Oaks Blvd. Bridge over the American River. Pass by the Campus Commons Golf Course which is on the left.
48.2BHPass paved trail to the right at the 6 mile sign. The trail to the right goes to CAL EXPO, the California State Fairgrounds.
49.6BHPass beneath the Interstate 80 bridge over the American River.
49.9BHPass beneath railroad bridge over the American River.
51.5BHPass beneath the Highway 160 bridge and railroad bridge over the American River. Pass paved trail to the left. Cross over Del Paso Blvd. Pass paved trail to the right which is an eight mile long paved trail to the community of Rio Linda.
52.1BHPass beneath the Northgate Blvd. Bridge over canal.
54.3BHPass beneath the Interstate 5 bridge over the American River in Discovery Park. About 30 feet beyond the bridge is the mileage start point of the American River Bikeway as shown by a Mile 0 signpost on the left side of the trail. Mile 0 is also painted on the bikeway pavement next to the signpost and is the end point of this Segment 5. Discovery Park is located at the mouth of the American River where it flows into the Sacramento River. Elevation: 20 feet.
  End of Segment 5

 
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