Cycling in Placer County
Placer County Bike Trails One of the most entertaining ways to discover more of Placer County in California is via cycling. We’ve examined all of the cycling routes in the area to present the top 13, so you can pick the ideal Placer County bike trip. Simply click on any route to view a thorough breakdown of information, including elevation profiles and surface evaluations, and to explore actual advice and images that other users have posted.
Where To Mountain Bike And How To Do It In Placer County Bike Trails
Visitors can discover ideal circumstances for outdoor activity at any time of year in Placer County because of the range of climates and elevations there. Mountain bikers, for instance, can ride the singletrack in the Sierra Nevada foothills during fall, winter, and spring, then escape up into the mountains come summer. The good weather merely makes the situation more appealing. National forests and recreation areas in Placer County are teeming with top-notch routes suitable for all skill levels. Here are some of the county’s top trails for year-round riding
The routes in the Folsom Lake area are perfect for winter and early spring riding, even if the Sierra Nevada Mountains are still covered in snow. Check out the 7.5-mile Granite Bay Path if you’re looking for a flow trail with a mix of modest climbs and descents. It’s perfect for easy-intermediate riders. Beautiful S-curves on smooth soil keep it moving quickly, but a few harder rock gardens increase the thrill. A lengthier ride that explores Folsom Lake’s western coast can be extended by adding the 5-mile (one-way) Folsom Bike to Granite Bay Connector Trail.
Near the junction of the center and North Forks of the American River, 40 miles of picturesque canyons can be found in the Auburn State Recreation Area. The southern part of Placer County’s best mountain biking can be found at Auburn State Recreation Area, which is ideal for riding all year long. Confluence Trail, Foresthill Divide Trail, and Culvert Trail stand out as the most popular rides, which range from easy-intermediate to expert. These paths are challenging and rewarding because of their sharp curves, tricky rocky terrain, and stunning views of the rivers below. Connect these three trails to make the 26-mile “Tour the ASRA” loop for a true challenge.
Regional Park Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls Regional Park, which is located in the foothills between Lincoln and Auburn, offers fantastic winter, spring, and fall riding. Most novice riders are drawn to the park’s network of easy, rolling singletrack, but more experienced riders also enjoy pushing their speed around the gentle curves. Poppy Trail and the Hidden Falls Access Trail get a good amount of hikers, although the rest of the park is more deserted. Enjoy the ride through grasslands and shaded oak woodlands, and don’t forget to see the park’s namesake 30-foot waterfall.
Region of Foresthill – Located among The North and center Forks of the American River, it serves as the starting point for a number of lesser-known trails in Placer County. Take on the 5.8-mile (one-way) Euchre Bar Trail’s difficult singletrack as you enter the secluded North Fork Canyon, passing by abandoned mining machinery. In the meanwhile, the challenging rocky sections of the 2.6-mile (one-way) Green Valley Trail, which descends steeply to the river, keep it interesting.
Near Squaw Valley is the Tahoe National Forest. Once the snow melts, the Tahoe National Forest peaks that line CA-89’s east side between Truckee and Tahoe City will reveal a real gold mine of singletrack. Put Sawtooth Trail near the top of your list. This easy/intermediate loop serves as a fantastic introduction to riding in Tahoe’s iconic rock gardens. Beginning at Watson Lake, intermediate-to-advanced cyclists can access the recently built Big Chief Trail for a primarily downhill journey of stone pavers, log rides, rock rollers, and flow trails, along with vistas of the Sierra Crest.
For guided tours along either of these routes, full-suspension bike rentals, and shuttle services for point-to-point rides, get in touch with the neighborhood outfitter Dirt Gypsy Adventures. They also provide self-guided tours for independent travelers, where they set you up with bikes and download the best routes to your phone or GPS device.
Get on board!
In the southern portion of Placer County, head to Auburn, which is just off I-80, for all your biking requirements. Victory Velo carries all the parts and extras you require, and you may test-drive the newest mountain bikes for a full day. Atown Bikes, located nearby, offers tune-up and maintenance services as well as new and used mountain bikes. Bicycle Emporium, meanwhile, is renowned for its full-suspension bike rentals and demonstrations.
Check out Tahoe Adventure Company in the county’s north for rentals of mountain bikes for an hour to a whole day (hardtail and full-suspension bikes are both available). In the Tahoe region, they also lead mountain biking and multi-sport tours that range from easy to difficult. Unsurprisingly, Placer County has a lot to offer mountain bikers. Discover for yourself why it has grown to be a popular location for those who enjoy off-road riding and the great outdoors in general.
Placer County Trails
Running, riding, and other outside sports are permissible as long as a safe physical distance of 6 feet or more is maintained. Please exercise caution when using crowded trails.
Visit Placer County Bike Trails is aware that not every resident in the area has equal access to hiking and riding trails nearby. If you are planning a trek and the trail you have chosen is crowded, PLEASE find another trail. And while on the trails, maintain strict social distancing at all times. Please don’t block roads or park illegally in residential areas.
You may see the stunning scenery of the Gold Country from your car’s window as well as by going for a walk, a hike, A bike ride, or a ride along one of the many paths. The Auburn State Recreation Area is located in Placer County and has a number of trails that go beside beautiful rivers, canyons, lakes, and meadows. There are numerous interpretive and natural paths in the Tahoe National Forest. Seasonal guided activities include stargazing events and springtime wildflower walks. The northernmost grove of Giant Sequoias, the Placer County Big Trees Grove, is one of the self-guided excursions. There is a wide variety of animals in Placer County, including birds, fish, bugs, bears, deer, mountain lions, and others. Whatever it is, we most likely have it. The chances for bird watching are superb, with designated bird sanctuaries offered by Meadow Vista and Auburn. There are numerous options available to fishermen.
Dry Creek Multi-Use Trail, Cook Riolo Road to Riverside Avenue
A planning and feasibility study for the Dry Creek Greenway West was finished by the City of Roseville in association with Placer County and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. This research assesses the potential for a 3-mile multi-use route between Cook Riolo Road and Riverside Avenue after a year of public feedback and analysis. Creek position, geography, safety, aesthetics, and land use impacts were all taken into account.
In the end, this prospective trail would link up with the Dry Creek Greenway East (Riverside Avenue to Old Auburn Road) and trails in unincorporated Placer County west of Cook Riolo Road. The Bicycle Master Plan for Placer County, and Roseville includes a number of paths, including the Dry Creek Greenway.
Exploring Placer County By Bicycle
In our neighborhood, there are a number of long, established Multi-Use Paths (MUPs) that are great locations to ride, especially with your family.
The 31-mile American River Bike Trail, Miner’s Ravine, Antelope Creek, and the more recent Johnny Cash Trail come to mind.
However, there are numerous brief, unmarked, and secure multi-use paths that connect neighborhoods, cross major roads, follow creeks, or meander through woodland regions, making for some great bicycle riding locations (or walk, run or push a stroller).
Virtual Town Hall for The Placer County Park and Trails Master Plan
Auburn, Calif.- A virtual town hall meeting for the first-ever county-wide Parks and Trail Master Plan Final draft is open to the public.
The Master Plan is meant to take into account the specific recreational requirements of each community, such as league play requirements in Granite Bay and Loomis and the requirement for connected trails in eastern Placer County for summer and indoor recreation in the winter.
The proposed Plan incorporates suggestions from the community collected throughout a five-year planning period through a variety of public workshops, online surveys, focus groups, and sessions of the municipal advisory council, to mention a few.
Years in the making – According to Andy Fisher, administrator of Placer County Parks, “The Parks and Trail Master Plan is the product of years of community involvement, planning, and commitment towards recreational goals in Placer County.” “This is the first time that Placer County’s recreational options have been gathered in one location. When people start to see what they can do in the outdoors today and the goal for completing trail systems, parks, and open space over the next, a lot of excitement about the Plan.”
According to community comments, paved and unpaved pathways, natural areas, and new and enhanced facilities specific to each town are all highly supported. The outcomes also confirmed that the county’s ongoing park and trail initiatives are compatible with the benefits that the communities want to see. On February 10 at 5:30 p.m., the Parks Commission will hold a special meeting to hear a presentation. A decision on the master plan is tentatively expected to be made by the Placer County Board of Supervisors in March, pending input from the town hall and Parks Commission.
Experience A Weekend Placer County Bike Trails That Is Bike-Friendly
The days ahead are expected to be sunny, so what better time than the right to travel to one of the picturesque locations along the Capitol Corridor route? We have planned a vacation specifically for you if you’re seeking a weekend break that incorporates biking, stunning natural scenery, mouthwatering culinary options, and exhilarating adventures! Here is all you need to know to organize a weekend full of fun in Placer County.
Accessing Placer County – The Capitol Corridor train provides daily service to Roseville, Rocklin, and Auburn. With the ease of free onboard Wi-Fi, toilets, and a café car, you’ll be able to unwind right away. Bring your bike on the train for no additional charge to make this weekend adventure fully car-free.
A mile’s worth of biking distance separates The Park Victorian from the Auburn railway station as your place to stay. The beautifully renovated inn, which offers a variety of magnificent suites, is situated on 6.5 acres close to Old Town Auburn.
What to Do
There are many outdoor activities to enjoy on the trip, despite your wanting to spend the weekend relaxing. Along the 3.5-mile Confluence Trail, spend the day admiring views of the American River. Since the level of difficulty is moderate, many visitors can access it. To get there, board the Auburn Transit Shuttle at the Old Town Auburn Historic Firehouse, and it will take you directly to the American River Confluence, where you can go hiking or mountain biking all day.
We advise visiting Quarry Park Adventures in Rocklin to keep the heart racing. This is one location you must visit because it will erase any misconceptions you may have about what it could be like to visit a rock quarry. There are activities like zip line, a climbing wall, paddle boats, and for the more daring, even a free fall. Visitors of all ages can experience adventure at the Kidz Kove, which offers climbing nets, balance beams, the Miner’s Maze, and more. Might be surprised to learn that the on-site Amphitheater doubles as a concert hall. For future events, check out the Quarry Park Amphitheater. Bicycle to the Auburn train station and take the Route 10 Auburn to Light Railbus to the Sierra College Campus to reach the park. The distance to Quarry Park Adventures by bicycle is only 1.4 miles and takes only 9 minutes.
Walking through Old Town Auburn—which also happens to be the site of the first gold find in Placer County—would be necessary to round off the tour. You will want to spend time there generating even more memories while shopping and dining because of its preserved historic beauty.
Placer County Offers Bicycle Subsidies To Encourage Cycling
Peter Towne, the principal of Green Hills Elementary School, swings his bike into the rack while taking off his black helmet in the nearly empty parking lot.
“It’s a lovely ride. I mean, the sunrise is happening now. It’s stunning, “Towne remarks. “I challenge everyone driving to work to hear a bird sing or make friends.”
Towne claims that throughout his daily 10-mile trip, he has encountered many individuals on the trails.
Since purchasing his Marin Hybrid through the Bucks for Bikes program three years ago, he has accrued 7,000 kilometers.
He uses his commute as an example for other people. Since he began traveling to school, he claims the facility has added three bike racks.
About 30 bikes are bought with program funding each year.
According to Scott Aaron, an urban planner with Placer County, candidates must show that they are committed to commuting. For instance, he wants to know if applicants have looked into whether a bike trail connects to a portion of the route and how many days per week they anticipate riding.
According to Aaron, the program’s objectives are to lessen traffic and enhance air quality.
According to our calculations, driving to work would have produced over 226,000 pounds of pollutants last year, for instance, says Aaron.
The application deadline for Bucks for Bikes is March 9. Successful applicants are qualified for a subsidy of up to $200.
The Best Bike Trails In The Sacramento Region Are Paved
Biking is popular in Sacramento. After all, the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, often known as the American River Cycling Trail, is one of the most well-respected bike paths in the country. However, they don’t receive as much publicity as there other bike trails in and around the great Sacramento area (and beyond!). No matter where you reside, there is sure to be a paved bike route that suits your preferences, whether you prefer difficult climbs or meandering paths, picturesque landscapes, or urban cityscapes. Here are a few of our favorites.
Sacramento County – This 32-mile paved trail, which stretches from Old Sacramento to the shores of Folsom Lake, offers something for everyone. The path is close to Sacramento and has access points at Discovery Park, River Bend Park, and the Sunrise Recreation Areas. It is also reasonably flat and simple to access. As it travels east beyond Lake Natoma to its terminus at Beals Point at Folsom Lake, the trail gets more isolated and mountainous.
Trail in Miners Ravine, Placer County
This well-liked trail in Roseville is six miles long and follows Dry Creek and Miners Ravine while going through neighborhoods and commercial areas. The woodland greenway’s side trails lead to nearby parks.
The County of Yolo, The UC Davis Arboretum Route, is not the longest trail in the area, but it makes up for it in power. It is slightly under four miles long. It features picnic spaces in addition to thousands of different tree and plant types.
Los Angeles, California
In order to achieve its objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health, and fostering long-term sustainability across a six-county area, the Sacramento region is home to a growing network of about 480 miles of multi-use paths, 1,100 miles of bike lanes and 300 miles of bike routes.
The developing trail network is explicitly being developed to encourage active transportation in all forms, with a focus on providing safe connections for walking, bicycling, and wheelchair use. It is managed by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). Some ongoing projects are the Dry Creek Trail, West and East Segments, which would build a 7.25-mile multi-use trail through an underserved area of the City of Roseville, and the Active Transportation Program Mapping Site, through which SACOG is compiling and mapping the expanding active transportation network in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, and Yolo. The Epic Trail, a developing 100-mile stretch of recreational pathways crossing the Sacramento region, is another.
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is also concentrating on developing Safe Routes to School through infrastructure upgrades and educational initiatives to support environmentally sustainable, economically viable, healthful, and equally distributed transportation modes for kids and families in the Sacramento region.
Dry Creek Greenway in the City of Roseville
The City of Roseville has started planning for the 3.25-mile eastern and 4.25-mile western stretches of the Dry Creek Greenway in cooperation with Placer County and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. When finished, the greenway will give an underserved portion of the city a new, secure route for walking and bicycling, linking residential areas, businesses, and schools and eventually becoming a part of a wider regional loop around the greater South Placer/Sacramento area.
Commonly asked questions
TEAM RIDES: WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW OFTEN?
Various places offer Saturday morning trail rides in October and November (NICA Pre-Season).
From December through Early May – This is usually our weekly agenda.
After-school ride on Monday (1.5 hours)
On Tuesdays, Phoenix Cycling Systems offers structured indoor workouts (1.0 hours)
Gym/Crossfit Workout on Thursday (1.0 hour)
Endurance Trail Ride on Saturday morning in various area locations (2 – 3 Hours)
WHEN GOING ON TEAM RIDES, WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
A well-kept mountain bike made for fire roads, singletrack, and trails. If you’re new to the sport, a hardtail bike is a fantastic option.
A mountain bike helmet that has been approved as fulfilling safety standards; see the NorCal website for additional information.
A suitable lightweight rain/windbreaker jacket is especially important for dressing appropriately for potential weather changes. Wintertime: NO COTTON.
Water in a bottle or hydration pack worn as a backpack. Snacks and energy bars, a tire repair kit, an additional inner tube, and a pump
Gloves with all five fingers are strongly advised.

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