Hike or bike the trail, earn the patch!
Also known as the American River Bike Trail, the scenery and gentle slopes of this paved multiuse trail make it a favorite of cyclists. It includes restrooms, telephones, parking and access points extending from Old Town Sacramento to Beales Point at Folsom Lake for a total paved length of 32.5 miles - ONE WAY - making this the longest paved trail in the Western U.S. With recent extensions you can easily extend your ride (think Cycling Merit Badge) to 50 miles by adding the ride through Rio Linda to Elverta Road and back, all on paved trails. The newest addition, the Twin Rivers Trail, adds a few more miles from Discovery Park at Jiboom Street. Neither the Rio Linda extension or the Twin Rivers Trail have restrooms, though the Rio Linda extension does have water at some rest stops. With little vehicle traffic, these are safe rides. The trails are patrolled by County or State Park vehicles, but homeless do congregate in some areas so use the buddy system!
There are fees to access the trail from most parking areas and parks though you can ride to the trail from a number of access routes from residential and commercial streets. Parking at the State Fish Hatchery just below the dam at Lake Natoma (8.5 miles below Beales Point) is also free, though it does get crowded with tours during the Fall salmon run. By the way, including a tour of the hatchery is a good break during a longer ride! The Scouts always enjoy feeding the fingerlings (bring nickles).
Trail maps showing all the access points and parks are available from the REI for ~ $5, or you can get free boating trail guides from the State Dept of Boating & Waterways. The boating guide isn't as informative as to flora & fauna, but it does show all the launch points and rapids if you're inclinded to take to the water (think Fishing & Canoeing Merit Badges)!
Speaking of taking to the water, Lake Natoma is a great place to practice flat water paddling. Group camp areas are available at Negro Bar (a part of the Folsom Lake State Park facilities). The lake is about 3.5 miles long with parks along the way to rest and swim. Just below the Lake Natoma dam, and across from the fish Hatchery is Sailor Bar. This is the best put-in if you want to paddle the upper end of the river with its Class I & II rapids. This is a popular rafting area, so the rapids aren't too scary, but they are good practice. To miss the rapids, you can put-in at Arden Way or Watt Avenue and have a great float all the way to the Sacramento River. Call the Council office to get permission to camp at Camp Pollack and paddle right up to the camp. Feels like your in a little wilderness area, except for the bridges!
Download a PDF formatted trail map by clicking here. (approx 327KB, you'll need the free Acrobat Reader to view this file). Details of the trail through the City of Folsom (not included in the above map) are available on the City's web site at http://www.folsom.ca.us/depts/parks_n_recreation/bike_trails/bike_map.asp (cut & paste this link to your browser's Address field).
The only food available on the trail is in Folsom and Sacramento's Old Town so bring snacks and/or sack lunches. As always, bring water bottles, esp in the Summer when the temps are routinely above 100! Be sure that your Scouts are well trained in staying hydrated, heat exhaustion is not uncommon in the Summer.
It'll be a long walk back to your cars so you'll need to bring your own flat & bike repair tools & parts. HAT recommends a patch kit, spare tube, tire pump, bike multi-tool, and first aid kit as a minimum. And don't forget, bike helmets are mandatory for all BSA Cycling outings, regardless of age. We strongly recommend reviewing the Cycling Merit Badge book with all your riders before your first trail ride. At least two bike shops are easily accessible along the trail; Performance Bike in Sacramento and Bicycles Plus in Folsom. Bicycles Plus has hosted training classes for Scout cyclists.
There are lots of things to do near the trail including the Pipe Works Climbing Gym (think Climbing Merit Badge) and the Railroad Museum (think Railroading Merit Badge), not to mention limitless nature hikes. Don't miss the Historic Folsom Power House. An engineering marvel in the 1800's, it is now a State Park with docent led tours. Our Scouts had a great time! Check the State Parks web site at http://www.parks.ca.gov/ for more info.
Be sure to arrange a tour of the Old Folsom Power House!
You can get more info at the Sacramento County Parks web page at http://www.sacparks.net/our-parks/american-river-parkway/ (cut & paste this link to your browser's Address field).
This page revised August 16, 2007