El Dorado Trail Chapter 2

Bikes, strollers, runners, dogs, equestrians, 

and hikers welcome.

El Dorado Trail 6-2014

This section runs from the quaint "Placerville Station" to the parking 

at Jacquier and Highway 50.  

Placerville Station

Distance: 4.5 miles of wheelchair and stroller accessible trail.
Elevation Change: About 900 feet.
Difficulty:  Easy- to as hard as you make it. This section is all paved and hills are very long, and not too steep.  By taking the trail westward of Jacquier parking you will have to go uphill on the return trip.  You can park at the Placerville Station at Mosquito Rd and Highway 50.
Driving Directions:
To the Placerville Station: Take Highway 50 to Mosquito Rd exit.  You will find the Station east of the freeway, on your left. There is a massive parking there.  The trail heads south into town or cross at Clay Street and head in an easterly direction
El Dorado Trail Parking: Take Exit 49 toward Point View Drive.  Go east and you can park alongside the road in marked parking spots or go a little further and turn in tot he El Dorado Trail parking (most suitable for horse trailers).
Other Notes:  At the Placerville Station I understand there are restrooms, and in the Jacquier Parking there are two vault toilets.

El Dorado Trail parking on Jacquier Rd. in Placerville, CA.

On the down side, along the way, there is heavy road noise at times.

This winding paved trail meanders through the sun and shade with inviting benches stationed every so often for travelers to soak in the wildflowers colors and the enjoy the outdoors.

Clarkia and Tincture Plant

Among  the wildflowers, be beware of poison oak; it lines some areas of the trail.

Gumplant

Himalayan blackberries with pink blooms.

Pink blackberry blossoms, gumplants, and a variety of other plants are blooming on this 90 degree day, in a drought, and cheer the weary into actviity.

Tincture Plant

Other wildflowers in bloom included brodiaea, vetch, groundsel, 

arnica, thistles, Jepson's pea (above), and more!

These In Memory plaques are placed alongside the trail. 

El Dorado Trail taken June of 2014.

Happy Trails!
For more trails near this area, check out Trails by Locations.

Feather Falls 2017 Alert!

 Feather Falls Trail

Location: Feather Falls is north east of Lake Oroville, CA. and is part of Plumas National Forest. 

Distance: Plan to hike as much as 10 miles because you will have to use the upper (harder) trail both ways, but it is well maintained and even has built bridges for accessibility.  (Thank you Chris for the distance update!)

Difficulty: Consider it a moderate-strenuous hike, due to added length and some fairly steep uphill.  

Elevation gain: 1670+ feet.  
Notes:  Dogs are allowed.  July 2017 reports are that it is best to go the same trail in and out, the longer route due to a combination of trail washout and very tall and thick poison oak.

 There are vault toilets, only at the trailhead as I recall.

 The pleasurable points of this hike are the shady areas and the water cascades.

 The forestry has built and maintained the trail and there are bridges for crossing creeks.

 

When you need a rest, there are some old and less than new benches or rocks along the way.  I have seen families with strollers and baby packs using the trail.  Have snacks, lunch, plenty of water, and plenty of bug spray.

 This was my favorite water cascade view from a shady bridge, 
making resting here a must!

There will be a turnoff to the right that is off the loop trail, taking you single file out to the platform deck for a better view of the falls. You will need to leave or carry the stroller but you'll have a good rest and view on the large wood deck.  Rainbows are a sure thing!

The waterfall is estimated to be over 400 feet tall! 

This is the bottom of the falls, creating a thick mist and perfect rainbows.

 Even the locals had to get the best views!

 This is the view of the canyon the water follows to the lake.  Apparently boaters and fishermen use the area.

Allow enough time to get back before dusk for even though it is cooler, the bugs come out in blankets of carnivorous feeders!

I don't have tracks and couldn't find it on Wikiloc.  The trail is well traveled and marked.

Peachy Hiker's Table of Contents

American Canyon Trail and Waterfalls

One of several cascades we enjoyed finding, Tarzan vines and all!

Hike Length: 4.3 miles out and back, but there are a variety of options so you can choose up to 18.9 miles one way by hiking to Auburn, or other options that take you down to the river and connect with the Quarry Trail or WST. The trails are marked with mileage signs and trail names at forks.
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous depending on your choices.  Getting to some waterfalls is narrow and steep.
Elevation range of this hike: 891-1822 feet.

 As you can tell from the photo, we had the good luck of nice weather.  The trail has lots of shade and along with the creek, waterfalls and pools, it was a nearly perfect day!

The trail starts out wide and heads downhill, but soon enough it will narrow and occasionally the footing is less secure.    My hiking poles help me balance in the steep areas.  Good shoes help too.  At the first fork, go right, down toward the stream.

Wildflowers were blooming profusely in open sunny areas.

There are several creek crossings even for a short version of the hike but they are equipped with stones you can usually step across.

We sat at the top of this waterfall, in the shade, cooling off from our hike through dense, tall, rather pretty poison oak to get to this spot along the stream.  It involved a little boulder scramble and creek crossing too. We made it with dry feet and hardly any biting bugs!

For the adventurous, there is even a Tarzan vine hanging over the falls

and pool!  I am not saying try it out, but tempting, huh?

Downstream view of a pool from our snack/rest rock at the top of the falls.

Our next challenge was to get from our resting boulder up this stream to another waterfall and pool without wearing waders!  Some of the rocks are slippery, but we made it, more wet from sweat than the creek.

We arrived at this tranquil, inviting waterfall pool, and even more fun was the knowledge that we had a secluded wilderness experience right downhill from a neighborhood of hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians, but got the trails and pools to ourselves.

***The following photos are from Sept. 20, 2012.  Water was so low that I couldn't get a decent shot of American Falls, so settled for a few of the hike and the creek:



My first view of the canyon on this day's hike.

Beware of this evergrown area. 

 A rattler hissed and rattled but I froze.  I couldn't see it or tell where it was.  I finally shot straight up then forward and he missed me.  Stubborn snake didn't just slither into the vines, but hung out in the shade of the berry growth.

Looking for places to experiment with my new camera, I headed down the canyon farther and at this creek crossing found this fella.  You can see how little water was flowing.

Just another pretty bend in the creek with colorful foliage.

Driving directions:  Take Highway 193 east from Cool, California for 5.8 miles. Turn left on Sweetwater.  This is known as the third gate of the gated community.
If you see the sign for the town of Greenwood, turn around. On the day we went here the street sign was missing, so all I can suggest is drive slowly, watch your mileage, and make sure you don't pass the sign for Greenwood.
When you have turned, you will see the small free parking (in spring of 2012) at the trailhead on your right before the gated entry into Auburn Lake Trails Community.

ASRA ~ Auburn State Recreation District

• American Canyon Trail & Waterfalls in Cool, CA
• Olmstead Knickerbocker Trails
• Training Hill in Auburn/Cool, CA
• Western States Trail (WST) from Confluence to Auburn
• Confluence Memorial Day Hike
• Mossy Rock Trail, Auburn, CA
• Cardiac Bypass-North Fork
• BLM ~ Bureau of Land Management
  Near Auburn, CA
  • Dave Moore Nature Area
  
  State Park In Coloma:
• Dutch Creek Falls
  

Hikes By Locations
Peachy Hiker's Table of Contents

Updated 7-2013

Edited May 2014