EAGLES NEST TO FOLSOM LAKE
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015
DIFFICULTY:
Moderately strenuous. Moderate — because sections of the trail
are easy and flat. Strenuous — due to the length of the hike (7
1/2 miles) and a long UPHILL section (about 1 1/4) mile) on the
return trip.
ELEVATION: Starting elevation — 1150 feet. Lowest elevation (at lunch) — 350 feet.
HIKE DISTANCE: About 7 1/2 miles. An “in and out” hike, not a loop.
GENERAL LOCATION: Auburn — southern end of Auburn State Recreation Area and northern end of Folsom State Recreation Area.
DESCRIPTION:
This is a wonderfully scenic hike, mainly along the historic Pioneer
Trail, following the North Fork of the American River. A bit of
history from the book The American River: “Eager gold miners
established a path along the North Fork of the American River traveling
on foot and by horse searching for gold deposits in the
foothills. Their path became known as the Pioneer Express Trail —
the most express route from Sacramento to Auburn and the gold rich
river bars and dry diggings along the American River.” We start
in a residential area of Auburn and drop down, fairly steadily,
from 1150 feet to about 400 feet in 1 1/4 mile, and then the Pioneer
Express Trail begins and the trail undulates (ups and downs — nothing
too steep) until we reach a place where we can easily hike to the
river’s edge to have lunch sitting on large rocks — almost near the
mouth of Folsom Lake. The entire trail — from start to finish —-
is a very narrow one person trail. Views of the river and granite
rock edges are awesome!
NOTE:
Daylight Savings Time starts on March 8th, 2 days before the hike, and
because the weather could be warm, the hike will start early at 7:30 am
(meeting time) — and an early lunch is possible about 10:30 am. or
11:00 am.
TRAVEL TIME/DISTANCE:
30 minutes driving time and 14 miles one way. Return time to
Lincoln — approximately 2:00 pm. A donation of $3 is suggested
for riders. Driving directions — we will follow one another in
our cars to the trailhead, as it is easy to get lost in the residential
area.
HIKE LEADER: Sue Geisler SWEEP: TBA
SPECIAL NOTES:
FACILITIES: There is no bathroom facility.
Suggestion — use the facilities at Orchard Creek before leaving the
parking lot.
PREPARATION FOR HIKE:
1) IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH ISSUES, PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR CONDITION BEFORE HIKING.
2) Bring a copy of your ID (driver’s license), health card, and
an emergency contact name and phone number with you on the hike.
3) Always bring 2 pairs of shoes, along with a plastic bag to
store your muddy/dusty hiking boots after the hike.
4) Bring lunch, water, and hiking boots. Trekking poles are
recommended (not required) for traversing the narrow trail which has
some sharp drop-offs and crossing a couple of small streams.
RISKS: Poison oak is common alongside the
trail. Ticks may be possible, but none were seen on the
prehike. Narrow trail is dirt packed and rocky in some places.
RAIN CANCELS THE HIKE.
QUESTIONS: Call Sue Geisler at 408-1010.
MEETING TIME: 7:30 AM LEAVING TIME: 7:45 AM
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: None — we will follow one another in our cars to the trailhead
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