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Humbug Willow Creek Trail
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data
Take a ride on Folsom’s wild side
Difficulty: easy | Distance: 7.7 miles | Surface: paved bike path
Attractions: Folsom kids play park, wildlife viewing, restaurants.
Large segments of Folsom feature green belts with paved bike trails. The Humbug Willow Creek Trail combines the best of city and country sightseeing. The trail takes you up to a bird refuge area that is beautiful any time of year, particularly the spring and summer.
You will pass the Folsom kids play park twice on this ride, so you may want to hold it out as a reward for the return trip.
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Folsom Premium Outlets and an Ice Cream Cone
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data
Nature’s serene beauty and other treats
Difficulty: very easy | Distance: 6 miles | Surface: paved bike path
Attractions: Folsom Premium Outlets, shopping, restaurants.
From the trailhead in the back of the Lake Natoma Inn (702 Gold Lake Drive), this ride takes you along the same bike path as the “Ride for a Reason” charity ride loop. But if you are not ready for a long ride then this is a better choice. It’s an out-and-back, but if you stop at Pretzel Time/TCBY for an ice cream cone or maybe a break in the McDonald’s playland, everyone will be happy. This trail is beautiful all year round.
Wandering along Lake Natoma, you may see turkeys, squirrels, ducks, egrets, and even an occasional coyote. The trail is bordered by all kinds of shrubbery, including delicious wild raspberries.
If you stop for just one raspberry, this 20-minute ride can easily turn into an all day event (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing)! Be sure to bring a backpack to carry home your outlet purchases!
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Lions, Tigers and … Feral Pigs
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data
Enjoy a different kind of zoo experience
Difficulty: easy | Distance: 3.5 miles | Surface: paved bike path
Attractions: Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary.
The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is a small, unique zoo/animal sanctuary. You’ll see and learn about common and uncommon animals, both wild and domestic; and those in between, like feral pigs and wolf-dog hybrids. Many were raised, then rejected, as wild pets. Others were injured or orphaned in the wild. Most are native to North America.
The ride begins at Karen’s Bakery, 705 Gold Lake Drive. To avoid street traffic, head across Folsom-Auburn Bridge and follow the path right and down on to the bike trail. At the bottom of the trail, turn left and up to the walking truss bridge. This is a great place to stop and look over the river, but be sure to follow the instructions for crossing the bridge. The zoo is just up the hill past the Folsom City Library in Folsom City Park.
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“Ride for a Reason” Charity Ride Loop
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data
Annual fundraiser to help in Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer Research. RFAR.org
Difficulty: easy | Distance: 11.5 miles | Surface: paved bike path
Attractions: CSUS Aquatic Center, full loop around Lake Natoma.
Meandering through the oak trees surrounding Lake Natoma, this paved path is perfect for a couple’s or family ride through the natural scenery. With no cross streets and few parking lots, the only worry you will have is an occasional squirrel or gaggle of turkeys blocking your path. It’s a beautiful ride all the way around the lake, but the last few miles of the ride are the best. Sweeping down to nearly lake level, you’ll have the lake on your right and the cliffs rising up to nearly 50 feet on your left.
The ride follows the south side of the lake to the Aquatic Center. If you start early you might get a glimpse of a college rowing crew. When you see the fish hatchery, look for the first left and follow it up to the Hazel Avenue Bridge. Be careful once you get to the top to go back around and under the bridge again. It’s steep and has quite a turn in it, so be careful.
A good place to start is Karen’s Bakery, 705 Gold Lake Drive in Folsom. On the way back stop for one of the best breakfasts in town.
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Ridge Road Ride
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data
Dig your bike into California’s Gold Country
Difficulty: difficult | Distance: 48 or 64 miles | Surface: paved street
Attractions: Historic towns, spectacular scenery.
Riding from Folsom to the foothills Gold Country is an exhilarating experience. Road conditions vary from slow ascent/wide-shouldered roads to steep hairpin turns. You’ll pass by dozens of ranchettes, so pack some carrots or apples for the horses. You’ll also cross over Secret Ranch and Auburn Ravine Salmon Habitats.
Traveling up Folsom-Auburn Road through Granite Bay and Roseville gets you warmed up for the rolling hills through the rural countryside of Loomis, Penryn and Newcastle. Once you get through the tunnel on Taylor Road, keep your eyes open for Ridge Road.
The experience of Ridge Road alone is well worth the trip. As you turn and climb, there are panoramic views on either side. At the top you can see all the way to Sacramento! Suddenly, you’re heading down, down, down! The twisty, steep descent seems to go on forever. It’s great for anyone who loves to carve down the hillside.
But Ridge Road is not the only thrill; Chili Hill, Crater Hill and Wise Roads also make this part of the ride well worth the effort.
Make sure you go right on Wise Road; it drops you onto Ophir Road and into Auburn, which is a great place for a break and to make an important decision. The easy choice is to turn right and travel directly back to Folsom via Folsom-Auburn Road.
If you have the energy for an additional 16-mile loop, follow the directions for the Dry Creek Extension. This extra loop has more shoulders but also more traffic.
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Old Sacramento for Lunch on the River
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data
Follow the river to Sacramento’s historic district
Difficulty: moderate due to length | Distance: 29 or 54 miles
Surface: paved bike path | Attractions: American River, Sacramento River, shops, restaurants, California Railroad Museum and the Discovery Museum. State Capitol and downtown Sacramento are easily accessible from Old Sacramento.
You are in for a treat on this ride from Folsom to Old Sacramento. There
are very few spots where you won’t see the American River, due only to the dense forest along the bike trail.
Riding into Old Sacramento is like riding into the 1800s, with covered wooden sidewalks, cobblestone streets and restored brick buildings. Old Sacramento offers a multitude of shopping, entertainment, dining and snack options.
Starting at Sutter Street in Historic Folsom you’ll ride along the bank of Lake Natoma. Travel past the CSUS Aquatic Center (if you start early you can see the rowing teams practicing on the lake) and you will pass under Hazel Avenue.
Once you get on the American River Bike Path at Hazel, the trail is marked and you can count down the miles left to Discovery Park. Discovery Park is just north of Old Sacramento and the bike trail will take you right into Old Sacramento.
Return Trip:
If you feel the mileage is a little too much for you, here’s another option. Once you get into Old Sacramento, find K Street. When you are out of the tunnel, get off and walk your bike (security likes it that way) and turn right to L street.
Hop back on your bike and ride over to 8th and O Street (downtown Sacramento is laid out in a grid) where you can board Light Rail. Look for the Gold Line/Downtown to Folsom. There are bike racks inside the cars (with the exception of the first and last).
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Salmon Falls & Gold Country Prospecting
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data
Fly through the foothills
Difficulty: moderate to difficult | Distance: 47.65 miles | Surface: paved
Attractions: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Historic Coloma.
Ever since James Marshall discovered gold here in 1848, Coloma has been known as “gold central.” This rugged street ride takes you up 4,299 feet of elevation through the foothills communities of El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Rescue and Lotus and drops you down into the south fork of the American River and Coloma. You can ride this loop in either direction, but start early to beat the traffic along Green Valley Road. And don’t forget to conserve some energy for the return trip — it’s not all down hill.
Green Valley Road is where the ride really starts rolling. Lotus Road levels out as much as a foothill road can, but be prepared to really fly once you pass the Lotus Elementary School. Lotus Grade is about 10% and has a great shoulder to fly down.
To visit Coloma and the State Park, turn right on Highway 49. The park is just up the road about ¼ mile. Once you are ready to continue the loop, head back along 49 to Pilot Hill. Salmon Falls Road will drop you back onto Green Valley Road — an up-and-down adventure with some beautiful spots overlooking the American River.
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Salmon Falls & Darrington Trail Mountain Bike Ride
Directions | MotionBased gps map and ride data to come
This trail wanders along the north bank of the river
Difficulty: moderate | Distance: 16 miles | Surface: unpaved
Attractions: Auburn State Recreation Area, Pilot Hill Campground.
Bicycling Magazine’s (mountain biking)
Best Ride: "There’s a good reason everyone heads for the Salmon Falls/Darrington Trail in the Auburn State Recreation Area: It’s a sweet 16 to 20 mile ride with great views of the American River and some tough singletrack."
This is a great ride without a lot of intense inclines. Remember, however, that you’re riding along a hillside that slopes down to the river. Depending on the season, water levels can vary from 50 to 200 feet below the trail. At Pilot Hill Campground there are picnic tables and restrooms for your convenience.
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Mountain Bike Skills Course
Join in on the fun at Folsom's new BMX track and skate park! Bring the whole family for a day of fun. Explore the park's many features including tot-lot playground, basketball court, group picnic area and concession.
Admission fee: $2.oo per person per day.
All CYCLISTS MUST wear helmets, pads on bikes reccomended.
Please call 817-2767 for the most up to date park conditions and hours.
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Prairie City Race Series
Welcome to the greatest mid-week cycling race series in California! We average over 325 Mountain Bike and Cyclocross racers each week. We cater to every skill level and attract racers from Folsom, Orangevale, Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, Davis, Tahoe and even the San Francisco Bay area.
© 2008 The Folsom Tourism Bureau. All rights reserved.
We have done our best to give you correct directions. Please contact spinfolsom at info@spinfolsom.com for any comments or corrections to the ride directions.
The Folsom Tourism Bureau is providing these rides for your enjoyment. Please bike safely by using good judgement. Wear a helmet, obey traffic signs and signals, use hand signals, don’t weave between parked cars, follow lane markings, choose the best way to turn left, watch for right-turning traffic, respect pedestrians’ rights, never ride against traffic, watch for cars pulling out, watch your speed and enjoy your trip.
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