American River Parkway – Staging near the Fish Hatchery
Location: Rancho Cordova (Sacramento area), near Hwy 50 and Hazel Ave. The Parkway is 23 miles long. There are several staging areas along the American River Parkway. The American River Parkway is managed by Sacramento County from Discovery Park to Nimbus Dam and managed by the state from Nimbus Dam to Beal’s Point. There are 82 miles of maintained trails including the paved bike trail, equestrian trails plus others.
Web site: http://www.msa2.saccounty.net/parks/Pages/FastFacts.aspx
Directions: Exit US 80 at Sierra College Blvd. Take Sierra College south (which eventually becomes Hazel Ave) for 13 miles - approx 45 minutes depending on traffic. Go across the Hazel bridge ( bridge crosses American River). Turn right at the first set of lights after the bridge(Gold Country Blvd). Turn right on the 2nd driveway (not onto Nimbus Rd). Continue to staging area on left.
From Hwy 50 exit at Hazel Ave and go north for approx .7 mile, turn left at the light – Gold Country Blvd and continue to 2nd driveway on the right.
Staging area: large gravel parking – this is the over flow parking lot and can fit in many rigs of all sizes. May be very crowded on summer weekends. The Official staging area is located just a little further down the road from the overflow but not nearly as big.
Dogs: allowed on leash
Trails: single track, some wider, very easy. Some of the riding to get to trails is along side the paved bike path – mostly single track and there is lots of action on the bike path – bikes- (some going quite fast – they DO NOT slow down for horses), strollers, hikers, rollerbladers etc. Nice views of the river. Some of the trails are quite shaded. Note that if you ride towards Sacramento you will pass under the Sunrise overpass and you can hear the cars passing over you – some horses do not like that.
Water: none at the staging area. Several easy water accesses at the river for horses to drink.
Restroom facilities: none at the staging area but there are several vault toilets along the way at various parks and parking lots.
Other info: Although there are designated horse trails, the actual bike path is just that and horses need to be OK with bikes coming up from behind or towards them. Not a good trail to see how your horse does with bikes.
Fees: $10 per day. Annual pass for a horse trailer - $75. Open sunrise to sunset.
See “trail pictures” tab located to the left of this page for photos and more information.
Print this page to take with you for reference.
Friendly reminder, be smart, do not leave any valuables in your vehicle.
