Coloma's Dutch Creek in June 2013

Coloma is sizzling hot!

Poison oak abounds!

Kayakers are in season! 

 Coloma has a variety of activities besides the approximately 3+ mile hike described below.  It offers picnic areas, historical mining structures including the old jail, a museum, a country store, a small coffee shop, old time photos, living history days, and the river.  This is a great place for family picnics.

 

To get to the trail along Dutch Creek, walk from the parking toward this historic
Sutter Mill, along the street side.  Cross the one lane bridge and turn right on Bayne Street.

 

Poppies are still in bloom,

and adorn the vineyard hillside along the roadway.

 

 This is the gate to the trail.  As you walk up Bayne it could easily be missed.  The tree sort of blocks it and this view is looking straight at it after passing the tree.  It is legal to climb over or through the gate to hike here, and it is publicly owned property.  The trail is not very suitable for bicycles, only hikers.

 

After you cross through the green forestry gate, Mount Murphy is your focal point. You will be hiking at the base of it along the south side.  Thistles abound and the grasses are dry.  I wore gaiters to keep them out of my shoes and socks.

These beauties are called gum plants and the blooms open into large yellow flowers.  I found them scattered along the trail before I reached the shade.

When you enter the woody area, the trail is pleasantly cooler. 

At this point I found a nice cutoff marked by boulders that leads you to the creek.  I was so hot I had no choice to but to take it down.  It is a little rough, so be aware that there is some erosion and a short steep section.

This tiny waterfall makes an enticing rushing sound you can hear up on the trail.  Here is a pond deep enough to immerse yourself in but be careful.  The rocks are super slippery.  I opted to climb over to the falls and just soak my head and shirt!  What a relief!

 

Although things are dry, these Purdy's Brodiaea bloom April through June are still brighten the path.

 

This has a nice deep spot and plenty of shade.  It is a great picnic spot, and you can take another dip in this small pool.

Unless, of course, swimming with fish bothers you!  Plenty of these were swimming around and uninhibited by my presence!  Again, make your way back up to the trail and head east, upstream.  To this point the trail has been in overall good condition.

This waterfall was my biggest reward on this hike.  The trail is eroded and hiking
solo seemed too risky for me to continue to Dutch Creek Falls and
Johntown Falls.  This is a pretty area, less suitable for a dip.  There is
heavy moss growing in the water.  Downstream just a bit is a gravel bar,
 nice normally for hanging out, but pretty uninviting at this time. 

The creek is pretty downstream beyond the gravel bar.  From this stop I turned back, hoping to return and hike above the trail on a cooler day to see the biggest waterfalls.

On my way back, I watched the kayakers from the bridge before calling it a day.

 Driving Directions:

• Go to Coloma on CA 49 between I-80 and Highway 50; pay $8.00 for parking at the parking lot kiosk in the second state parking provided on the river side of the highway.  Bathrooms are provided and roomy for changing clothes.
• Walk south from the parking, then over the one lane bridge. (You can't miss it as the town is VERY small.) 
• Turn right on Bayne and follow the paved road to the locked green gate on the left across from the house downhill by the river. It is also identifiable by small signs like rattlesnake warnings, says "State Park", and is a regular locked forestry green gate you climb over or through. If you get to a fork n the road, you went too far.
• The trail is single file, but visible despite the weeds.

It leads through the grassy meadow, into the trees, and then has some steep ups and downs, but they are short. There is some brush, a couple of tree falls you have to climb over, under, or around.  The trail is hard dry soil mostly, some seems to have been loosened for better footing going down to the creek.   Hiking pole(s) are handy balancing tools. If I can give any advice, it is wear GOOD hiking shoes. Watch out for the abundant poison oak, visible all along the way.  Follow the trail! Have an adventurous and happy day!  Take plenty of water!

Latitude: 38-47'57'' N

Longitude: 120-52'54'' W

Thank you for checking in! There is another review of this hike on this blog dated April of 2010, and has some other information, and beautiful photos showing the seasonal differences you can come across.

For more hikes see Trails By Locations

June 1, 2013

 

Bring the Kids: Find a Historic Mining Bridge!

Middle Fork American River in Tahoe National Forest

Fishing, Hiking, Camping

Mosquito Ridge River Access Trail  

 Find a rare gem, a miners' suspension bridge flooded out

and hidden across the river!

 

Mosquito Ridge River Access is a 3 mile round trip hike on a recently maintained trail climbing over the ridge and traversing down into the canyon to the Middle Fork American River. An old mining suspension bridge is downriver hanging in the trees! Several fishing campsites line the river.

 

The campsites are scattered along the river bank, each with a fire ring and flat space for tents.  Another treat is a short distance upriver there is a very tall waterfall across the canyon.  I bushwhacked uphill beyond the campsites to get a better view of it. 

The river is low this year (2012) and its difficult to get to water through tangles
of blackberry vines. 
Without heavy traffic, user paths have grown over.  Bit of a machete hike there!

Along the recognized trail to the campsites there is a fork to your right
heading down into the canyon 
that also leads down to the river. 
 

 

 

A classically built rock wall that supported the old bridge abutments that no longer have a bridge to support!

To see the bridge remains, walk downriver along the rocks from the abutment 
to this area where the river narrows.  It's also a nice place to catch some sun and picnic.

Where is the old metal bridge then?  Look across the river into the vegetation!



Watch your step when you get to the river because there are still cables like this one anchored into the rocks that can most inconveniently trip you!

Upriver view from below the bridge abutment.

The kids can have fun looking for lizards and salamanders!

Or other wild things!  These prints were near our tents in the morning, but nothing was disturbed.  Good advice to bear canister your foods though.

 

 

Below is a topo map of the trail you can enlarge by clicking on it.  Another fine place to camp, especially in colder weather, is on the ridge.


 In winter or spring the ice remains on vegetation down in the canyon. It is a thick frost that looks more like snow at a distance! You may sleep warmer at the top, and your short hike to the river might be more enjoyable.

Driving Directions:

• Take Foresthill Road at Highway 80 onto
• Auburn Ravine Road.
• Turn right onto Mosquito Ridge Road.
• Follow it into Tahoe National Forest, continuing until you see the sign on the right for Mosquito Ridge Access Trail.  There is a large dirt turn out for parking on the left and the trail heads uphill on the right.

For more possible hikes for you:

Trails by Areas:

Happy Trails!  Thank you for coming by!



Dave Moore Nature Area ~ Gold Country

*  If you click on a photo it enlarges and you can scroll through all of the photos at once.

Hiking, swimming, picnicking, fishing and enjoying nature and history are all welcome activities!

Hike Length:  1 mile loop
Difficulty:  Easy
Driving Directions:  Highway 49 ~ 2 miles west of Coloma, or 3 miles south of Pilot Hill.
Notes:  No horses.  Starting at the restroom TH, this is a wheelchair  and stroller accessible trail to the river and back.  The whole loop is not.  There is plenty of dirt parking, no fees, and a vault toilet at the trail head.  There are garbage cans.  Dogs are welcome. 



A little history of the area is posted at the trailhead.

My first exploration of this hike was this August 2012, so you might guess it is plagued by stickers and dry grasses.  The trail is covered in a carpet of slippery, crispy leaves too.

Wildflowers are blooming despite this dry year and add color to the shady lane to the river.

Even on this hot day, there is enough shade to keep my cool.

I would love to know the history of this rock "formation".  There are two of these on the trail and I assume they have some connection to the rich mining history of the area.

There are several picnic tables in shady areas along the way to have a meal, or just take a rest.

The second of the strange rocks.

A peek through the green to the inviting river where you may find rapids fit for the pros or shallow rocky river good for wading in.  It changes depending on the day and time of day according to water releases. 

There are sandy or rocky areas but all with a fair amount of shade to lounge in by going a bit up or downriver.

More color!

As you can see, it is a pretty peaceful place when the water is low.  If you find high water, you will find rafters having great times.

The second part of the loop is shaded and beautiful with occasional boulders blocking wheeled transportation.

But they are not ones to scramble over.  Just walk around them.

Before you know it the parking lot is nearby.  I enjoyed this for a simple get away. 

I would take the kids, the dog, lunch and maybe a fishing pole! 

BLM Dave Moore Website
Happy Trails!
Trails by Locations
or
Related articles:

ASRA ~ Auburn State Recreation District

• American Canyon Trail & Waterfalls in Cool, CA
• 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