Training Hill, Auburn, CA Feb. 2016

For a trail to get your cardiac workout on, and for now, a view of the snow-capped Sierras, this is your best hike in the Sacramento and surrounding area.

This sign is at the bottom of the Training Hill, but it isn't too late to take the easy trail to the left.  (WST is Western States Trail, also known as Wendell T Robie.)

Distance:  The Training Hill is 2.4 miles out and back from the trailhead.  You can extend this hike to much more using other options including the Olmstead Loop and Western States Trail.  Check Wikiloc or EveryTrail for GPS tracks.
Difficulty:  This one is short, but unless you are already fit, it is a hard one.  The trail is a rocky, washed out, mess.  Really fun for hiking-fitness enthusiasts!  This honestly is the best possible training hike near the valley. ASRA reports the grade at 16%-30% in 1.2 miles. You will LOVE the 16% breaks!
Advisories:

• Poison oak in this area.  
• Steep and has poor footing.  Take care to evaluate what you and your group are up to.  
• Horses are allowed on these trails.  Please defer to them if you meet them along your way.  
• Bears and cougars have been seen in the area in the past.  Keep your eyes open.  Keep your dog with you for safety.

Driving Directions: From I-80 take the exit marked CA-49S (toward Placerville) and 193E (toward Georgetown).  You will turn left at the signal just off the freeway onto Elm and at the next signal you will turn left again.  Follow the signs to CA49 and 193.  When you see the river, watch for the split where you can go straight ahead or across the river.  When you cross it, park along the right hand side (for free, while all other nearby parking has fees).  Park a bit diagonally as a courtesy to fit as many cars as possible along that stretch and to make it easier for everyone to get out back onto the road.
If you are coming from CA-50, you can use CA-49N, following signs to Auburn and Cool.  The road will have hairpin turns shortly before you reach the parking mentioned above, just before crossing the river.  (You can GPS from your location to Cool, then continue on 49 to this parking).

The "No Hands" Bridge, or "Railroad Quarry" Bridge

To Hike:  Go through green gate 150 near the parking along the highway, next to the river.  Head toward the Quarry Bridge, a beautiful historic bridge with classic arches. Look down into the river you see old mining remnants.

This shot was taken standing on the Quarry Bridge looking back to the CA-49 bridge.

 Just before the No Hands Bridge there is a narrow trail heading off to the left which has a sign marking mileage for Cool or Auburn, which points you toward the Training Hill and WST (Western States Trail, also referred to on some maps and signs as the Wendell T Robie Trail.)  The trail doubles back toward the road and through the trees and you can see the bridge and river.

This part of the trail is easy with some ups and downs.

 Arriving at the fork of the WST and the Training Hill, there is a sign you can't miss. You can get an idea of the difficulty, keeping in mind the trail rises sharply, but does have level sections.

WST is to the left and the Training Hill to the right. It is grueling going up until you are in great condition, and going down is....grueling.  If you see the Training Hill and get intimidated, you can hike up the WST.  It is beautiful and fairly easy.

Brace yourselves!

Some sections are wet, slippery at this time (February), with wet pine needles adding to slick footing.  There is significant water damage to the trail that helps me with footing.

The photos do not capture the steepness of the hill~just sayin'.  Be prepared.

This is a wonderful spot and in person the view is 

refreshing as you hike the mile upward.

A lot of the trail has stickers and shrubs beside it but there are 

some openings and small meadow areas to rest in.

Like I said, the camera can't capture what the eye can.  You can enjoy Sierra snow caps from this large meadow to the left of the trail near the top.
The fact that it was wet and slippery in some sections made me take small steps and traverse to avoid falling. This is hard on knees too so if you have even an older knee injury, at least bring a brace just in case.  Hiking poles help avoid slips too.

Olmstead Loop at the top of the Training Hill in Auburn, CA.

Olmstead Loop is, in fact, a loop that begins at the top of the hill which winds through trees but is a giant meadow area.  From it you can return to the cars following signs to the WST to Auburn (this way is 4.7 miles, and less steep) and by taking the first trail that forks to the left through the meadow. Its the shortest trail to WST that looks a bit narrow, very well traveled, still heading southeast, then nearer the trees will end up heading basically north. The WST will run parallel to the highway when it gets near the parking, but its up higher and in the trees. Or just hike down the Training Hill.
Wikiloc has tracks for this hike.

Happy Trails!
For more trails in the Auburn area:

Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA) and Surrounding Areas
Date	Trail	Miles	Difficulty
2016-02	Training Hill in Auburn, CA-WST	2.4-4.7 mile keyhole	Moderate
2016-02	Training Hill up and down	4.8	Very steep with poor footing.
2011-09	Training Hill in Auburn, CA	3 miles	Moderate-Strenuous
2011-05	Western States Trail (WST) from Confluence to Auburn	1+ miles	Easy trail with minor creek crossing
2010-04	Quarry Trail and Browns Bar	About 10 miles	Moderate due to distance and unclear markings
2011-05	Black Hole of Calcutta	3-7 miles	Easy with a minor creek crossing
2012-11	Olmstead Knickerbocker Trails	3+ (I did 9) miles	Easy
2012-08	Codfish Creek Falls	2.8 miles	Easy-Moderate
2012-08	Cardiac Bypass North Fork	5.75 miles	Mod-Strenuous
2012-07	Hidden Falls	Up to 19 miles available trails	Easy +
2011-06	Ruck-A-Chucky Towards Ford’s Bar  Paradise Falls	4.5 miles	Moderate
2012-04	American Canyon and Waterfalls	4.3-18.9 available miles	Easy - Strenuous
2011-04	Mossy Rock Trail (starts at Stagecoach)	Under 2 miles	Easy

See the full Table of Contents.

Updated with links 06-2016

Windy Point Wildflowers

Foothill Hikers
Together with experts in geology and botany, we hiked the Windy Point trail, this time, really taking close looks at the wildflowers, and I played with macro shooting.  

Length: 2.8 miles one way

Difficulty:  We have seen people turn back because the steep hill on the lower side of the trail with the view to the river scares them.  I'll call it difficult for that reason and there is creek crossing involved.

Driving Directions: Out of Colfax, CA off of Highway 80, take Iowa Hill Road to the trail head .  Parking is on the right where there is a small TH sign and parking is a decent pull out area.

Redbud

This small flower is part of the sunflower family, and if you magnify the photo you will see the center is composed of a ring of TINY flowers of 5 flower petals each. There are smaller "bumps' in the center which are just the tiny flowers waiting to bloom.  The long petals easily seen are called "ray flowers".  I never knew!

I heard this called a star flower...maybe a "blazing star"?  I'm not convinced although it has star-like qualities!

This is another variety of lupines.

Meet our old friend the monkey flower!  Didn't you love these when you were a kid?

The hillside was covered in mostly yellow blooms, but if we come back in a couple of weeks, it may be yellow but it will consist of other varieties of plants in bloom!

Our downhill view across the trail into the river canyon...no wonder we were warned to keep our eyes on the trail, even while we investigated flora along the way!  This is where less experienced hikers turn back.

In California we often think everything similar to this is a California Poppy, but this doesn't have a pink disc at the underside base, and the blooms are smaller.

I caught a glimpse of this kayak-er, in an opportune moment, making his way down the river. He's the first one I saw this year riding through the whitewater.

Foothill Hikers listening intently to one of our experts while breaking in the shade.  I couldn't hear him and focused on getting more macro shots, making my time productive!

The Experts enjoying a break at the river.

These reportedly provide large amounts of nectar.  So many diners to choose from with cluster flowers!

My own favorite lupine shot!  The sun was hanging in the perfect angle 

to glow through the vibrant purple petals.

This plant has extremely tiny leaves and flower petals so I am happy to give Nikon bragging rights for the S8100v1.0.  Once you get the hang of it, and take the time to achieve the lighting and focus area you desire, there are details beyond what you can see in person, but discover when you get home. Use you computer to zoom even closer!  It also has a wider lense than previous models which is helpful for canyon or panoramic shots.

I heard these referred to as popcorn flowers but they resemble pussytoes in my book, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada.  I am waiting for the Native Plant Society book for identifying wildflowers in Nevada and Plumas Counties.  I will keep you posted.

A Sierra newt in hiding at the creek we crossed to get to the river.

Brown Bells of the lilac family.

With this shot zoomed, you can find the purple spots the blooms are known for.

Penstemon varieties.

Tiny little things as you can see by the finger size!

In a couple of weeks we will see hatched monarch eggs which are laid on the underside of these leaves!

Kayakers floating leisurely by before the next small whitewater challenge.

For more information about this hike and directions, 

go to http://members.psyber.com/

asra//tgwind.pdf.  

or join Sierra Foothill Hikers.

This group is dynamic and has something for everyone. Of all the hiking clubs I have joined and left, none had the number of hikers allowed on a trip limited so groups are small and a new person doesn't get lost in a crowd.  It also makes a hiking experience a truly peaceful, pleasurable and pressureless event!  Pausing for photos or rest aren't frowned upon, and you won't get lost!  Dogs are included whenever possible. Whatever length, and difficulty level you are ready for, hikes at a variety of times of day for invigorating adventures 

with a group of friendly, supportive, outdoorsy people are the norm.  Meetup also invites you to other organizations' events that can enrich your knowledge and 

outdoor opportunities including:

  Auburn Recreation District , 

California Native Plant Society , 
Sierra Club Motherlode Chapter 

REI trainings and events, and more!

Peachy Hiker's Table of Contents