El Dorado Trail Ch 3

El Dorado Trail "section 3" stretches between 

Missouri Flat Road 

and Forni Road in Placerville, CA.

You will cross this trestle too!

Equestrians, strollers, wheelchairs, runners, hikers, walkers, and bicyclists all come to enjoy this paved section of the famous El Dorado Trail.  There are benches along the way and exercise equipment is staged every so often.

Distance:  I clocked 5.7 miles.  Allow a couple of hours depending on your pace.

Difficulty:  Easy depending on your mode of travel and how much energy you put into it.  The hills are rolling, the path smooth, and there is enough shade.  The benches help break it up with little rests if you wish.

Driving Directions:  Take the Missouri Flat Road exit at Placerville.  Head south.  When you see the Walmart on your right, stay in the left lane.  As soon as there is a middle lane look for the parking on the left, as shown below:

There are vault toilets near the jail-side parking shown below:

From Missouri Flat Road, turn left onto Forni.  There is limited parking there as you can see.  

Here are some photos I took along the trail:

Wildflowers

Morning walkers along the El Dorado Trail

An exercise stop along the El Dorado Trail

Wildflowers along the El Dorado Trail

A narrow section of the El Dorado Trail

El Dorado Trail trestle

Weber Creek, Placerville, CA

Bring water and a snack.  I did not see any poison oak along this section of the trail.
Happy Trails!

For another section of this trail, see El Dorado Trail
and Trails by Location for more hikes.

El Dorado Trail Chapter 2

Bikes, strollers, runners, dogs, equestrians, 

and hikers welcome.

El Dorado Trail 6-2014

This section runs from the quaint "Placerville Station" to the parking 

at Jacquier and Highway 50.  

Placerville Station

Distance: 4.5 miles of wheelchair and stroller accessible trail.
Elevation Change: About 900 feet.
Difficulty:  Easy- to as hard as you make it. This section is all paved and hills are very long, and not too steep.  By taking the trail westward of Jacquier parking you will have to go uphill on the return trip.  You can park at the Placerville Station at Mosquito Rd and Highway 50.
Driving Directions:
To the Placerville Station: Take Highway 50 to Mosquito Rd exit.  You will find the Station east of the freeway, on your left. There is a massive parking there.  The trail heads south into town or cross at Clay Street and head in an easterly direction
El Dorado Trail Parking: Take Exit 49 toward Point View Drive.  Go east and you can park alongside the road in marked parking spots or go a little further and turn in tot he El Dorado Trail parking (most suitable for horse trailers).
Other Notes:  At the Placerville Station I understand there are restrooms, and in the Jacquier Parking there are two vault toilets.

El Dorado Trail parking on Jacquier Rd. in Placerville, CA.

On the down side, along the way, there is heavy road noise at times.

This winding paved trail meanders through the sun and shade with inviting benches stationed every so often for travelers to soak in the wildflowers colors and the enjoy the outdoors.

Clarkia and Tincture Plant

Among  the wildflowers, be beware of poison oak; it lines some areas of the trail.

Gumplant

Himalayan blackberries with pink blooms.

Pink blackberry blossoms, gumplants, and a variety of other plants are blooming on this 90 degree day, in a drought, and cheer the weary into actviity.

Tincture Plant

Other wildflowers in bloom included brodiaea, vetch, groundsel, 

arnica, thistles, Jepson's pea (above), and more!

These In Memory plaques are placed alongside the trail. 

El Dorado Trail taken June of 2014.

Happy Trails!
For more trails near this area, check out Trails by Locations.