El Dorado Trail from Jacquier Road in Placerville

This is the first paved eastern section of the El Dorado Trail, designated for multiple uses including joggers, bicycles, dogs walking their people, and equestrians.  It is wheelchair and stroller accessible!

Hike through the Placerville hills with views of
vineyards, farms, a lake, rolling hills, and mountains. 

Distance: I hiked about 6 miles on this stretch of trail.

Difficulty:  It's up to you, but easy if you are simply taking a walk.  Put all the energy you want into it though, bicycling or jogging.

Important Notes: 

• There is poison oak along the side of the trail so before you step off of the pavement, double check the plants!
• Carry water.  It gets hot (in the 90's this month).
• Always watch for rattlesnakes.
• Sunscreen is advisable.  Perhaps a hat and sunglasses, too.
• Two vault toilets available next to the parking area.

This parking lot has an exercise and stretching area for warm ups.
 It is large and designed to accommodate horse trailers.

Driving Directions:  Take Exit 49 off of Highway 50 in Placerville, CA, toward Point View Drive. Go north (under the freeway if you were heading east) and turn right into the El Dorado Trail parking (most suitable for horse trailers).

Enjoy the photos of The El Dorado Trail views: ( I recommend clicking on the first photo and then scrolling through.)

I tried to find access to the eastern end of the trail to no avail. It should be around the Camino Road area but it was all fenced private property.  My idea was to walk the entire length, described in various literature, in sections.  If you know more, please post a note on my Google+ page!

Look out for the poison oak which is turning red, is full and healthy, 
and growing right alongside the pavement!

Below are some of the wildflowers that are still in bloom along the way, 

despite this heat and drought, to brighten your day!

Thank you for taking the time to enjoy the displays of color, and just think, you don't have to pull weeds in a garden to enjoy the display!

Please refrain from picking any of these wild gems.  They are having a hard time with drought and need to be allowed to reproduce in such adverse conditions.

Still in bloom in June: monkey faces, bachelors buttons, blackberry blossoms,  gum plants, mustard, peas, chicory, morning-glories, dog fennel, Williams clarkia, and some unidentified ones.

This trail is located with parking conveniently near the freeway, and close to businesses in Placerville. This section is less shaded than the other two I have written about, but has better views.  I recommend getting an earlier start during the summer months for the best wrokouts and most pleasure.  You don't travel through any part of town although you do hear the freeway noise at times.  The hills are good for conditioning and lend to the "getting away from it all" feeling.

El Dorado Trail Chapter 2
El Dorado Trail Chapter 3

For more trails, see Trails By Location.

Happy Trails!

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.

Mossy Rock Trail, 2 mile easy hike, Auburn, CA

Difficulty: Pretty easy, though it is a little workout right at the beginning

Distance:  Less than 2 miles.

Notes:  Trail head is located at the new restroom on the left side of Foresthill Road just East of Highway 49 bridge crossing the river on your right. Free parking at this time although there is talk about fees being required soon. For more info: Stagecoach Trail History . Dogs are allowed on leashes (per a sign at the trail head), and children who like the outdoors could do this hike.  Some of the Mossy Rock Trail would be unsuitable for a stroller due to deep trench like sections eroded from water and use. I haven't used GPS there, but Wikiloc may have tracks for it.

• There is now a $10 parking fee at the Confluence.

This was expected to be a rainy day hike so I carried my day pack with a waterproof shell and a warmer fleece, just in case.  The Stagecoach Trail, which began climbing uphill toward the giant Foresthill bridge, was wide, weathered, and lined with ferns and wildflowers. 

As I climbed I caught views of the bridge.  It was gratifying to see it at almost eye level! 
I put the hiking poles away and focused on hiking and getting photos. 
The trail "Mossy Rock" took off to the left, narrowing quite a bit,
but intrigued me...almost a deer trail.  Bicycles had obviously used it, even recently.  

The butterflies floated playfully around me,
but I had the hardest time catching them in my camera frame! 
With persistence, I finally captured shots of a couple of them resting and snacking. 

They shimmered and glistened in the sun.  When they rested on the trail, 

they flopped down and spread their wings flat to the ground as if dead!  

But as soon as I got close enough to frame and shoot them, 

off they went, teasingly defiant.

The American River Canyon photographed from the Mossy Rock Trail.

The storm I expected to hamper my hike was visible in the distance. I was hiking in short sleeves.  I had to reset my camera lighting for too much brightness.  The view was rewarding when it opened out into the canyon every so often.

This was a surprising view, caught just between the trees and

shrubs along the trail,

of the old Quarry Bridge crossing the American River

just downstream of the confluence.

 

Rounding a corner another window opened a glimpse of the river rapids.

This bench was placed in remembrance for a person who loved the canyon.  

It makes a nice resting place to just soak in the warmth and views.

This was part of the Mossy Rock Trail, lined with blooms that day, and well shaded.  

There were several small and shallow water crossings along the way.  

A final canyon view and it was back to the car.    I spent three hours there, 

but quite a bit of it chasing butterflies!

Happy Trails and I hope you have a great time!

Peachy Hiker's Table of Contents

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
  updated 9-2012