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

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.

Auburn/Cool, CA "Training Hill" and WST

A new article has been written, with updates for 2016.

An excellent training trail for equestrians, runners and hikers, climbing 1052 feet in about a mile.   Located at Highway 49 at Foresthill Road.



"No Hands Bridge"

At the Confluence there is $10 fee now for parking. It isn't alongside 49 yet.



Elevation Profile graph for perspective about the trail's challenge! 
ASRA reports grade at 16%-30% in 1.2 miles. 



Distance: 2.4 or more out and back miles, or you can make it a longer loop but easier, using other trail options.  Training Hill returning by WST is 4.7 miles.  Links for GPS tracks posted just above included maps at the end of this article.

Difficulty: Very strenuous, steep

Ascent: 1052 feet to climb in .9 miles per my GPS; starts at 607 feet elevation.

That doesn't count the beginning of the hike from Gate 150 to the start of the Training Hill itself.  The greatest reward of this hike is the fitness and is used by runners, equestrians, and hikers for conditioning. There are some views, but you can find better ones with less work! There are no bathrooms or water supplies along the way, although the Quarry Trail across the highway has vault toilets.

 

The American River was especially low that day.

Update: Sept. 8th, 2012 same low water levels.

This is the fork to look for; head toward Cool, to your left, leaving the old road. The trail looks narrow but widens out shortly.  It will traverse to the left until the next fork.

"1.4 miles to the Olmstead Loop".

 The following photos do little justice depicting how steep the trail feels as you ascend the 1,000 feet or so in a .9 mile space!  If you do not turn uphill here, you will be on the Western States Trail also known as Wendell T Robie Trail.  It is a gradual uphill that parallels Highway 49 partway.

It is particularly grueling going up through all this rugged track,

but going down is...just as grueling.  FUN for challenge seekers!

I have met people on the trail who just carry water and are fit enough to barely break a sweat and still converse.  But note there isn't much of any resting place and the ground is covered in those burly stickers and very dusty dirt!  Shady relief comes and goes.  I enjoy the ragged footing and can make use of it like stairs rather than avoiding it for the flatter trail sides

Whenever I have hiked this trail, (September 9th, 2012) I have avoided looking ahead and pushed forward, glancing up only for planning the next few feet of climbing or descending!

If an equestrian comes along, please move aside and let them pass.



As you get to the top, you capture views and it opens out
into a large meadow if you keep going ahead.

 

There are numerous options for your return. 

1. You can hike out the way you came. If you return on the Training Hill, you can see some pretty views of the Foresthill Bridge and the river canyon.
2. Follow the Olmstead Loop to Cool, and back down WST.
3. Take WST also known as Wendall T Robie Trail to your left and make a longer than Training Hill descent but an easier grade and trail.  It will follow along the highway and you do get some road noise.  In spring you get some pretty mini waterfalls and creeks.

 The trail is sometimes quiter narrow, but always visible.

 This is a memorial to a Tevis Cup Rider of days gone by.

The trail is deeply cut by years of use, especially by equestrians.

 In the spring and winter there are creeks and waterfalls to enjoy on the Western States Trail.

This is the American River near the Confluence as seen through the trees, across Highway 49,

 along the Western States Trail (Wendell T Robie Trail).

Map of Training Hill / Western States Trail Loop Option 3:  4.7 miles





Wikiloc has a posted tracks for GPS users out and back:
or the WST loop option and some great springtime photos.

 

The Training Hill out and back option map:

Peachy Hiker's Table of Contents including nearby Georgetown and Coloma.

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

Happy Trails!

updated 9-2012