Trails on this page are listed in three sections: (See Context Map.)

• Meadow Vista,
• Auburn, and
• High Country.

If you have a favorite trail that is not listed, please send us an email.

Meadow Vista Area including Applegate, Weimar and Colfax

Driving time from Meadow Vista post office to Trailhead is shown (in parens) .

Trailhead	Route	Length	Features	Notes
Combie Road, corner of Placer Hills Rd. (1 min.)	MV Arena Trail: Roadside trail follows Combie Road and Hillsdale Road to MV Riding Arena,	2.5 mi.	Single track, easy grades	Be cautious of road traffic. Key to arena parking area is available from Arena Admin for a small fee.
Sugar Pine Rd., Roadside grassy area next to Sugar Pine Rd., near corner of Placer Hills Rd. (2 min.) Directions from center of MV	Sugarpine Trail: follows Winchester Estates perimeter	6.4 mi.	Woodland views; single track, flat to moderate grades, except where trail climbs via switchbacks over Sugarpine Mtn. (about 500ft)	Generally good footing; passes close to private homes in some places, stay on trail and be considerate.
Weimar Institute, I-80 at West Paoli Exit (20 min.) Directions from center of MV	Weimar Institute Trails: private trail network	1 to 5 mi.	300 acres of trails in pine, oak and manzanita groves	Many trails are wide and groomed; others are single-track. Some are designated No-horses.
Cerro Vista Rd., Applegate (20 min.) Directions from center of MV	Cerro Vista Ridgeline Trail	2 mi.	Canyon views; oak and manzanita groves.	Mostly single track and old wagon trails; minor grades; route uses some paved road sections.
	"Assassin's Trail" Boole Rd. to junction with Heather Glen trail	5 mi.	Canyon views; single track and old wagon trails.	Mostly flat, but with a long, steep grade midway.
	Upper Clementine trail: to Am. River and back	5 mi.	Canyon views; riverside rest stop; wading/swimming.	Some moderate climbs/descents; optional ford of river in summertime
	Boole Training Hill: route between Upper Clementine trail (near Long Point) and Cerro Vista Ridgeline Trail	4 mi.	Canyon views; serious hill climb.	Steep climb with several good spots to pause and enjoy views; downhill direction not recommended for horses unless leading.
Esoteric Trails, Applegate (20 min.) Note: Trails on the Esoteric Society's land should not be used without an ID Badge, avaliable to MVTA Members on request. Contact our Trails Coordinator for more info.	Private Trail Network on grounds of old Esoteric Publishing Society.	4 mi.	Canyon views; pine forest and manzanita groves; historic buildings from late 1800's. Gated access to eastern end of Assassin's Trail.	Graded roads, old wagon roads and single track. Access allowed for MVTA members with gate key; not open to general public.
	"Assassin's Trail" west to Boole Road trailhead	5 mi.	Accessible from back gate of Esoteric grounds. Canyon views; single track and old wagon trails.	Some steep climbs/descents
	Heather Glen Trail to lower Codfish Creek and North Fork of American River	5 mi.	Accessible from back gate of Esoteric grounds. Mostly wagon roads, some single track. Oak, Sugar Pine and Ponderosa forest; very secluded. Views into Codfish Creek canyon and Vore Mine area. Side trail at bottom to Codfish Falls. Wading and swimming in Am. River.	Last 1/4 mile down to Creek is very steep. Ponderosa Bridge can be reached from Codfish Creek via a narrow foot trail (not recommended for horses.)
	Grubb Mine Trail to upper Codfish Creek crossing and Vore Mine Trail [Trail map not yet avaliable]	5 mi.	Accessible from back gate of Esoteric grounds. Partly wagon road, mostly single track. Oak, Sugar Pine and Ponderosa forest. Views into Codfish Creek canyon.	Last few hundred feet of trail down to creek is narrow and footing is sometimes poor. Footing when crossing creek is also tricky.
Bear River Campground, Colfax (20 min.) Directions from center of MV	Bear River Camp Trails,		Variety of trails near the Bear River
Bunch Canyon, Yankee Jim's Rd. off Ponderosa Way, Colfax (20 min.) Directions from center of MV Note: Equestrians may want to stage from the wide turnout part way down Yankee Jim Rd. The entire road is driveable, but becomes a rough graded road with few turnouts.	Yankee Jim's Road to Shirttail Canyon Bridge and back	7 mi.	High suspension bridge over American River's North Fork at confluence with Shirttail Creek, a Mecca for bungee jumpers and kayakers. Dirt road continues to Foresthill (add another 15.5 mi. to your round trip) and passes Bridalveil Falls, a spectacular creek waterfall 1/2 mile from the river.	Graded dirt road; easy going. Watch for vehicle traffic (infrequent on weekdays.)
Ponderosa Bar, Weimar (20 min.) Directions from center of MV Note: Ponderosa Bar was a real saloon, not a gravel bar along the river. Their parking lot remains available, but please don't leave a mess behind. Riders should thoroughly spread any manure or take it with them.	Sorefinger Point trail to North Fork, Am River	6.5 mi.	Canyon views; graded private road (Do not drive down; there is no parking allowed.)	long moderate grade on dirt road.
		6+ mi.	Proceed about 1/4 mile past Sorefinger Road turnoff; look for green gate on left. Hilltop area adjacent to Ponderosa BLM road has numerous Mt Bike trails	Single track dirt trails, some very steep downhill runs
	BLM access road to Ponderosa Bridge,	3.25 mi.	Road is paved as of 2024. Canyon views; bridge over Am. River; popular swimming hole with sandy beach; parking is limited and may be subject to a fee.	Good footing; long moderate grades on drivable dirt road; very exposed in hot weather (Carry plenty of water.)
	Trail to Codfish Falls	3 mi.	River and creek-side views. Trail is single-track and runs cross-slope with steep dropoffs in places. Codfish Falls is beautiful in springtime but can run dry in summer.	Single track trail follows west side of Am. River downstream and then Codfish creek upstream to falls.
	BLM access road to Foresthill Road: BLM access road continues to Foresthill Road	3.3 mi.	Paved road continues from bridge. Canyon views.	Good footing; long moderate grades on drivable dirt road; very exposed in hot weather (Carry plenty of water.)
Stevens Trail, Colfax (20 min.) Directions from center of MV	Stevens Trail to Am. River and back	7 mi.	Spectacular canyon views; rugged waterfalls; wildflowers profuse in Springtime	moderate grades; very narrow cliffside passage in one place. Note: Stevens Trail is not recommended for horses beyond where it passes the old mine entrance.
Trailhead	Route	Length	Features	Notes

Auburn Area including Foresthill and the Western States Trail

Driving time from I-80 at Hwy 49 exit to Trailhead is shown (in parens) .

Trailhead	Route	Length	Features	Notes
Hidden Falls Regional Park, Auburn (30 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Hidden Falls Park trail network	6+ mi.	Open to riders, walkers and mountain bikers, the park (formerly the Spears and Didion ranches) was first opened to the public in October, 2006.	Easy to moderate grades on well-conditioned, single and wide-track trails.
Cool Trailhead Parking (30 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Olmstead Loop Trail (aka, Knickerbocker Trail) PDF	10 mi.	Spectacular views of Sierra Range; Canyon views.	State Park location: parking fee applies. Rolling hills, with some moderate grades. Note: there are plank bridges over some creeks, but they are NOT built for horses
	Ro-B loop Trail Wendel Robie Loop begins/ends at the Hwy 49 limestone quarry entrance. [Trail map not yet avaliable]	15 mi.	Beautiful ride through lush wooded ravines and natural meadows; Canyon views; adjoins the Auburn Lake Trails trail network.	Mostly single-track; moderate to steep grades; crosses Hwy 49 (traffic is heavy at times)
Drivers Flat, Foresthill Road, roadside parking (30 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Foresthill Divide Loop Trail PDF	10 mi.	Beautiful ride through lush wooded areas; Canyon views. Caution Equestrians: heavily used by large groups of bikers.	Multi-use, mostly single-track; moderate grades; crosses Foresthill Divide Rd twice (traffic heavy at times)
Drivers Flat, Foresthill Road, off-road parking (30 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	BLM road to American River and Western States Trail at Rucky Chuck	4 mi.	Canyon views	Steep, but wide graded road down to campground by the river.
Foresthill Center at Yankee Jim's Road (25 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Yankee Jim's Road to Shirttail Canyon Bridge and back	15.5 mi.	Beautiful ride through lush wooded areas, Canyon views, Bridalveil Falls (1/2 mile before the bridge.)	Steep, but wide graded road down to suspension bridge over North Fork of American River.
Western States Trail Lake Tahoe to Auburn Tevis Trailhead Directions WS Run Trailhead Directions	Tevis Ride Trail	100 mi.	Forest trails which cross the Sierra Nevada summit above Squaw Valley. Passes through wilderness areas and BLM lands, finishing at Auburn.	These two annual endurance events use the same 100-mile trail with only minor course differences. Combination of single track, wagon roads and logging roads.
	WS Run Trail
Auburn Staging Area (5 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Am. River Trail, climb out via "Cardiac Hill" [Trail map not yet avaliable]	6 mi.	Auburn Dam site; Canyon views.	long, steep climbout with switchbacks
	Western States Trail to Cool [Trail map not yet avaliable]	7 mi.	Crosses American River via No Hands Bridge, continues to town of Cool	some steep climbs/descents
	Am. River Trail to Rattlesnake Bar [Trail map not yet avaliable]	10 mi.	Views of old Auburn Dam site; Canyon views; views of Lake Folsom.	moderate grades; single-track, rocky in places
Rattlesnake Bar, Loomis (20 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Am. River Trail to Sterling Point [Trail map not yet avaliable]	5 mi.	Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom.	State Park location: parking fee applies. Single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Sterling Point, Granite Bay (30 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Am. River Trail to Beals Point [Trail map not yet avaliable]	3 mi.	Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom.	Not a State Park location: No fee. Single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Beals Point (40 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Am. River Trail to Negro Bar [Trail map not yet avaliable]	10 mi.	Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom.	State Park location: parking fee applies. Single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Negro Bar (45 min.) Directions from I-80 at Hwy 49	Am. River Trail north to Auburn Staging Area [Trail map not yet avaliable]	30 mi.	Wooded shoreline, views of Lake Folsom.	State Park location: parking fee applies. Single-track, good footing, but rocky in places
Trailhead	Route	Length	Features	Notes

High Country Areas including the Pacific Crest Trail

Driving time to each trailhead from Auburn, I-80 at Hwy 49 exit, is shown in (parens.)

Trailhead	Route	Length	Features	Notes
Diggins Hill Road Dutch Flat (30 min.) Directions	Dutch Flat to Mule Springs Park at edge of town of Dutch Flat; cross dam at Dutch Flat Reservoir (Yuba River) to Mule Springs	10 mi.	Historic Mule Springs site (Camp used during Donner Party rescue efforts)	wide, graded roads
Euchre Bar, Alta (45 min.) Directions	Old mining trail to Am. River and then to Humbug Creek and back (trail also continues to Foresthill Divide at Baker Ranch, an additional 5 mi. round trip) [Trail map not yet avaliable]	15 mi.	Spectacular vistas of North Fork river gorge; suspension bridge at river crossing; scattered remains of original gold mining equipment; Old Dorer Mine (abandoned)	Long, steep canyon decent with many switchbacks; trail narrow in places with steep, 200-ft. dropoffs to river
Pacific Crest Trailhead, I-80 South Side (55 min.) Directions	Pacific Crest Trail, I-80 to Hwy 40 PCT route leading South to Hwy 40 near Sugar Bowl ski area. PCT continues South toward the Granite Chief Wilderness.	7 mi	Gorgeous mountain vistas and alpine meadows. Moderate to difficult grades on mostly single track trails. Some trail sections are very rocky. Little or no water on trail in some areas	The PCT crosses under I-80 via a tunnel, just east of the Donner Summit highway rest areas.
Pacific Crest Trailhead, I-80 North Side (55 min.) Directions	Pacific Crest Trail, I-80 to Paradise Lake PCT route leading North passes beneath Castle Peak and Peter Grubb Hut. Side trail goes to Paradise Lake. PCT continues toward Sierra City.	14 mi.
Looney Meadows off Hwy 20 (90 min.) Directions	Interpretive Trail around Looney Meadows and other area trails [Trail map not yet avaliable]	5 mi.	Beautiful alpine lakes and streams; excellent camping spots.	Looney Meadows loop is fairly flat, but other trails have long climbs and decents.
Eagle Lakes Exit, off I-80 (45 min.) Directions	Eagle Lakes Trailhead to Fordyce Creek [Trail map not yet avaliable]	20 mi.	Beautiful alpine lakes and streams; spectacular views of Sierras	some steep climbs, some smooth granite areas
Skillman Campground, off Hwy 49, above Nevada City (45 min.) Directions	Multiple routes within a network of trails [Trail map not yet avaliable]	Many possible loops	Skillman Reservoir area; pine and oak forests	good footing; single track and graded logging roads; some steep climbs; creek crossings.
Lasier Meadows Horse Camp, off Hwy 89, N of I-80 (120 min.) Directions	Pacific Crest Trail Access [Trail map not yet avaliable]	any distance, North or South	Wide, unobstructed Sierra range vistas; wooded canyons; horse camp with four paddocks at trailhead.	some steep climbs, rocky in places; little or no water on trail in some areas
Trailhead	Route	Length	Features	Notes

MVTA tries to assure the accuracy of the trails information presented,
but can make no claims to such. Please let us know if any entries are incorrect.

Email your comments or questions to our Trails Coordinator.