Description: This has been
the most requested ride to document for the entire Beautifulvista web
site. I was apprehensive to document it at first due to the heavy traffic
on Highway 49 in the American River canyon (between Cool and Auburn). Then
a fellow bicyclist (Gene) suggested that the Old Foresthill Rd provided a good
alternate to Highway 49 for climbing out of the canyon. It adds six miles
to the ride (and a few additional hills), but the views and the lighter traffic
more than makes up for the added distance.
The ride in general is a great one - and certainly one of the most popular
rides in the county. There are several places to pick up groceries along
the way (Pilot Hill, Cool, Auburn), and the scenery is terrific. Traffic
can be heavy in places (see Traffic notes below). Best time to ride this
is on weekends, starting as early as possible in the mornings - especially in
the Summer where the heat can be quite oppressive at the lower elevations.
Avoid riding this loop on weekdays during rush hour traffic.
Traffic
notes: The towns of Folsom and Auburn can have heavy traffic.
Also between the town of Cool and the Old Foresthill Rd, traffic can be very
heavy (fortunately you are going mostly downhill in this direction, but still be
careful - especially on the one uphill near the rock quarry). The (new)
Foresthill Rd has moderate traffic, but can move amazingly fast at times.
We had one sports car pass us at well over 80 mph here. The remainder of
the roads will have mostly moderate traffic. Be cautious going around
blind corners on these winding roads.
|
0.0
|
Start
in Old Town Folsom in parking lot between Sutter St and Leidesdorf St
(near the new bridge – across the street from Bicycles Plus).
Head East (uphill) on Sutter St.
|
|
0.5
|
Turn
Right on Coloma St.
|
|
0.7
|
Turn
Left on Natoma St.
|
|
2.6
|
Pass
Folsom Dam Rd.
Continue straight.
|
|
3.6
|
Natoma
St ends.
Turn Left on Green Valley Rd.
|
|
6.5
|
Turn
Left on Salmon Falls Rd.
|
|
12.2
|
Salmon
Falls Bridge (crosses American River / Folsom Lake).
Begin climb to Pilot Hill .
|
|
15.9
|
Top
of climb.
Rolling hills after here to Cool.
|
|
18.2
|
Turn
Right on Salmon Falls Cutoff Rd (watch for sign pointing to Hwy 49)
|
|
18.3
|
Turn
Left on Highway 49.
|
|
18.5
|
Grocery
Store in Pilot Hill
|
|
21.9
|
Intersection
with Hwy 193 – Continue Straight on Hwy 49.
Town of Cool on left side (groceries, restaurants).
Traffic increases here.
|
|
23.2
|
Pass
Quarry on right side.
Quick steep uphill on narrow road – use caution.
|
|
23.6
|
Begin
descent to North Fork of American River.
|
|
25.4
|
After
crossing North Fork of American River, turn Right on Old Foresthill Rd.
|
|
29.1
|
Old
Foresthill Rd ends.
Turn Left on Foresthill Rd. Can be very high-speed traffic here so
cross carefully (make sure there’s a wide enough gap).
|
|
31.0
|
Cross
Foresthill Bridge. Climb starts just after bridge.
|
|
32.5
|
Turn
Left at top of hill onto Lincoln Way (just before Highway 80). Traffic
increases here.
|
|
34.0
|
At
stoplight at bottom of hill, turn Right on Highway 49 (becomes High St.).
Enter downtown Auburn (food, restaurants, most other services).
|
|
34.4
|
Hwy
49 veers towards right.
Continue straight on High Street.
|
|
35.1
|
High
St ends. Turn Left on Auburn Folsom Rd.
|
|
49.4
|
At
stoplight, turn Left on Beals Pt Rd – go into park (bicyclist don’t
pay toll).
Continue to top of hill and turn Right on bike path.
Follow dotted yellow line (main bike path) down to Folsom.
|
|
52.6
|
Turn
Left and cross bike path Bridge (across American River / Lake Natomas)
into Folsom.
|
|
52.8
|
At
stoplight walk bikes across Scott St, then turn Right and walk bikes
across Riley St
Turn Left and ride to next stoplight (100 yards).
Turn
Right on Leidesdorf St.
|
|
53.0
|
Ride
ends at parking lot on left side.
|
