EXPLORE AUBURN BUSINESS, RELOCATION AND VISITORS GUIDE 2023-24

Outdoor Adventures Abound
By Rob Haswell
Photos by Eric Bergen
Hiking & Cycling 101
Auburn is the perfect staging ground for
outdoor enthusiasts who love to jump on
a mountain bike on a moment’s notice
and be on some of the best trails in the Sierra
foothills. And many of those same trails are
perfect for hiking and horseback riding as well.
The two most iconic areas for biking
and hiking are the Auburn State
Recreation Area (ASRA) and Hidden
Falls Regional Park. Both easy-access
parks offer spectacular views, creek
and river access, and well-maintained
trails that are suitable for biking
or hiking.
AUBURN STATE RECREATION
AREA: The ASRA encompasses 40
miles of the scenic canyons of the
North and Middle Forks of the American
River near their confluence and
Auburn sits perfectly along the rim.
It boasts some of the best mountain
biking in the southern half of Placer
County, perfect for riding yearround.
Routes range from easy-intermediate
to expert, with Confluence
Trail, Foresthill Divide Trail, and
Culvert Trail standing out as the
most popular. Tight turns, technical
rocky sections, and pristine views
of the rivers below make these trails
both tough and rewarding. For a real
challenge, link up these three trails
to complete the 26-mile “Tour the
ASRA” loop.
Some top hikes include:
STAGECOACH TRAIL: This moderate
3.6-mile trek with sweeping
views of the American River and the
world-famous Foresthill Bridge features
744 feet of elevation gain and
is used by hikers, trail runners, and
mountain bikers.
It was initially a
Gold Rush-era toll
route that connected
miners to
the Foresthill area.
LAKE CLEM-
ENTINE TRAIL:
This mellow path
offers panoramic
views of the North
Fork of the American
River. It’s an
ideal hike on a hot
day, thanks to the
shade provided by
the conifers and
oaks that line the
trail. You’ll also
find easy access
to the river for a
quick dip via several side trails.
WESTERN STATES TRAIL: Famous
for the iconic 100-mile race from
Olympic Valley (elevation 8,500 feet)
to Auburn (elevation 2,000 feet) that
draws world-class ultramarathon
runners each year, this trail is a
great place to log many miles. From
Auburn, the trail crosses the Middle
Fork of the American River several
times as it ascends toward Foresthill.
HIDDEN FALLS REGIONAL
PARK: Nestled in the foothills
between Lincoln and Auburn,
Hidden Falls hosts outstanding
PHOTOS BY ERIC BERGEN
winter, spring, and fall riding. The
park’s network of smooth, rolling
single-track attracts mostly beginners,
though more advanced riders
will still love pushing their speed
through the soft curves. Hidden Falls
Access Trail and Poppy Trail see a
fair number of hikers, while the rest
of the park offers more solitude. Enjoy
riding through shady oak forests
and grasslands—and don’t forget to
check out the 30-foot waterfall that
gives the park its name.
40 | Explore AUBURN 2023-2024