The cool morning air rushes over my face as I hurry from my hotel toward Sacramento’s Discovery Park. I’m meeting Brandon Darnell for an easy ride today, 32 miles along the American River Bike Trail. It’s a flat, smooth ride with only one short climb by Folsom Lake.
A Note: This post comes from the Why We Ride vault while I train for this month’s 206-mile Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. I return with new content later this month.
This is Day 1 during a weeklong Northern California cycling tour and I want to get my legs moving. I’ve known about the American River Trail for years. For 18 months, in fact, I lived barely a mile from the trail, yet I never took a spin along this well-maintained hike-and-bike path. Today’s finally the day.
Brandon is my guide. Full disclosure: He’s the marketing director for Visit Sacramento, the local tourism marketing organization. He’s also an avid cyclist and regularly rides this trail. We move away from Discovery Park and head east, and I quickly realize why he and many others like to follow the river here.
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The waters of the American River originate in the Sierra Nevada, flowing west in three forks until the water temporarily collects at Folsom Lake, a reservoir since 1955. There’s plenty of whitewater rafting above the lake. For us bike riders downstream, the river creates a lazy, meandering backdrop until it eventually joins the Sacramento River at Discovery Park.
More than 5 million people use the American River Parkway, “the “jewel of Sacramento,” each year, according to Sacramento County, and most of them are riding, jogging, or walking on the bike trail. Some use it to commute to work or school. It’s easy to understand why. The trail passes by Sacramento State University. We’re minutes from urban life; traffic on U.S. Highway 50 rushes just to the south, out of sight and earshot.
Here, beside the river in the shade with a gentle breeze and a river view, city life is far from our thoughts.
“One of my favorite aspects of the trail is how quickly you can leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and be in nature,” Brandon says as we sip from water bottles and stare across the water.
“As you pass along the trail, you see a variety of scenery from parks to wooded areas, a few open grassy stretches, and lots of trees,” he says. “I frequently spot turkeys, deer, coyotes, and other wildlife along the trail.”
A few miles later, we come to a bend in the trail. On our left, a flock of sheep tends to tall grass. On the right, goats do the same. They graze, we watch. Other riders stop and do the same.
Easy Access
The American River Bike Trail, which is officially named but rarely referred to as the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, is easily accessible from more than 10 locations throughout the area. The Guy West Bridge, a footbridge designed to look like the Golden Gate Bridge, connects the trail with the university campus.
The Sacramento Regional Transit’s light rail Gold Line extends from downtown Sacramento to Folsom and occasionally passes near the trail. It runs almost parallel from Watt Avenue east with 12 stops before arriving in Folsom.
The trail also passes through local parks where riders can find restrooms, water fountains, and occasionally bike repair stations.
Loops, Detours and Stops
Other trail options branch off along the way, notably the 2.5-mile Sacramento River Bike Trail from Old Sacramento and the 2.75-mile Johnny Cash Trail out of Folsom. The main path’s Lake Natoma Loop provides two ways to reach Folsom and a change of scenery for those riding out and back.
Brandan says cyclists like to divert from River Bend Park and ride to Belle Bru Café, almost a mile up Arden Way. It’s a popular place to sit on the patio, have coffee, and perhaps enjoy something to eat.
The Sacramento State Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma provides an appealing place to rest, eat, and drink in the shade. There’s a vending machine and a water bottle refill station.
The Only Climb
Rested, fueled, and ready, Branden and I roll away from the aquatic center and arrive in historic downtown Folsom 5 miles later. We safely ride along the two-way bike lane separated from vehicle traffic on Leidesdorff Street and return to the paved trail three blocks and two street slights later. We now begin the only mentionable elevation gain of the day – barely 300 feet over 3.7 miles.
Folsom Lake is at the top of the climb. We take a few pictures and call it a day. We decide to glide down the same 300 feet to Folsom’s Sociology Coffee Bar and much-deserved pastries and coffee.
Bike Rentals and Services
It’s easy to find a ride if you’re visiting while the bike is at home. Several shops in town rent bikes. Peak Adventures, on the Sacramento State campus, is less than a quarter mile from the Guy West Bridge. They offer bike rentals and repairs. peakadventures.org
Neighborhood Bike Shop has several locations in town, including one in the same shopping plaza as Belle Bru Café. Bike rentals and repairs also are available here. neighborhoodbikeshop.com
Things To Do Off the Bike
Professional Baseball – Sutter Health Park, just across the bridge in West Sacramento, is accessible by bike. This is home to the Sacramento River Cats, the AAA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. It’s the temporary home of Major League Baseball’s Athletics for three years (2025-2027) while a new ballpark is being built in Las Vegas.
Crocker Art Museum – This local institution offers three floors of diverse creativity including one of the nation's largest collections of international ceramics, a leading display of California art, and an ever-changing list of exhibitions. Consider riding there; you’ll find bike racks at the museum’s main entrance.
California Capitol Building – Visit the Capitol Museum for a unique perspective on state history. Tour guides can also lead you through the building. Sign up at the information desk, but first check the website because hours are subject to change.
Visitor Information
Check the Visit Sacramento website for complete information on restaurant and drink establishments, things to do, and upcoming local events. You can also request a free visitor guide on the website.
Dan Shryock is a travel writer and career journalist who focuses on cycle tourism. Based in Oregon, his work has appeared in magazines and websites in California and the Pacific Northwest. His book, “Cycling Across Oregon: Stories, Surprises & Revelations Along the State’s Scenic Bikeways” is available on Amazon.
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