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Salmon Falls (Darrington Trail)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 3.9 (77)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …Sacramento Valley
  4. …Sacramento, Folsom, and Roseville
  5. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
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“The best known singletrack in the area. ”

Shayne Holderby
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Map Key

15.9

Miles

25.6

KM

100%

Singletrack

642' 196 m

High

472' 144 m

Low

717' 219 m

Up

717' 219 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

11%

Max Grade (7°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

This is a multi-use trail, used by hikers (horses not allowed), although this one is mainly traveled by mountain bikers. Be respectful!

Overview

Virtually all the local mountain bikers know this trail well. It's a 16 mile out and back with some very technical areas and some steep climbs. There are several very exposed sections (well marked with caution signs). It's very hot in the summer but still a great ride.

The trail follows along the Lake and drops back and forth into creek areas and then back out to the ridges along the lake. It's very rocky trail in some areas, with flowing singletrack in other areas.

Need to Know

The start of this trail is a bit scary and exposed. Several riders have gone for a spill down the hill to the lake (or the catch fence). Walk your bike if you''re uncertain (I do).

Description

You can't get lost on this trail - it's straight out and back and only two sections deviate off the trail. At about mile 3 there's a split in the trail with a lower and upper trail. The upper trail is best on the way out and the lower is the best on the way back. If you take the upper on the way out it turns into a rocky fire road - watch for a trail sign on your left leading you back to the singletrack (it's the second left).

The two lefts are very close together and easy to spot. At mile 7.5 you'll drop back onto a fire road and it's a good climb to the turnaround for the trail. The turnaround is marked by a sign indicating Darrington Trail back the way you just came and is on a large flat spot with fire roads heading in three directions.

Return the way you came on a high speed run down the fire road, and watch for the singletrack rising to the left of the road. Follow this until you get to the next fire road (several miles) and you'll enter and leave the fire road on the right side (or you can go for the steep climb up the road).

Contacts

Local Club: Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition

Land Manager: California State Parks - Gold Fields District

Shared By:

Shayne Holderby with improvements by John Steggall and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 77 votes

#2

in Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

#210

Overall
  3.9 from 77 votes
5 Star
22%
4 Star
52%
3 Star
18%
2 Star
8%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#2

in Folsom Lake State Recr…

#25

in California

#210

Overall
139 Views Last Month
46,971 Since Jun 24, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
2%
3%
71%
11%
14%
0%
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Photos

This marks the turnaround point for Salmon Falls (Darrington Trail).
Apr 3, 2017 near Granite…, CA
Folsom Lake.
May 14, 2016 near El Dora…, CA
Salmon Falls-Folsom Lake, CA
Aug 11, 2017 near Granite…, CA
I can see for miles!
May 6, 2016 near Granite…, CA
Flowing singletrack.
Feb 28, 2016 near Granite…, CA
Beautiful view of the lake from the trail.
May 6, 2016 near El Dora…, CA

8 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 33 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 19, 2024
Bill Sheehan
May 10, 2023
John Steggall
70 F = 21 C, sunny, light winds. — 12h 00m
Apr 1, 2022
Logan Smith
Jan 30, 2022
Tod Harrison
Oct 12, 2021
Tony Tobia
Aug 4, 2021
Andreas Jorgensen
Jun 1, 2021
Raymond Quintana
Apr 18, 2021
Griselda Fernandez

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