Top Trails: Sacramento: Exploring Valley, Foothills, and Mountains in the Sacramento Region - Softcover

Evans, Steven L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0899973817 ISBN 13: 9780899973814

Publisher: Wilderness Press, 2007

Synopsis

Near Sacramento, numerous trails access the Central Valley’s wildlife-filled wetlands and traverse riverside forests and grasslands. In the Coast Range and Sierra foothills, trails lead to scenic waterfalls, wildflower-studded meadows, and high mountain lakes. Longtime Sacramento resident and intrepid hiker Steve Evans has selected the 43 “must-do” hikes, the majority of which are within two hours of the city. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular alpine peak-bagging trip, you’ll find it here. Trails ranging from 1 to 10 miles and sea level to 9000 feet, and each trip includes Near Sacramento, numerous trails access the Central Valley’s wildlife-filled wetlands and traverse riverside forests and grasslands. In the Coast Range and Sierra foothills, trails lead to scenic waterfalls, wildflower-studded meadows, and high mountain lakes. Longtime Sacramento resident and intrepid hiker Steve Evans has selected the 43 “must-do” hikes, the majority of which are within two hours of the city. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular alpine peak-bagging trip, you’ll find it here. Trails ranging from 1 to 10 miles and sea level to 9000 feet, and each trip includes elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and “don’t get lost” trail milestones. elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and “don’t get lost” trail milestones.

About this title

About the Author

Steven L. Evans was born and raised in the Mojave Desert near the typically dry Mojave River. When he moved up to Northern California in the 1970s for college, he discovered that most rivers actually had water and fish in them. He began exploring the wild places of the Sierra Nevada, and when he discovered that many of them were threatened by logging and other development, he became a full-time environmental activist as well as a hike leader for the Sierra Club. Steve has been hiking and backpacking Northern California trails and running its rivers for more than 30 years. As a resident of the Sacramento region for the last 20 years, he is familiar with the many trails in the valley, foothills, and mountains beloved by Sacramentans. It took Steve three years to hike the more than 235 miles of trails in Top Trails Sacramento, while continuing to work full time for Friends of the River (California’s statewide river conservation organization). It’s no coincidence that many of the trails lead to or follow some of the most scenic rivers and streams in the region. Top Trails Sacramento is Steve’s first book for Wilderness Press.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Trail 1: The Great Valley
Bobelaine Sanctuary Trails: Feather River

Trail Use: Hike
Length: 5.3 miles, 2-3 hours
Vertical Feet: Minimal
Difficulty: 3
Trail Type: Loops (many options)
Surface Type: Dirt
Features: Child friendly, river, meadow, lake, wetlands, birds, wildlife
Facilities: Porta-potty

The Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary on the Feather River provides a unique opportunity to explore the Central Valley’s jungle-like riparian habitat. Maintained by the Sacramento Audubon Society, the 430–acre sanctuary has an extensive loop-trail system kept cleared by mowers so bird-watchers and hikers can make their way through the usually impenetrable forest to observe and appreciate the rich variety of wildlife that depends on this riverside habitat.

Best Time

Because the sanctuary is within the Feather River levee system, it may be flooded in the winter and spring. Summer days can be quite hot. Dawn, early morning hours, and dusk are the best times to observe birds and other wildlife.

Finding the Trail

From Sacramento, drive 8.3 miles north on Interstate 5 to the Hwy 70/99 exit. Drive north on highways 70/99 for 12.8 miles to the Hwy 99 interchange. Drive north 4.0 miles on Hwy 99, cross the Feather River, and continue north approximately 2.6 miles to Laurel Ave. Turn right onto Laurel Ave. and drive east about 0.8 mile to where it dead-ends at the Bobelaine Sanctuary parking lot.

Logistics

Be sure to bring binoculars and a bird book. Log onto the Bobelaine Sanctuary website at www. sacramentoaudubon.org/boblaine.htm for the latest visitor information. Also, consider sending a donation to the Sacramento Audubon Society for the management and protection of this important but privately maintained wildlife and habitat sanctuary.

Trail Description

From the Sanctuary parking lot, walk up the levee and proceed north. [1] On the river side of the levee, you will see Lake Crandall, an oxbow lake that was formerly the Feather River channel, until the river meandered eastward and left the lake unconnected with the river except during floods. River meander is an important ecological mechanism for the renewal of riparian habitat.

Approximately 89 percent of the Great Valley’s former riparian habitat has been lost to agricultural clearing, river channelization, and development. The remaining habitat provides homes to a wide variety of rare and endangered species, including the yellow-billed cuckoo, the valley elderberry long- horn beetle, and the bank swallow.

Follow the top of the levee northward until a road drops down off the levee on the right. [2] Drop down off the levee to the Center Trailhead, marked by a gate. Walk around the gate and proceed east through the riparian forest, past the unsigned junction with the Oak Trail on the right. At the beginning of a large fuel break in front of you, the Center Trail veers left (northward). Largely a mowed access road through riparian jungle, the trail makes its way past large cottonwood and sycamore trees, box elders, native grapevines, and blackberry brambles.

The Center Trail reaches the junction with the Otter Trail, which is heralded by a sign. [3] Turn left and continue heading north on the much more trail-like Otter Trail, which follows a natural bench that is higher up from the river and supports less flood-resistant trees such as valley oaks, with a sprinkling of cottonwoods and sycamores. Occasionally, the trail breaks out into open areas ringed by cottonwood snags, possibly indicative of past fires. The habitat “edge” effect created by the transition from forest to open areas is one of the reasons that riparian habitat is so rich and supports so many species.

The Otter Trail ends at the unsigned junction with the North Trail, which connects from the right. Continue straight on the North Trail. [4] As the trail approaches the northern boundary of the sanctuary, the forest begins to thin out into patchy grassland.

At the northern boundary of the Sanctuary, the North Trail bends right and connects with the Grasslands Trail. [5] Go right on the Grasslands Trail and proceed southward through open meadows broken by occasional groves of cottonwoods and box elders. The Feather River soon comes into view on the left.

The Grasslands Trail dead-ends at the North Trail. [6] Veer left at the sign and proceed a short distance to a clearing and the junction with the Center Trail. Turn left and walk a short way east to the river overlook on the bank of the Feather River. This is a good spot to stop for lunch and watch the river flow by. After enjoying the view, return to the North and Center trails junction and turn left. [7] The trail begins to leave the grasslands area behind, and reenters thick riparian forest.

The Center Trail reaches the junction with the South Trail. [8] For a shorter walk, simply continue straight ahead on the Center Trail back to the levee. For a longer walk, turn left on the South Trail and continue southward. The South Trail crosses a fuel break and continues south over a series of shallow drainages. [9] In this low part of the sanctuary, flooding occurs often, and the vegetation is quite water tolerant. After dropping in and climbing out of the deep Sycamore Swale, the South Trail comes to its signed junction with the Oak Trail on the right. Continue on the South Trail, which soon crosses the even deeper Ringtail Bypass (which may retain water). This is the former Feather River bed extending downstream from Lake Crandall. If the channel is flooded, turn around and proceed back to the Center Trail.

If it isn’t flooded, cross the channel and you will come to the junction with the South Forty Trail. [10] Turn right on this trail to proceed northwest along the slough draining Lake Crandall and along the foot of the Feather River levee on your left. [11] Follow the South Forty Trail to its junction with the Center Trail, at the foot of the levee from the Center Trailhead. Turn left, climb the levee and turn left again [12] to follow the levee back to the [13] Sanctuary parking area.

Milestones

• 1. From parking lot, walk up levee and proceed north
• 2. Drop down off levee to the Center Trailhead on the right
• 3. Otter Trail junction, turn left
• 4. North Trail junction, continue straight
• 5. Grassland Trail junction, turn right
• 6. North Trail Junction, turn left
• 7. River Overlook, retrace steps to North/Center junction, turn left
• 8. South Trail junction, turn left
• 9. Cross fuel break
• 10. Oak Trail junction, continue straight on South Trail
• 11. South Forty Trail junction, turn right
• 12. Return to Center Trail trailhead, climb levee, turn left, return to lot
• 13. Sanctuary parking lot

Edition details

• Publisher: Wilderness Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0899973817
• ISBN 13: 9780899973814
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 382