american river parkway

trbeer

God knows I needed exercise and fresh air after being cooped up so I took advantage of a business trip to get a 2 hour walk in. I felt safe but I can understand apprehension about solo females and young teens walking. Lots of different birds which I enjoyed

AvaK30

Hard to believe you are in the middle of the city. Love the dedicated bike path and all the parks along the way. No matter how often I go there, it is never boring. The different seasons give different ambience. People are friendly, considerate, and helpful if you need help. I start my ride at various locations to change things up. Fun to end in old town Folsom and have a beer or bite to eat.

Bezus

Great place to ride your bike and not be bothered by traffic. This doesn't compare to the mountains to the north, though it is an amazing retreat if you are coming from the city the south.

travelincanuck_9

Our family has enjoyed the parkway over the years. One of our favorite things to do is bike from Folsom to Discovery Park and then on to Old Sacramento. It's about a 30 mile ride one way. There are stretches that you would have no idea that you're in a large urban area. There are great picnic areas along the way.

candacet2013

I grew up hiking, biking, skipping rocks, and inner-tubing down the American River Parkway . It is truly a treasure to behold in the fall and spring. Everywhere you look there is abundant wildlife--all kinds of birds, rabbits, wild turkey, beaver, etc. We even spied a seal in the river this summer! The trees are fantastic too. Grab a picnic lunch and head over to Ancil Hoffman. Sit near the river bank and just relax.

LCnSac

I'm a fly fisherman, and love drifting the river during the various runs, primarily for shad and stripers. There are numerous access points for wading, and a few for launching a small boat or pontoon.I do it less now than a few years ago, because you're never safe. Car break ins are common. Often we reach our take out point just after dark, and if the methheads aren't hanging out looking for an easy mugging, the gangs are they waiting. I've had enough encounters, all without major incident, that I'm always concerned about personal safety for me and my passengers. Just be careful and carry what you need to for safety.

sharoncB3347QS

beautiful in places, other areas are home for the homeless. Wouldn't want to be here after dark. Nicely maintained and a good way to work off a large breakfast in Old Sac.

HelenA103

I have a friend who jogs on this daily, and others who ride their bikes on it 30-60 miles at a time. I, myself, am the "walk-50-feet-to-have-a-picnic" sort of exerciser. The picnic last weekend was fun! We brought our own food, and watched friendly bikers and joggers go by. We were safe (two women) and yet could discuss personal topics aloud at the picnic table. We listened to native birds calling from the trees. Other times, we pick blackberries from the open vines, there. It's a good place to spend some time with a friend or with family!

travelnice

We live in Sacramento and go to the parkway several times a week for walking. There are a variety of environments and experiences. If you walk several areas and do it a different times of day over several months, you will see a variety of wildlife including rabbits, deer, turkeys, skunks, rattlesnakes (rarely), squirrels, hawks, egrets, geese, etc. You can take short or long walks. Occasionally benches or water fountains are available. During the hot summer months is is nice to walk trails that are next to the American river. People are generally friendly.If you park in one of the county provided parking lots, there is a fee. If you walk into the park there is no fee.

SteveinCH

This parkway gets a lot of emphasis for biking, but it's also great for just walking or hiking. Trails vary from paved biked trails to single-track dirt trails through dense wooded areas. views of the river, Lake Natoma and Folsom lake are great. Lots of birds and other wildlife throughout. You can easily spend a full day exploring the area. State park fees are required for some areas, but there is also free access points throughout the parkway.

CA7777

The parkway is a great place to go walking or biking. I love seeing the birds and geese at all times of the year.

dgb117

30+ miles of paved bike trail (or you can walk, or jog) that follows the river & crosses it. Parts of the trail are flat, others are steep. Definitely scenic.You can pull over and picnic. If you're lucky, you might catch sight of some otters. If you're doing it in summer, be sure to bring plenty of water. But always be aware of serious speedy cyclists, as well as dawdling ones.

RobertA332

This gem might be the one thing that makes Sacramento endurable. It might be the best urban bike trail in the western world.

socaltravelmom_fun

Enjoyed this Parkway immensely from the Eastern portion where it connects with the Southern edge of Nimbus Flat recreation area (Lake Natoma) over to about 3-4 miles West of the fish hatchery. It was a lovely Saturday in Spring and in my short bike ride I saw egrets, ducks, 2 wild tom turkeys, a jack rabbit, squirrels and blue jays. What an incredible experience. The path is wide with dirt edges for the pedestrians to walk/jog next to the paved path, which is marked with mileage markers. I recommend this Parkway to tourists and nature-lovers as well as locals. There are also picnic tables set strategically throughout the area to enjoy the water's edge.

429JasonA

This is a great place to observe farrell humans living in the beautiful trees that line one of Sacramento's hidden treasures, the American River. Trash and human excrement line the trail and river's edge.