Want to explore the best trails in the greater Sacramento area, including Folsom, Roseville, Auburn State Recreation Area, Elk Grove, and Davis, along with paths in Sacramento itself?
Then buy Urban Trails Sacramento, the new all-color compact guidebook to the 35 best routes for hikers, walkers, and runners — all within an hour drive of downtown Sacramento.
The book features a wide variety of trails for all abilities, from short and flat strolls in central Sacramento to long day hikes in the Sierra foothills — and it’s small and lightweight, so you’ll hardly notice it in your daypack.
Where to Buy Urban Trails Sacramento
Your local bookstore may have it on the shelves, and if not, they will be more than happy to order it for you. Call first!
Barnes and Noble stores in the Sacramento area always have it, unless they are temporarily sold out.
REI and other outdoor stores frequently carry the book. Call first!
Some visitor centers also carry it. Again, call first!
You can buy it online through BookShop.org, which supports local, independent bookstores.
You can buy it online through Amazon.
Urban Trails Sacramento Hike/Route List
Here are the five geographical sections of the book, along with the hike/route numbers and names.
DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO TRAILS
1. Discovery Park
2. Capitol Park and Old Sacramento
3. William Land Park
GREATER SACRAMENTO URBAN AREA TRAILS
4. Gibson Ranch Regional Park
5. Dry Creek Greenway
6. Mather Regional Park
7. William B. Pond Recreation Area and River Bend Park
8. Effie Yeaw Nature Center Loop
9. Sacramento Bar Regional Park and Lower Sunrise Recreation Area
10. Lake Natoma Loop
11. Mormon Island Cove to Browns Ravine
12. Dotons Cove Trail
SIERRA FOOTHILLS TRAILS
13. Hidden Falls Regional Park
14. Stevens Trail
15. Mountain Quarries Railroad Trail
16. Pointed Rocks
17. Lake Clementine Trail
18. Foresthill Divide Loop Trail
19. Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park
20. Dave Moore Nature Area
21. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
SOUTH OF SACRAMENTO TRAILS
22. Blue Heron Trails
23. Cosumnes River Preserve: River Walk Trail
24. Cosumnes River Preserve: Wetlands Walk and Boardwalk Trails
25. Lodi Lake Nature Trail
26. Howard Ranch Trail
TRAILS WEST OF SACRAMENTO
27. Cache Creek Nature Preserve
28. Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area: Pond Walk
29. Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Loop
30. Covell Greenbelt
31. UC Davis Arboretum
32. Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
33. Putah Creek Nature Park
34. Blue Ridge Trail
35. Homestead Trail
Key Features of Each Hike/Route
Each route description includes a trail map and photo, and the following:
Distance. Here you will find round-trip mileage or a total mileage of trails.
Elevation gain. The total amount of elevation you’ll climb over the course of the route.
High point. The highest point of elevation you reach during the journey.
Difficulty. The five categories of difficulty are easy, easy to moderate, moderate, moderate to challenging, and challenging.
Fitness. This category indicates whether the trail is most suited to walkers, hikers, or runners.
Family-friendly. This field indicates the suitability of a route for children 12 and younger. It can also include mention of fun attractions for kids and also any specific hazards such as cliffs and multi-use trails where bike use is common.
Dog-friendly. This description lets you know if your pooch is welcome and under what rules (on-leash only, under strict voice command, etc.).
Bike-friendly. Here you will find whether bikes are allowed, regulations on bike use, and any information relevant to biking on trails and paths.
Amenities. Park, recreation area, and other trail amenities can include features such as restrooms, picnic tables, drinking fountains, playgrounds, interpretive nature panels, and campgrounds, among others.
Contact/maps. In this field, you will find the name of the route’s managing agency, which is who you contact to get current trail conditions and further information, including maps.
GPS. The main trailhead location GPS coordinates.
More key info. Here you’ll find information about fees, permits, hours of operation, seasonal closures, and anything else relevant to your ability to access and enjoy the trails.
GETTING THERE. Driving: This section provides directions to the trailhead from the nearest town, freeway exit, or major road intersection and gives details on parking. Public transit: If public transportation serves the trailhead, you’ll find the agency and line number here as well as the bus stop closest to the trailhead.
THE HIKE OVERVIEW describes the key features of the trail or park, including notable geographic details and history; this overview can help you choose the best outing for you and your companions.
GET MOVING. The longest section of each destination, this section provides specific guidance on where to go on the trails and how to get there along with descriptions of what you’ll experience along the way.
GO FARTHER. This final section offers suggestions for extending your hike, walk, or run on other paths within the park system or nearby.
Where to Buy Urban Trails Sacramento
Your local bookstore may have it on the shelves, and if not, they will be more than happy to order it for you. Call first!
Barnes and Noble stores in the Sacramento area always have it, unless they are temporarily sold out.
REI and other outdoor stores frequently carry the book. Call first!
Some visitor centers also carry it. Again, call first!
You can buy it online through BookShop.org, which supports local, independent bookstores.
You can buy it online through Amazon.
My Ties to the Sacramento Area
I spent many years living and visiting the Sacramento area, always with lots of hiking on the nearby trails.
- I did my undergraduate degree in biochemistry and my master’s degree in political science at UC Davis.
- I lived in Sacramento for a while as a young boy.
- When I was in high school, I spent a lot of time visiting my brothers while they were students at Sac State.
- I still have lots of family and friends in the area and visit and hike whenever I can.
Book Updates
See the Trail Closures and Major Updates page for important changes in all of my hiking guidebooks.
