If you live in Sacramento and own a bicycle, you no doubt have explored this great bike trail in the area. The American River Parkway starts in Old Town Sacramento near the Train Museum, and ends at Beals Point in Folsom. The mile markers painted on the trail begin in Old Town at 0 and end at 31 miles. Along the way you'll cross the river 3 times, and pass historical markers, parks, Sac State, mild white water, a salmon & trout fish hatchery, 2 dams, CSUS aquatic center and old town Folsom. Even with the out & back distance of over 62 miles, the trail can be extended at both ends from Beals point up Auburn folsom Rd and out to Foresthill, and downtown across the river to West Sacramento down W. Capitol to the trail on the Yolo Causeway out to Davis & Beyond.
The trail is so prolific, that when the Tour of California comes to town you'll see almost all the pro riders on the trail getting their miles in (yes, Lance Armstrong has ridden the trail, and in a conversation I had with Floyd Landis he also was aware of the trail)
The horse trails are closed to mountain bikers, but the only people that will be bothered to see you there are the trail runners. As a kid I was actually caught by a park ranger on a horse, but let off with an easy warning. The main paved trail is smooth, maintained, and relatively flat with an "up river" direction.
Sac County Trail Map: link
Partial Trail KML (Business 80 to Folsom Bluffs): KML file
View Sat Beals Point in a larger map
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