#el dorado county

Springtime in Gold Country is just gorgeous. Bright green grass everywhere, oak trees starting to turn bright green, and lots of wildflowers. And while we now may be in the middle of an extremely dry year and a hot summer, these memories from hiking at Folsom Lake this spring are so lovely to look back on. Red Bank Trail is a place I found last year and have posted a little about from my adventures in the late fall. It was pretty then, but the spring time is just something else. 

On the east of El Dorado County is an old railroad that makes up most of the El Dorado Trail that runs for about 30 miles in the southeastern part of the county. It’s open to hikers so after doing a small section last summer, I decided to go in the opposite direction this year and hike mostly along the tracks. It offers a gorgeous view of the foothills including lots of oak trees and open grasslands. There is so much history to remember while hiking in gold country and to see the railroad that connected El Dorado and Sacramento Counties together for so long.

Late mornings at the edge of the Eldorado National Forest are perfect for a relaxing hike among the trees. The trails at Fleming Meadows are quiet and not heavily trafficked which makes them an ideal spot to explore and relax. Just a little ways past Sly Park and Jenkins Lake this trail really showcases the beauty of Pollock Pines and is becoming another favorite spot in El Dorado County to hike.

Summer has arrived at Folsom Lake in Gold Country. The grass is turning gold and the lake is bright blue and nice and low due to the drought. Last weekend we took a hike around Brown’s Ravine which takes you along where Folsom Lake meets the South Fork of the American River. I hadn’t been to this trail for a few years and I loved being so close to the river and the lake. It was a less busy trail than many of the others in the state park and is definitely on my list to visit more often.

A bit of snowy sierra nevadas for the year. These mountains in the winter really are something incredible. Seeing the masses of granite surrounded by thousands of trees all in white always mesmerizes me. These photos were from a late winter storm last March taken right along Highway 50 that I was lucky enough to drive through the day after.

It’s mid winter here in Gold Country and the trails are starting to get green again. After a big storm two weeks ago and then lots of sun, spring is just knocking on the door ready to come. It has been so lovely to try out some new and familiar trails the past two months, especially some that are very close to where I live. This trail is in Cronan Ranch Region Park in Pilot Hill just down the road from Coloma. The South Fork of the American River winds through the hills and valleys here creating a gorgeous view.

I’ve drive along Latrobe Road through El Dorado and Amador Counties and have always imagined how beautiful it would be to hike back away from the road. And this past summer I finally learned that it was truly possible. The El Dorado Trail is about 30 miles long and runs from the county line all the way up to Placerville. Truly a gold country blessing. While it can be a little hard to find, once on the trail it is a journey of walking along the hills under oak trees and among grass. We only hiked seven miles round trip but there was so much to explore from seeing lots of cows to walking along the rail road tracks, visiting this part of gold country was a real treat.

We’re starting to get a few foggy mornings in gold country. Fall is arriving and the temperatures are starting to drop. Leaves are starting to change colors slowly and pumpkins are starting to appear. This view of gold country is one of my favorites as the valley of trees seems endless. Fog creeps into the crevices and settles for the early morning. This valley seems so mysterious to me. I’ve never actually been in the valley, I’ve just viewed it from atop. I imagine that it is marvelous to walk through the oak trees and along the small hills. A perfect walk for an early fall morning.

Located 25 miles back on Ice House Road in the Sierra Nevadas is Loon Lake. Its a larger high alpine lake than most that I’ve been hiking too but it is one of the prettiest. A few weeks ago we did a 12 mile hike around the lake which was the longest hike we had done so far this summer. The lake has the most gorgeous blue water and pine trees and granite all around. Since it is just a few miles outside of Desolation Wilderness, the landscapes look very similar. It was so peaceful and quite out among the trees. We found so many perfect tea drinking spots to take in the beauty of the lake and rest in the shade throughout the hike. 

A quiet afternoon hike at the edge of the El Dorado National Forest in the sierra nevadas means being around lots of tall trees. And the Fleming Meadows trail right outside of Sly Park is the perfect moderate hike to enjoy the trees. And while there is never a final destination to stop and look at the view, I still fell in love with this trail. The best part would also come when you stopped and looked up and saw the tops of the trees overhead. 

I love when communities make a commitment to having nature walks and trails. It makes such a difference to be able to walk in nature and see what beautiful land is in your community. A few weeks ago we went on the Deer Creek Trail in Cameron Park in gold country. And while its a short walk it is lush with greenery and has a quaint creek flowing next to the trail. It’s simple and has the perfect view for a quick neighborhood stroll with plenty to explore. It’s so nice to get outside and see a new view even when the work day is busy.

Summer is here in Northern California and it’s a beautiful time to go hiking. We’ve made a big hiking list for the summer to see more of the stunning land that surrounds us. My first hike was in gold country on the Olmstead Loop Trail in Cool. And while we might have gone on a day that was way too hot to hike, the views were still mesmerizing. The trails were lined with oak trees and pine trees, vast open prairies, and the beautiful North Fork of the American River. It feels so nice to be back out in nature taking new photos and exploring new places.