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Clementine Lake Loop or Culvert Loop

4.8 (23 reviews)

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Rainbow in the waterfall
Robin M.

I would like to preface this review by saying that I don't hike. I'm not in great shape because I don't exercise or hike, so when I do go on a very infrequent hike, I need it to be easy. Luckily, this one fit my requirements. The hike is kind of hard to find. I tried using my car navigation and it led me astray. Then google maps did the same, but finally, I managed to find it. Hopefully, I'll remember where it is for next time. You have to park on the side of the road and go to a window to pay for parking. The people at the window will tell you how to find the start of the hike in case you're geographically challenged like I am. There are also bathrooms next to where you pay to park. And a map in case you're good at maps. (The only maps I like is the yeah yeah yeahs song.) The beginning of this hike is my favorite because you're walking alongside a pretty river with ducks. I brought my dog, which was nice, but it also meant the trail had a ton of dog poop on it because humans are very irresponsible and don't pick up their dog's poops. So watch where you walk! And not to give you conflicting messages, but also look up! If my dog hadn't told me to, I wouldn't have looked up and I'd have missed the bear that was having lunch on the hill!!! This is only the second time in my life that I've seen a bear in the wild so it was quite a treat for me. I also saw tons of different kinds of butterflies! I was there in May, so I don't know if that's a popular time for butterflies and bears or if this hike is always like that, but I was very into it. The end of the hike has a waterfall. And there was a car parked there which made me wonder if you can just drive to the waterfall and save yourself all the hiking. There's a bench by the waterfall where you can sit and have a snack while you stare at it. The hike back is just going back the way you came. The entire hike probably took me a couple hours. I was fine in sneakers and a dress. Don't forget sunscreen. I brought a parasol.

Crisps mornings
Lizz V.

Hike is listed as "moderate" according to all trials but it's daily easy if you're a person who goes on walks fairly often. I get why they would consider it moderate because the trial does take you up and down different elevation levels but nothing too extreme. Pace yourself and you can get through it. Some areas are paved some are not and it's gravel with rocks, but other than that if you pay attention you'll be fine. Trail is easy to find and start, it's pretty self explanatory and should have no worries of taking a wrong trail or turn. It's a very popular trail so you'll have plenty of hikers to pass by and say hi to. Dogs are allowed. They have an outhouse toilet to use. They have it cleaned and stocked with tp throughout operation hours. There is a $10 parking fee. There's a stand with a worker that allows you the option to pay electronically, but if not open or the worker isn't here you must pay by self completing a form to drop in the drop box. Place receipt on window as your parking permit for the day use. Parking is a bit limited but hikes come and go all at different times, you might have to go up and down a few times but you will find a parking spot. The dam's waterfall is well worth seeing and it's pretty rewarding.

Damn
Geoff M.

Came Monday morning (holiday) at 8:30a. By the time we left, around 11a, it was packed. Notes: Heavily traveled trail, not overly crowded but large groups of people. Parking is $10 cash, make sure you have pen handy. You will need to put in your car information on a form. About 2hrs total for the trip to the damn and back. Very nice "walk", very very rocky, watch your step. Nice views, pleasant paths. I encourage checking it out. Bonus if you skip a few rocks under the bridge.

This place is so beautiful
Alexandra A.

Such an amazingly beautiful place. I wish we took more photos while staying here but of course when you're living in the moment you just enjoy and take it all in. The drive here isn't too bad it's about 1.5 miles of windy roads which is narrow. You have to drive it slowly because a lot of people ride their bikes and walk since a lot of trails are in the area. We went down to where the boar ramp is which is at the bottom next to the Dam is and first thing we noticed is they have bathrooms and lots of parking. Once we parked, had lunch and relaxed we took a hike. Trying to figure out what trail we wanted to take we started to just walk against the lake and to the Dam enjoying the sounds of the water and the trees. This place is just so amazing the clear air, mother nature working at its best. I am definitely coming back here and glad we found this gem. So many hiking trails and such beautiful scenery.

Raghavi A.

The Clementine Lake Loop is an excellent hike that's absolutely worth the view. My friend and I came here for a celebratory hike in January. There was ample parking, but we did get a bit lost on our way there. We stopped to ask a park ranger for instructions which was super helpful! However, a few lessons learned to share as to what I'd do differently next time: - Because of the close proximity of the waterfall, the ground gets to be a bit wet and the rocks tend to be a little slippery. I highly recommend wearing grippy shoes (something with solid tread). I wore a pair of my older tennis shoes that were a bit scuffed up and I was slipping around quite a bit. - Take your time! The hike has bits of downhill with mud, protruding branches, and lots of rocks, so use extra caution. - A word of warning for my fellow hikers with lots of hair: bring a hair tie! My hair got so frizzy and curly, again because of the close proximity to the waterfall. - The earlier, the better! My friend and I started much earlier, so we were able to experience the loop with minimal foot traffic. But by mid-afternoon, it was getting packed. However, everyone was respectful, distanced, and masked-up. Once you get your footing on this hike, it is so much easier to soak in the view. My friend and I brought a picnic + blanket and set ourselves up pretty close to the waterfall (but outside of the splash zone) and had an amazing time soaking up the sun, breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the view, and listening to the birds and the waterfall. Such a peaceful day!

Tanesha J B.

Great hike. Wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty or muddy. A shoe with a good grip sole would be great. Some narrow areas with rocks. Not recommend for small children. Pack water and snacks. Apx 4.5 miles round trip. No garbages or toilets- take out what you bring in. The view of the Dam is beautiful. Might even catch a rainbow at the bottom. There is a 10$ parking area before the bridge

Scenic route
Jack K.

The trail is more shaded more & it's perfect for morning hike & also for beginner hikers since the trail is mostly flatland and runs alongside the river. I parked near the dam where there's less traffic, but you have to drive all the way down for parking. Family & dog friendly. You can deep your feet in the water to cool down. You will enjoy it!

Marie M.

I've hiked around this area several times ober the years but for some reason never made it back to Lake Clementine until now. The hike to the dam is a little over 2 miles so about 4.5 miles round trip. A slight incline as you work your way to the dam but nothing too strenuous. Pretty cool because you also get to walk right underneath the Foresthill bridge. Once you're at the dam there's not much to do except take in the views. There's one picnic table so if that's occupied there's really no where else to hang out except for sitting on the concrete. Regardless, it was a great hike. Perfect for getting out of the house for a little bit.

One of three snakes we saw while on the hike.
Tracy M.

To get to this trail, we parked near the "no hands"bridge. There is a park ranger station close by that has restrooms and maps for trail markers. The park ranger was helpful and showed us which trail head to start with after we explained we wanted to get to Clementine Lake. We didn't do the full loop and decided to turn around once we got to the dam and edge of the lake. It was a little over 5 miles round trip. It was breath-taking. Hikes like this make me thankful to live in California! The swimming hole was very tempting, we will be back this summer to swim. WARNING: be hyper-aware of where you are walking. We stayed on the marked trail and still saw THREE snakes. One of which was a rattle snake in the middle of the trail, my husband was inches away from stepping on it.

Seeing and hearing the water flowing over the Clementine Dam is amazing!
Eric B.

This is a beautiful place to visit just for a look or for a hike. The road going in at the lower lake is paved but narrow and winding with steep cliffs so give yourself some extra time to take the drive slowly and enjoy the views.

Crazy how high the water is this year compared to last!

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Review Highlights - Clementine Lake Loop or Culvert Loop

I parked near the dam where there's less traffic, but you have to drive all the way down for parking.

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Lake Clementine

Lake Clementine

(148 reviews)

Have now done this hike/loop a few times now and it's definitely worth the drive and parking…read morefiasco. The trail is about 4 miles long and takes just a couple hours to do at a slow/medium pace. The trail is pretty wide, there were people with their dogs, a few little kids, and lots of groups enjoying the beautiful day. The majority of the trail is shady and covered by beautiful trees, some spots are under the direct sun so bring a hat or sunnies. You'll see tons of butterflies, wild flowers, birds, and of course will see the spillway. Parking is $10 cash paid to the park. This most recent time that I came it was very difficult to find parking, so if you plan to come on a weekend plan ahead and come early. I would also recommend bringing bus spray and being cautious of the poison ivy along the sides of the trail. Overall it's a beautiful hike and I'd recommend it!

Beautiful hike!! Highly recommend! There is a $10 parking fee. The fee grants you access to…read moreMULTIPLE trails for the ENTIRE day, take advantage and check out different areas to explore the scenery. More info on their website! The hike was moderate. Pretty straight forward, some steep elevation here and there. But worth the experience! As we hiked I was greeted by the buzzing bees at work, different species of butterflies, and watched the birds glide above me. The trail is filled with trees that provided shade, accompanied by drafts of wind. Hearing the water crash as we got closer to the dam was the best motivation to quicken our pace. So stunning! There's a small bench where you can sit to enjoy the view before your hike back. We were wiped because we went at peak heat level, rookie mistake. So definitely check the weather to go at a cooler time to thoroughly enjoy this wonderful scenic hike!

Hidden Falls Regional Park

Hidden Falls Regional Park

(280 reviews)

Another nice, easy hike to add to our list around the Roseville area! Biggest tip is to be sure and…read morego online to reserve ahead of time and pay a small fee, if necessary. Reservations are required on weekends, some Fridays, and selected dates. Otherwise, Mon thru Thu are free with no reservations required. Parking available inside is limited so come early to avoid the hassle. I believe they open at 6:30 AM and closing is dependent on sundown. We hiked with our 2 little girls and dogs. Even with the little ones, we were able to make it to the Canyon View Overlook and back. In case your dog needs a bathroom break, bag it up and I recall there was at least one trash can along the path towards the Overlooks. Help keep this hiking gem clean! Scenery was gorgeous, hike was pretty easy without difficulty, and be sure to visit both Overlooks for some beautiful sights. We took the North Legacy Way, in case you're curious. Great for hiking enthusiasts, families, quality time with nature, and perfect for those that want to avoid lots of foot traffic!

Paid for the ticket reservation online. $8 for all day parking pass. They have $4 options but those…read moreare for early morning or later in the afternoon. I much prefer a reservation system like this because it saves on the stress and time of fighting for parking and an overcrowded park. People who rated this low are just mad because they didn't do research or come prepared. Theres plenty of trail options here but we did the main hidden falls loop trail that was on AllTrails. (Poppy Trail, N Legacy Way, then Hidden Falls Access Trail, total loop about 3.2 miles) It was a beautiful hike with tons of mushrooms everywhere right now, and hidden falls is flowing! Theres two observation decks. I kind of don't like how the deck at hidden falls is right above the falls so it blocks the falls, you have to look down over the rail/ledge, so there's no way you can get a good photo with the falls behind you

American River Canyon Overlook Park - Mushroom

American River Canyon Overlook Park

(11 reviews)

If you can handle straight down and straight up hiking, trail running, or horseback riding with…read morecliff drop-offs, this Bud's for you! Head down the paved road to the river. Someone else said it's 3 miles round trip but my Strava says 3.2 miles up from the river with 800' gain. :shrug Check out Alltrails app for more input and routes. If you stick to the pavement route, the path is very wide, two cars width and more at times. So no fears of steep drop-offs. Beyond the river, it's single track. On the dirt routes going down to the river, it's very technical and steep. Though I've never been on it, I know about K2/Cardiac Hill. LOL! If you want to explore the Western States trail that's used by Tevis Cup and Western States Endurance Race (both 100 mile endurance races one on horse one on foot), then head down the dirt trail off the horse side. If you travel a little more than 3 miles down this path you'll encounter a waterfall if there's still flowing water. Cross in the water or on the bridge (horses ok either way). But again, this trail isn't for the faint of heart when it comes to horses and their riders. Be mindful it may be too much for you or your horse. Horse side has a large watering hole that had water in it in early April 2023 (while some locations fear the horse sicknesses and have shut off water). There's also tying rails. And plenty of room to maneuver a rig. Paved side has a building with restrooms. The restroom is accessed by the paved lot but is on the side nearest the dirt lot/horse trailer parking. I don't recall it having soap or towels or hand dryers in April 2023. C'mon 'rona, give us soap even if it's the sandpaper powder! Be aware that some days there are major events and you may not be able to park there. I suppose you can call City of Auburn or just be prepared to go somewhere different such as railroad park. Major events include: Tevis Cup, Western States Endurance Race, and American River Endurance Race.

Beautiful large park. Costs $7 to enter/park, and there's a strict close time to leave at sundown…read more Highly recommend for biking, but not so much for casual walking with kids. This place is huge and has a decent amount of hills and flat areas.

Auburn State Recreation Area - Tamaroo Bar Trail 12/2023

Auburn State Recreation Area

(77 reviews)

Gorgeous landscape! I recently completed the Quarry trail and it was a beautiful walk. The entire…read morepark is great for enjoying nature and exploring the outdoors for various levels of activity. For the Quarry trail, I recommend parking along the main road if you find a parking spot. The parking lot at the trailhead is tiny, and always full. This trail has plenty of portable bathroom stalls and is paved.

So lucky to have such a great outdoor recreation area near home…read more Numerous trails along the North Fork of the American River. From easy short walks to all day of hiking, it's all here. Free parking along Highway 49 at the American River and a large and free parking area at the American River Overlook Park across from Railhead Park in Auburn. Perfect access point to the Western States Trail that takes you down to the American River as well as a large assortment of trails that cover the north side of the American River Canyon. Paved as well as natural trails for every skill level. Bikes are welcome on several of the trails as well as horses. The Western States Trailhead at the Overlook has a staging and parking area for horse vans. Regular parking for about 150 cars at the Overlook and no charge for parking. For the advanced hiker you have a well marked trail that will take you from Overlook Park all the way to Folsom. In the late afternoon you might catch deer roaming the hillside. A couple of waterfalls in the area that are worth a visit. Beautiful views of the American River as you hike along the canyon trails. Most trails are well marked. The free app. "All Trails" provides a detailed map of the trail system in Auburn and makes it easy to determine the length of time it will take to hike to most scenic spots.

Halsey Forebay Picnic Area - Not much action... yet!

Halsey Forebay Picnic Area

(5 reviews)

On a recent mild sunny winter weekend afternoon, I visited the Halsey Forebay fishing access area…read more It's a water reservoir that's occasionally stocked with trout and crawfish. It's managed by PG&E. The reservoir is a lake with shallow rocky edges. It's just for casting fishing, no humans or animals should go into the water. The access and parking is FREE. And as always, anglers 16 and older need a CA fishing license to fish. I didn't fish here. I looked about and soaked in the sights though. It was rusticly beautiful. However the perimeter doesn't have any shade trees. But vibes were super quiet, I call it library fishing. Shhhh. As I walked about the perimeter of the lake, I noticed folks were quiet even amongst their own groups. Even the elementary school age children there were super quiet. An incredible feat. QuietPlace. And about the fishing situation, not much luck with the anglers that day. Stock was low. Near the parking lot is a short concrete pier with fishing rod holders. This is closest to the water shed. The picnic area is across the watershed. To get to the area from the parking lot, you will have to walk, on a narrow steel grate walkway, over the watershed. The rushing water provides for a dizzying visual effect. The picnic area is set back enough from the lake so if you bring the kiddos, this is the area where they can go about hooting n hollering. The area has 3-4 concrete picnic tables and a several bbq pits. It's first come, first serve. This area is not paved, dirt packed; shaded with big growth trees. Plus let me tell you I learned the hard way that the walking path doesn't connect fully around the lake. I don't recommend attempting the mythical loop. The path is mostly gravel with the other parts being dirt. Watch where you step; there was a lot of poop along the trail. There is a stretch of the path that ends and funnels you out to the narrow bike lane on Christian Valley Road near Bancroft Road. There is no adjacent room to the side of the bike lane, only a chain link fence. Cars are going 50plus miles a hour inches away from you; and they are on a curve. So wait until traffic clears for a significant distance to hightail yourself across that stretch which runs about 50 feet. Don't try to walk with cars coming at you; don't risk getting impaled by a side view mirror or worse. There is a paved parking lot and a public restrooms with vault toilets. Sorry ladies, I can't provide any additional info about the restrooms. As always, I try my best to avoid public park restrooms. But at least they have a restrooms. And to add the landscape of area doesn't provide for any natural discrete spots to answer the call of nature.

It's gorgeous out here…read more.. We've been fishing at Halsey Forebay Picnic Area quite a few times now. We've caught trout and crawfish! Along with some gnarly mosquito bites. You can pull in and park in a parking space where it leads right up some picnic benches. Just beyond that, a l is a fence with holders for your pole. About 10-12 of them lined up. If you are fishing here, this is where having a 2nd and 3rd pole comes in handy - just be sure to get your license for that!! The water current starts off strong over here and, depending on what you are using, could float downward towards our into the next person's line, so use wisely! Figure it out! On this cool evening, we were catching them left and right. Everyone fishing here is so friendly. It's fun to meet people and see what they're using. When the sun goes down, and most of the heat goes away, Halsey Forebay becomes a sight for sore eyes... as I said... so gorgeous

Clementine Lake Loop or Culvert Loop - parks - Updated May 2026

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