Do people get on your nerves? Do you ever feel drained of energy after spending time around people? LOL! Well perhaps you need some soul refreshment in nature, doing something physical, away from people. Look no further than the El Dorado Trail. And if you like the scent of forest, this is a great place to get it without having to drive fully into the Sierras.
It's a 30 min/ 25 mile drive from Carmichael. There are 4-6 parking areas where you can hook onto the trail. I used 4451 Missouri Flat Rd, Placerville, (free, no time limit) and went east. Dont make me regret telling you this, but if you're lucky, you might get a glimpse of the Long-tailed Weasel in this general area.
Google maps shows two port-a-potty units in the parking lot but they're gone. The one located about 1-3 miles east of downtown Placerville is still there. There's a public restroom on Main St in downtown Placerville.
The path is mostly smooth but there's patches of lifted asphalt, so be careful. I used the trail as a bicyclist so my review is from that perspective.
The route for a road bicycle is about 23 miles if you add Placerville Rd and Ray Lawyer (this "cat's claw" shape adds 3 miles and a good climb if you are turning left onto Ray Lawyer from Placerville Rd. The route starts out with a hint of downhill but then climbs steadily. Once you get to Halcon at the end of the paved route and you return on the same route, you'll be headed downhill. Be careful carrying speed, there's some inconsistencies with the pavement. And the two bridges that you cross are rustic styled and not smooth for a road bike. There's a third bridge, paved, that goes over El Dorado Freeway/50.
The trail breaks up in a few places and you use the shoulder of the road to connect the sections of bike path. The trail is open to pedestrians, cyclists (non-motorized), and equestrians.
There were very few trail users which I really liked.
This is a good series of trails and if your tooling around downtown Placerville, it's a great way to walk off lunch! read more