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!

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.

On AllTrails app search "Western States Trail to Calcutta Falls". Parallel Parking on the street…read moreClose to the trailhead - get here early otherwise your parking will be part of your hike. It's early spring. There is lots of wildflowers - lots and lots of butterflies to see. Got to see many reptiles - skinks and a variety of lizards. Many hawks flying overhead. Lots of amazing views of the river. And a couple of small waterfalls. Walked further than the posted trail on All Trails just to add some extra mileage.

We stopped by on a Friday afternoon and the sun was peaking in and out from the clouds. The…read moreopening to the trail can be easily missed so just pay attention to the signs. The address on Yelp is not accurate so I would suggest using Google for directions. Parking is limited so if you don't get lucky with snagging one of the parking spots in the front then just park down the corridor and make the walk back up. The entire trail itself is flat with very little to no incline. We had my three younger nieces with us and they were able to physically complete the hike with no complaints. As you reach the bridge, walk across it and keep going to see the end prize of a gorgeous waterfall. The hike will amaze you with some scenic views of beautiful mountain backdrops with clear waters roaming down the stream. It was a very peaceful and therapeutic experience. We were able to have conversations without the disruptions of life, and we had a chance to soak in nature without the nuances of digital connectivity. So -- bring some water, snacks, and maybe a light lunch to enjoy the short and yet breathtaking experience with your loved ones. P.S. you will pass a few mini waterfalls before getting to the grand prize. Even if you don't see or hear anything for a while, just keep going because once you turn the corner -- it will all have been worth it. Although I'm an avid hiker and have walked through many trails throughout the state, this trail will remain my favorite trail in all of California.

Chasing (roadside) waterfalls…read more.. This is a pretty decent roadside waterfall off Highway 50 (between Sac and Lake Tahoe) near Pollock Pines. It is pretty during spring as snow melting gives the waterfall a good amount of flow with a drop of 80-ft. Nice stop to stretch out the legs at the same time. The waterfall grabs your attention whether you're driving to or from Lake Tahoe. The falls is to your right as you head to the Lake. I suppose you can pull over on the opposite side of the highway to get a full view of the falls but I wouldn't cross the road as it is dangerous because there are blind turns, sometimes cars and trucks whiz by fast and furious down this road. Easy access where you literally just pull over into a very large pullout right in front of the falls. This waterfalls is about 60 miles from our place. It is worth stopping to look at, at least once, on your way to Lake Tahoe. Review #2106 updated

Worth the quick stop to get out, stretch and check it out on the drive to Tahoe or back! Very cool…read morelittle falls on an easy pull out.

We wanted to go hiking and found the Joshua M. Hardt Memorial Trail, which circles around the…read morereservoir. The loop was a bit over 4 miles. I'm glad it was mostly shaded and flat. The water was nice and clear. There were several benches along the way. Best of all, it wasn't crowded at all when we went. Bring cash- $5.00 per vehicle.

Beautiful reservoir and meandering trails. This is a great place to visit. We visited the Manzanita…read moreDay Use Area and walked a short distance on the paved trails. We also stopped at the dam to soak in the view. My only regret is that we didn't have more time to spend there.

The hike was actually a really good workout. A lot of hills, creeks, and different plant life. I…read morethought it was a good challenge but not impossible. At the same time I'm not a big hiker. We did come across a friendly group of 70 yo ladies that had completed the trail a few times and gave a lot of information.

It was a great hike, sadly it was raining but we still got to mile 3 before heading back. On the…read morehike I lost my great grandmothers bracelet that I haven't taken off in years. If anyone hiking this trail is willing, I would deeply appreciate if you would look for it and return it to me. I could meet you anywhere within an hour of Sacramento to retrieve it from you. I'll attach a picture of it along with a picture of me on the hike and my email. To the person who finds it, I'll give you a $20 reward, cash (or if you are willing to mail it, that would be even better) My email is duncansophia@icloud.com

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

This location is also known as the Big Hill Vista Point. There is a lookout tower here. But that is…read moreoff limits to visitors. It's actually used by the El Dorado National Forest to actually look out for fire activity. There is even a helipad. Below the hill with the tower and facility building is a parking lot and walking path to the Vista Point. Gorgeous views all around. The path is flat, no elevation gain. The point is about a 1-2 minute walk down the path. The vista point is carved out of the hillside with views and f the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Crystal Basin. The point was dedicated in 2002 by SMUD ( the local energy supply company) and the El Dorado National Forest. Not only can you simply enjoy the beautiful scenery, they have informational placards. Ohh how I luv an information board. I learned that in 1958 SMUD started the local hydroelectric projects in the area. First with Ice House Dam and Reservoir. Then in 1971, they completed the "stairway of power" that is the 40 miles of tunnels, reservoirs, and penstocks that deliver hydroelectric power using the water and snowpack from the western slope Sierra Nevada mountains. Wow! What a work of technology and people strength. To think that's how we get our electricity! The vista point is free, it's free to drive around inside the El Dorado National Forest to look a loo. But if you stay long for a hike, picnic, whatever; then you will need to pay the parking fee. To get to the vista point is not easy. The road is rural, curving, uphill, narrow at points, and riddled with pot holes in various stretches. I don't recommend driving up here is a low profile vehicle. Leave your Maserati at home.

The morning air was crisp and clean so what better time to drive up to "Big Hill Vista Point" in…read moreEldorado National Forest to see spectacular views of "Crystal Basin".. I was telling my wife that the last time I visited here was over a year ago. There was so much smoke in the valley from forest fires that you couldn't even see the lake. The road to "Big Hill Vista Point" is right off of Icehouse Road. The Road is two and one- half mile long and takes you up to an elevation of 6,132 feet to the top. Here you will find an observation area overlooking "Crystal Basin." Vista Point is also shared by the "Big Hill Lookout Tower" which is a lookout tower and command post for fire operations. Due to weather constraints, the road to Big Hill Vista Point is not always open. Best to see on a clear day ! Enjoy ! Live/Love/Travel

This was a really fun hike! Most of the trail is flat and the it's easy to follow and well worn. I…read morethink it used to be a loop but the West side is currently closed so it's now a there and back kind of path. There are many wood bridges along the path and while I'm sure they're safe (we're alive) some of them shifted under our feet and there were a few holes as well. Just be careful of where you're stepping. In some parts of the trail there is a higher path you can take alongside the main path that makes it easier to let people pass or just get a great view of everything below. Towards the end of the hike there's a big fork that goes up and down, if you head down you'll get to the water. We saw a bunch of other dogs taking this trail and our pup did a great job, even at the bottom where it was more rocky getting to the water. We would definitely do this hike again!

I went to the right side , beautiful pools, water clear and colorful, there are two spots with sand…read moreand you can relax after a nice swim, the pool is big enough to get a good swim.

I'm not big on camping, but I'll do it. The campgrounds is off the beaten path. We had to take a…read morewindy road to get there. Our group site had plenty of trees that provided shade. There were no showers at this location and only vault toilets, which I was weary of. Even so, it wasn't too bad as we were there only two nights. It got quite dark at night, especially since there was a fire restriction- no campfire. There aren't any hiking trails that I know of, but there is a reservoir close by if you want to swim or do other water activities. Be aware there is very limited cell phone coverage and there are no stores close by.

First time camping trip this past weekend (June) and we selected this campground based on the…read morepositive reviews and it's location near a lake. We brought jet skis and rafts and did not get to use them. Our first night went smoothly, not too chilly and our campsite was clean and dry and we loved our fire pit. However, the weather changed in the early morning the following day and it proceeded to pour down the rest of the weekend. It was 50 degrees or less with wind and we were trying to get on the lake, it's also important to note that there is a bit of a current, so visitors should be careful, especially with children. Our camp host Michael was friendly overall and helpful when we ran out of lighter fluid. I can not stress this enough; create a checklist and pack accordingly!!! There is no store except back in Foresthill, an hour and a half drive up the windy roads. Double up on the essentials like fire wood, lighter fluid, gas for coals, and hand sanitizer! I found it odd that there were some bathrooms with sinks and others without. Also, there are one toilet bathrooms and bathrooms with 2 stalls, but you have to look all over for them. I was grateful we had no wildlife run ins except for the occasional raccoon and giant spider. It's a very remote and quiet campground, I loved that we had no reception because it's forced our group to be present and enjoy the wilderness. I don't know if I would return to this campground because of the bathrooms and it's distance on windy narrow roads, but it was an experience I am glad I had!