Hiking with Heidi

Hike Details:  Elevation range : 600-700', mostly level trail with a few ups and downs Trailhead Location :  Auburn State Recreation Area, Quarry Trail parking, this is a fee area though you can also park along the side of the road where it's not marked as a fee area, but this fills up quickly on the weekends Mileage : 3-5 miles, but you can hike out for as long as you want along the river Hiking time : 1-2 hours Bathrooms :  Pit toilet at trailhead, plus a few others along the trail Accessibility: The first mile of this trail is labeled as a wheelchair-accessible trail, which is a fairly flat gravel road. Link to CalTopo Map This is a nice, easy trail with lots of options for variety and challenge. It's great for everyone from families to hardcore trail runners. You can hike out as far or as short as you want and get a lovely little dose of nature along the way. In the winter and spring, there's lots of water and lots of green. In the summer, you have to go early i...

Hike Details: Elevation range - about 600-700' (lots of little ups and downs but no huge elevation changes) Location - from Eastbound I-80, take the Hwy. 49 South exit towards Placerville, follow it through Auburn and down into the American River Canyon. Parking is along the street or in a few lots that require a permit. For this trail, we parked on the right side of the road, right after you cross the bridge over the river. Bathrooms: Yes, porta-potties Mileage - 4-5 miles roundtrip Hiking time - 2 hours

Hike Details: Elevation range - from about 2300' down to 1300' Location - from Eastbound I-80, take the Colfax exit (135), turn left at the stop sign to get on to the frontage road called North Canyon Way, drive .6 mile to the parking lot on the left. Bathrooms: Yes, a pit toilet (better than nothing, just barely) Mileage - 7.5 miles roundtrip Hiking time - 4 hours (including stop for lunch)

Hike Details: Elevation range - about 800' (lots of little ups and downs but no huge elevation changes) Location - from Eastbound I-80, take Exit 130, W. Paoli Lane. From the exit, turn left onto W. Paoli Lane, then continue straight on Paoli Lane (don't go back over the freeway on W. Paoli Lane). It ends at Ponderosa Road, then turn right and just keep going! It becomes a dirt road, single lane, and is SUPER bumpy! We drove my husband's truck and we were still worried about all the bumps! Definitely not a place I'd go with a sketchy vehicle as there's also no cell coverage down in the canyon. Just keep driving down the windy road until you get to the river and there's a small parking lot. Bathrooms: Maybe? Might be a pit toilet at the trailhead, if there was we didn't use it. Mileage - 3 miles roundtrip Hiking time - 1-2 hours

Hike Details: Elevation - low of 575' to high of 935' Location - South Yuba River State Park - Bridgeport Covered Bridge Mileage - 5 miles Hiking time - 3 hours (lots of picture taking!) Route - We parked in the lot right near the covered bridge and Visitor's Center (fee area). There's also a fee area parking lot across the river. Weather - Not too warm, not too cool, sunny and perfect for hiking! I'm so lucky to have fun friends who are willing to follow me along on these hikes! It's hiking season again! Our main goal for this hike was to see some wildflowers. With all the rain we've had, we were hopeful there would be plenty of them. We did see some pretty flowers, but I wouldn't say it was bursting with them. But we also loved the view of the river throughout the hike and the beautiful green hills. We started on the North side of the river near the covered bridge and hiked up the hillside following the Point Defiance Loop T...

Hike Details: Elevation - 550' - 700' Location - Auburn State Recreation Area Parking -  We parked in the lot (fee required) right at the trailhead on the left side of Highway 49 after crossing the bridge. There's often parking along the road for free if you get there early. Mileage - 5+ miles Hiking time - 2 hours Route - We just followed the trail along the river, with a little side hike up to a rock climbing area, than continued back along the river for a couple of miles, and returned back the same way. Good morning, beautiful American River! Mountain Quarries Mine entrance -- apparently there's a little lake inside with a boat still tied up. Inside the little cliff/quarry rock climbing area Rocking our Heidi Run shirts And rocking the selfie stick :)