Brown’s Ravine, Folsom SRA

Waiver and Sign-up required.

Welcome to the new Friday Walks returning after an 18 month health recess. With the return are a few new Rules:
You MUST sign an Electronic Liability Waiver in advance for Sacramento Valley CNPS Friday Walks. This is a permanent change required by CNPS statewide. Note that this Waiver is for Sacramento Valley CNPS Friday Walks only and does not cover Sacramento Valley CNPS Field Trips nor any Events or Field Trips offered by other CNPS Chapters. The only difference with the Sacramento Valley CNPS Friday Walks Liability Waiver is that once signed it is valid through the end of the current calendar year.  Email John Schmidt to receive a Waiver form.
For now the Friday Walks will also have a limit on the number of participants. The limit is 20 attendees plus 1 leader. Only 3 new to Friday Walks attendees can sign up for each walk. If your name appears on a sign in sheet after January 1, 2013 you are not considered a new attendee.

Walks held unless there is heavy rain, extreme heat or very poor air quality. Cancellation notices posted by 7 PM Thursday evening if the forecast is unfavorable

Friday, May 19, 9:30am – 12:30pm. Brown’s Ravine, Folsom SRA

Join us on our first Friday Walk to Brown’s Ravine since 2019. This location was chosen due to parking problems at Quarry Trail.  We’ll be following a trail that winds around oak woodland hills above Folsom Lake with a steady 125 foot climb over a hill on the return. This year we will detour around the small stream crossing now under many feet of water used on prior walks at Brown’s Ravine. Native plants we should see in bloom include Achillea millefolium, Calochortus albus, Castilleja attenuata, Dichelostemma volubile, Drymocallis glandulosa, Erythranthe sp?, Eschscholzia californica, Lupinus bicolor, Lupinus nanus, Plectritis macrocera, Thysanocarpus curvipes, Triteleia hyacinthina, Triteleia ixioides, Triteleia laxa and Wyethia angustifolia. There will be a short break on some logs near the shoreline before climbing over the hill on the return.For more information, email John Schmidt or phone 916-500-8456.

Park entrance fee is $12 or a current State Park Pass.

When arriving to scout the walk Monday morning, over half the parking spaces were used.  You might want to ride with others if possible.

Bring water, hat, snack, and layered protection for sun.  A walking stick might be useful for some.  We will NOT be crossing the small 6 foot wide stream used on our prior walks at Brown’s Ravine which is now about 6 feet under water.

Meet near the teardrop in the parking area just above the entrance kiosk on the map or use the directions below.

Directions from Sacramento:

– East on US 50 El Dorado Hills Blvd.  Exit #30B.

– North on El Dorado Hills Blvd for about 3.2 miles to Francisco Dr.  There is a stop sign here.

– Left onto Francisco Dr.  There is a stop sign at this intersection.

– Left onto Green Valley Rd.

– Right at the park entrance to Browns Ravine about ½ mile down Green Valley Rd.

– Stop at the manned the entrance kiosk.
– Right up the first road just past the entrance kiosk marked “Horses”.  Please park head-in near the picnic tables to allow for more vehicles.  If this area is full, you can park below the main entrance road near other picnic tables a little ways past the entrance kiosk.

If you are coming from north of the American River and east of Sunrise Blvd. this is an alternative route.

– East on Greenback or Madison which converges into Greenback at Lake Natoma Dr.

– Left at Folsom-Auburn Blvd.

– Right at Folsom Lake Crossing

– Left at East Natoma St.

– Left at Green Valley Rd.

– Left at signed entrance to Brown’s Ravine, about 2.5 miles.  If you reach the traffic signal at Francisco Dr. and Green Valley Road, you’ve gone too far.

– Stop at the manned the entrance kiosk.
– Right up the first road just past the entrance kiosk marked “Horses”.  Please park head-in near the picnic tables to allow for more vehicles.  If this area is full, you can park below the main entrance road near other picnic tables a little ways past the entrance kiosk.

There is a portable rest facility near the entrance kiosk.

Parking is $12 or use a State Park Pass.  More State Park pass information is here.  If you’re over 62, check out the Limited Use Golden Bear Pass.  Passes can be purchased at the Gold Field Regional State Park Office which is not far out of your way to Brown’s Ravine.  Note that this limited Use Golden Bear Pass will not be valid from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, so might not be worth purchasing for the balance of 2023.

We encourage carpooling.