Dave Moore Nature Area, near Lotus, SF American River

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 (2022).
For now the Friday Walks will also have a limit on the number of participants. Initially the limit is 15 attendees plus 1 leader. Only 4 new to Friday Walks attendees can sign up for each walk during this initial restart of Friday Walks. 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. Cancellation notices posted by 7PM Thursday evening if heavy rain is in the forecast.

Note the 9:00am meeting time.

Friday, June 17, 9:00am – 11:30am, Dave Moore Nature Area, near Lotus

Join us for a shaded walk in a beautiful area.  Among the plants in bloom are skullcap, Elegant Brodiaea, Spiked rosinweed, Phacelia imbricata, woolly sunflower, bilobed & elegant Clarkia, Madia gracilis, Rose campion (not a native but very present here), larkspur, coffeeberry, beardtongue, Mariposa lily, Toyon, yarrow, narrowleaf mule ear, Sidalcea hartwegii , wooland gum plant. Most of the trail was built to access a mining camp near the South Fork American River. We’ll make a loop passing a stately madrone and enjoy a refreshing break on the bank of the SF American River. Some walkers may stop for yogurt in Lotus before driving home. This is a shaded walk on an old mining trail.   For more information, to sign-up for this trip, or if you need a Waiver email John Schmidt or phone 916-500-8456.

It’s about 32 miles and 40 minutes from Sunrise and Hwy 50 to Dave Moore Nature Area.  There is road construction on Lotus Road which might cause delays.

Use the linked map or directions below.
Directions using Highway 50 from Sacramento:
– East of Hwy 50 to Ponderosa Road exit 37 for Shingle Springs.
– Turn left and cross over the freeway to the first stop sign.
– Turn right on North Shingle Road and proceed for 3 miles. The road will merge with Green Valley Rd.
– Turn left at the “Y” onto Lotus Road. Drive north on Lotus Road for 5 miles.
– Turn left at Highway 49 and cross the bridge at the river.
– Continue north on Hwy 49 for about 1 miles. The signed entrance is on the left at the cobblestone wall.
– Click here for a streetview of the Dave Moore entrance.

Directions using Interstate 80
– East on I-80 to Auburn, exit 119C, Elm Street.
– Turn left at the cloverleaf traffic light onto Elm Street.
– Turn left after 2 blocks on Elm Street onto Hwy 49 which might be marked as High Street, El Dorado Street or Golden Chain Highway.
– After one block Hwy 49 forks to the right on El Dorado Street or Golden Chain Hwy.
– Continue south on Hwy 49 past the town of Cool After about 15 miles on Hwy 49.
– The signed entrance to Dave Moore will be on your right at the cobblestone wall.
– Click here for a streetview of the Dave Moore entrance.

Parking is free.

There is a rest facility available at the trailhead.

Please try to be on time.  We’ll start walking about 9:15am on the trail near the rest facility.  We will be within 100 feet of the rest area for about 10 minutes since there is mush to see an explore here.