Quarry Trail, Auburn, Auburn SRA

            Waiver and Sign-Up Required

It’s been over 2 years since Friday Walks resumed, but we still need to follow new rules to gather safely.

1. You must sign an Electronic Liability Waiver in advance of joining Sacramento Valley Chapter Friday Walks. Signing an Electronic Liability Waiver is a permanent change required statewide by the California Native Plant Society. Please note that signing the waiver for SacValley Chapter Friday Walks applies only to our chapter’s Friday Walks and does not cover SacValley Chapter Field Trips or any events or field trips offered by other CNPS chapters. Once you have signed the SacValley Chapter Friday Walks waiver, it is valid through the end of the current calendar year, 2023 in this case.  Email John Schmidt to receive a Waiver form if you don’t yet have one for 2023 Friday Walks.
2. The walk limit is 20 participants and one leader.

Walks are held unless heavy rain, extreme heat or very poor air quality are forecast.  Cancellation notices posted by 7PM Thursday.

NOTE: Starting time returns to 9:15am for local walks until the summer of 2024.

Traffic note:  There was traffic construction last week in Auburn at the 5-way intersection that turns down Hwy 49 to the river with only one lane for this intersection.  Expect about a 5 minute delay if this work is still in progress October 20th.  I will update this traffic delay later this week.

October 20- construction work still in progress, expect delays.

Friday, October 20, 9:30am-12:15pm, Quarry Trail, Auburn SRA

Note: If this is your first Friday Walk in 2023 read the Waiver and Sign-up section at the top of the Friday Walks page.

This is our first visit to Quarry Trail since October, 2019. Some fall color is appearing on this shady walk on the south side of the Middle Fork American River in the Auburn SRA. Among the plants growing here are Pink honeysuckle, Mock orange, Alumroot, Big leaf maple, Oregon grape, Deer brush, California false indigo, Coffeeberry, Canyon live oak and Black oak. The only native plants seen in bloom were Baccharis pilularis and Brickellia californica.  Most of this walk is on a gravel road. It’s about a 150-foot climb from the main road trail up to the old quarry area. Email John Schmidt for waiver information if needed or more general information. Or call John at 916-500-8456 for more information.

Bring water, sunscreen, snack, hat, a perhaps an extra layer if the morning is cool.  The forecast is for a dry Friday following possible record highs on Thursday.  A walking stick might help if we make it up to the quarry area.

Meet at the Quarry Trail trailhead.
Use the map or directions below.  If you haven’t been to Quarry Trail or confluence of the North and Middle forks of the American River before, you should check the linked map above for satellite views.

Directions to Quarry Trail Middle Fork American River Trailhead from downtown Sacramento:
– East on Interstate 80 to Auburn
– Take Elm Street exit #119C in Auburn
– Turn left onto Elm Street at the traffic signal
– Turn left after 2 blocks onto Hwy 49 which might be marked as High Street, El Dorado Street or Golden Chain Highway
– After 1 block Hwy 49 forks to the right on El Dorado Street
– Continue on Hwy 49 to the bottom of the canyon
– Turn right where Hwy 49 and 193 turn to cross a bridge over the American River toward Cool
– Take the first left about ¼ mile past the bridge down a short access road into the parking lot.
– The trailhead is at the end of the parking lot.

Parking at Quarry Trail is $10 or use a State Park Pass.

There is also free parking along Hwy 49 just after you cross the Hwy 49 bridge over the river all the way up to the Quarry Trail parking area. Check the linked map above and satellite view if this is your first visit to the Quarry Trail.

There is a rest facility about 100 yards down the trail from the trailhead parking lot and 3 others along the trail.
We encourage carpooling.

If the trailhead parking is full, you should be able to park for free along Hwy 49. There are numerous rest facilities starting about 100 yards along the trail past the meeting area.

Limited Use State Park Pass information. This pass might not be useful since it is good only until the end of 2023 and we may only have 3 Friday Walks to State Park areas from now through the end of 2023.
The Gold District Field Office of California State Parks is one location where you can purchase a Golden Bear Limited Use State Park Pass (62 and older). The $20 Limited Use State Park Pass is valid through December 31, 2023 for California State Parks. Some of the fall Friday Walks will be at Folsom SRA access areas Nimbus Flat, Black Miners Bar, Salmon Falls, Brown’s Ravine, Beals Point, Granite Bay and Horseshoe Bar. Friday Walks might visit Quarry Trail or North Fork Dam Trail in Auburn SRA, though the recent Bridge Fire might exclude these areas. Regular daily parking in these areas is $10-12/day. Click here for more information on State Park passes. The Limited Use Passes are at the bottom of the web page.

Please try to be on time. We’ll start walking by 9:45am.