Salmon Falls & Darrington Trail

California is known for its big cities, bustling shopping districts, and busy streets when you're in the city. There are plenty of wildlife opportunities to explore, but Darrington Trail is only a short 25 miles from the heart of Sacramento, making it a convenient option. Right outside the city, the trail explores the western side of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area and provides a beautiful natural place to escape to.

The trail is also known as the Salmon Falls Bridge Trail and starts outside of Salmon Falls Bridge in the Darrington Trailhead. The trailhead has elevated paved parking at a fee, but parking in the dirt along the side of the road is free. The area has benches, trash bins, and restrooms to use before venturing out. The trail itself is made from dirt and compacted clay, and follows along the banks of the South Fork American River.

Surrounded by desert shrubs and short trees that still offer plenty of shade, the well-marked trail travels through the terrain and offers hikers sights of the glistening waters of the river, backed by grasslands, and dense forests. Smaller trails connect the river's edge to Darrington Trail, providing areas to play on the natural beaches for humans and pups and a place to fish.

The trail climbs up and down the terrain until it finally ends at the point of a peninsula that sticks out into Folsom Lake. The area is rugged and mixed with grassy fields and trees and makes a pretty good place for a picnic! Heading back is easy too since the grade is small and there aren't any steep inclines. 

Highlighting the area's natural deserts with touches of green forests and plants, the Darrington Trail is the perfect place to unwind and explore with your pup and will be sure to lure you two back for more adventures in the future.