In this guide, you'll find the best trails in California's Great Valley, Coast Range, Sierra Foothills, and the Sierra Nevada in a handy, informative format.

Steven L. Evans was born and raised in the Mojave Desert near the typically dry Mojave River. When he moved up to Northern California in the 1970s for college, he discovered that most rivers actually had water and fish in them. He began exploring the wild places of the Sierra Nevada, and when he discovered that many of them were threatened by logging and other development, he became a full-time environmental activist as well as a hike leader for the Sierra Club. Steve has been hiking and backpacking Northern California trails and running its rivers for more than 30 years. As a resident of the Sacramento region for the last 20 years, he is familiar with the many trails in the valley, foothills, and mountains beloved by Sacramentans. It took Steve three years to hike the more than 235 miles of trails in Top Trails Sacramento, while continuing to work full time for Friends of the River (California's statewide river conservation organization). It's no coincidence that many of the trails lead to or follow some of the most scenic rivers and streams in the region. Top Trails Sacramento is Steve's first book for Wilderness Press.

Sacramento Region Map

Sacramento Region Trails Table

Using Top Trails
Organization of Top Trails
Choosing a Trail

Introduction to the Sacramento Region
Geology, Topography, Hydrology, and Climate
Ecoregions of the Sacramento Area
California Central Valley Grasslands Ecoregion (Great Valley)
California Woodlands and Interior Chaparral Ecoregion (the Coast Range and Sierra Foothills)
Sierra Nevada Forests Ecoregion (Sierra Nevada)

On the Trail
Have a Plan
Carry the Essentials
Less than Essential, but Useful
Trail Etiquette

Chapter 1: The Great Valley

1. Bobelaine Sanctuary Trails: Feather River

2. River Walk Trail: Cosumnes River Preserve

3. Deer Creek Hills Preserve Trails

4. Delta Meadows State Park and Historic Locke

5. Effie Yeaw Natural Area Loop Trail

6. Gibson Ranch Regional Park Loop Trail

7. Wetlands Discovery & Loop Trails: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

8. Sutter Buttes Trails

9. Howard Ranch Trail

10. Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail Loop: American River Parkway

11. Lake Natoma Loop: Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

12. Sacramento Northern Bikeway

13. Sacramento Waterfront Loop

14. Wren Wetlands Trail: Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Chapter 2: The Coast Range

15. Blue Ridge Trail: Cache Creek Natural Area

16. Cache Creek Ridge Trail: Cache Creek Natural Area

17. Redbud Trail: Cache Creek Wilderness

18. Cold Canyon-Blue Ridge Loop Trail: Stebbins UC Reserve

Chapter 3: Sierra Foothills

19. North Yuba River Trail

20. Humbug Creek-South Yuba Trails: South Yuba Wild & Scenic River

21. Empire Mine State Historic Park Loop Trails

22. Shingle Falls Trail: Spenceville Wildlife Area

23. Stevens Trail: North Fork American Wild & Scenic River

24. Codfish Falls Trail: Auburn State Recreation Area

25. American Canyon Trail: Auburn state Recreation Area

26. Western States Trail: El Dorado Canyon

27. Western States-Riverview Trails: Auburn State Recreation Area

28. Olmstead Loop Trail: Auburn State Recreation Area

29. Cronan Ranch Loop: South Fork American River

30. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park Loop

Chapter 4: The Sierra Nevada

31. Mount Judah Loop Trail

32. Pacific Crest Trail: Castle Peak Area

33. Salmon Lake Trail to Loch Leven Lakes

34. Grouse Lakes Loop Trail

35. Picayune Valley Trail: Granite Chief Wilderness

36. Lake Margaret Trail: Caples Creek Proposed Wilderness

37. Granite and Hidden Lakes Loop

38. Shealor Lake Trail: Caples Creek Proposed Wilderness

39. Winnemucca-Round Top Lakes Loop: Mokelumne Wilderness

40. Caples Creek-Silver Fork Loop: Caples Creek Proposed Wilderness

41. Horsetail Falls Trail

42. Twin Lakes Trail: Desolation Wilderness

43. Lyons Creek Trail: Desolation Wilderness

Appendices
Top Rated Trails
Weekend Getaways
Governing Agencies
Major Organizations
Useful Resources
Maps

Index

Author